One of Karate’s Great Strengths … which is often overlooked!
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- www.iainaberne... In this video I discuss what I feel is one of karate’s greatest strengths, and it would seem to be one that is often overlooked by many karateka.
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I used to be the kohai of my class (the new kohai just turned 50) , my other classmates are in their 60s & 70s. This was a strictly Shotokan Club and we all decided to cross train in Goju Ryu about 3 years ago. One of my sempai ,who has more than 20 years in Shotokan, just made Shodan in Goju Ryu at 74. She's my hero!
Iain, such a good observation, once again! 35 years into my karate journey, I've certainly transitioned through similar phases.... a decade on sparring, an increasing focus on kata bunkai, started teaching, and presently discovering much harder training methods (muay thai influences are undeniable). Kata remained the central connector for me, too. Am looking forward to doing those in a garden when I'm real old, one day, hopefully 😊
I've been at this from the late 80s...I turned 59 last year...for me the history...lineage...and staying fit enough to remain dangerous thru my 60s...it is who I am....like the t shirt saids it's not a hobby it's a lifestyle...thank you as always for your insights!
Couldn’t agree more with you Iain! This truly is one of the most beautiful things about karate. I as a young adult wish to grow old teaching, practicing, and still learning karate in a practical self defense based manner which is what it was intended for! Awesome video as always Iain.
I am only a couple years younger than you...I also have a 3 year old son, and I have recently started teaching him Karate...I love how it can span generations
Thanks for your Thoughts. Always a pleasure!
This is so very true Iain. Great that you point it out! In our dojo (Karlstad karate, Inoue-ha Shito-ryu, Sweden), the point you're making is realized every single day: All ages and all grades/experience levels train _together_. One might think that having a ten-year-old white belt training side-by-side with a 20-year-old brown belt, and a 55-year-old fourth dan would be problematic, but I see only positive aspects of it. And it shines the light on the fact that karate is - truly - from the cradle to the grave. It has the added benefit of allowing kids and their parents to train at the same time, together, forming one happy (and motivated) karate family. Osu! 🙏
Fully agree! I started karate about 40 years ago, when playing tennis more than a couple times a week was no longer possible because of my job, so I had to find something else interesting. The idea was to do something where I could learn every time. So no running or weight lifting or the like. And I am sure, as I was, that if I manage to keep practicing for as many years as I can I will always have something more to learn. Within karate the specific topic of interest shifts with time, as you mentioned, but I am not seeing an end as yet
Good point, I did BJJ recently (I’m 48), I was the oldest in the class (usually double the age of most). I finally quit because it’s not age appropriate. It’s too sore on the body and it was just leaving me worthless for a day after it.
I thought.. what’s the point? To what end?
Hello sir Iain;
How 'bout if a person whom we're not unsure of their intentions about is coming to us from a far distance by saying Stop, come here, or by saying that they wanna ask us something? In that situation, is it the best to tell them to stop and ask/say whatever they're gonna say from a 1-2 meter distance and give signals to them to stay on a good distance , or should we directly run away, from a self-defence perspective??
Thanx fer everything. Respect from Turkey
Overall, a very good presentation. I believe that you dismissed the capability of Tai Chi to appeal to someone interested in the martial aspect because a lot of old folks do it for health ( to paraphrase you). Tai Chi is very martially oriented but it offers a health aspect for those desiring something easier on the body. I started Tai Chi to recuperate from back surgery. I have taken many of those lessons to enhance my karate. I encourage you to explore the great lessons Tai Chi teaches. It is my baseline in my current recovery from surgery. Keep Training!
I think the view I was expressing may have been lost in the paraphrasing :-) I agree Tai Chi can be practised martially. No dispute there. It was not the "martial aspect" I was talking about, but a competitive format that would appal to younger adults. My point was Tai Chi does not have a competitive format that is as widespread or well known as boxing, MMA, BJJ, etc. It is therefore not going to appeal to the 20 something who wants to test themselves in the combat sports that have standing within their peer group. A 20 something who wants to fight competitively is unlikely to choose Tai Chi. That’s not a slight on Tai Chi, simply a refection on what we see as being popular withing certain demographics. Karate practitioners would seem to have a slightly wider range of competitive formats to choose from - karateka competing on points, full contact, kudo, MMA, etc - but it would still not be as popular as boxing, MMA, BJJ withing the 20 something age bracket. Again, no slight on karate, just an observation on what is popular with given demographics.
I could demonstrate the bunkais of the Jion, Shorinryu and Unsu, Shotokan kata.
They both have moves that I don't understand 🇧🇷🇧🇷
Great work as always, I strongly agree.
I was a heavy smoker before I started karate and I knew I couldn't smoke and train still a non smoker years later and still training karrate changed my life .
Practice, practice, practice develops muscle memory.
Great video Iain! Do you have any plans for a seminar in the Netherlands or Germany in 2024?
I do! Details are on the website.
Great insights, Iain sensei!!! So true . You can practice karate at virtually every age. But, you should adapt your karate to your age and stage of development. As a karate instructor told me recently "stop trying to imitate your 20 years old daughter, start doing your karate!"
I agree! :)
I think that kali/eskrima and some forms of fencing are also in the same boat with karate here, but maybe that's just my bias because I do all three. Younger fencers and eskrimadors can go hard but older practitioners can focus on the improvement of understanding of technique, angles, etc.
same with kung fu
Yess.. karate has different versions from different ages.
But self defence aspect is the essence of karate and learning kata bunkai should be made Mandatory for any age and if they learn it in younger age they will have time to make those bunkai their own or modify it to their own comfort.
Taiji is enormously physically challenging: at the same level as karate. Most people don't practice it as a martial art, so you don't see that aspect as much, but it's there.
You could say, however, that Taiji doesn't have much to offer kids -- there karate is much better.
I have no doubt of that based on my interactions with Tai Chi practitioners. However, the widespread perception is that things like MMA, Boxing, BJJ, etc are more demanding and therefore have a higher standing within the 20 to 30 demographic I was discussing. While there is kudos and standing among that demographic for those that do compete in demanding combat sports, I think it would be fair to say there is not the same kudos among the 20 to 30 demographic for those that practise Tai Chi. That’s not a slight on Tai Chi, but an observation of the demographic being discussed.
It would also be fair to say that karate does not have the same standing as the aforementioned combat sports. The points-based competition format certainly does not have the same kudos as MMA, Boxing, BJJ, etc. but it’s not unheard of for karateka in that age range to compete in full contact, MMA, Kudo, etc. The fact a number of high-level MMA fighters have a karate background helps in this regard when it comes to appealing to that age range. I am unaware of any of them having a Tai Chi background.
There would seem to be a need for many 20- to 30-year-olds to test / prove themselves in ways that have standing among their peer group. While MMA, Boxing, BJJ, etc. are very good at meeting that need, they arguably have less appeal to those in other age brackets who have differing needs and goals.
Karate is good at appealing across the various age brackets due to the various ways in which it is practised. That is not to say other arts can’t do the same thing, but it again comes down to the way these things are perceived. Those who are older, would have little hesitation taking up Tai Chi or karate, but they are unlikely to take up MMA or Boxing due to the exact same perceptions that make it appeal to the 20 to 30 demographic. No slight is intended to any of the aforementioned systems, but I think the way they are perceived - as discussed in the video - would hold true.
All the best,
Iain
Thanks for the long reply, Iain!
I agree karate has a lot to offer -- I train karate myself, and am very grateful for the insights you post here. But you are entirely right regarding public perception.
Hello sir Iain,
Do ye think that Shaolin kungfu is radically different than Japanese martial arts (in aspect of fighting techniques) or do ye think that Kungfu's, say striking techniques all comes down to the striking techniques of karate and ninjutsu?? Or do ye think that grappling-locking techniques involved in Shaolin are the same as that of Aikido, at the core???
I mean, maybe a B version of the question can be like this, in order explain the same problem in a different way: We say kihon in karate, right? So those are approximately 30, maybe 40 kind of.... Therefore, can we say that all complicated and allotted phased techniques in all martial arts can be derivated from these 30-40 techniques??? So I feel like yer answer to that would be along the lines of "strikings - yes, pure blocks - yes, some grappling-lockings - yes. But not all throwing and locking techniques can be derivated from kihons only." In that case, the question would evolve to sth like: Is then saying sth like these 40-45 kihons involve attacks, pure-blocks, some locks/throws that are intertwining with Aikido and Judo; AND if we add up lockings from Aikido and 40 throws from Judo, then; by using these AS elements; can it be then possible to derivate all the techniques with continuity from these??? I hope the question is understandable 😢
Thanx, me respects....
👍
Need your help.done karate for 20 years lhave big problem my girlfriend from china she does wing chun she wantsx me to give up karate mainley bacause china does not like japan shes very good she can trap my hand and sraight blast cahin punch nyy face put lf lspar with her lcan catch her with backfist take guard up reverse puch take lt down score round house pat makay jeff thompson worild chapions used this do you think you can leave art that you given 20 years of life to for your girlfriend what wouild you do lf you were in my position live london for 9 yeres put my master was 7 dan japnese head of temple karate centre birmingham he died of cancer my mum and dad died so lcame to londom met my girlfriend from china we going out 2 years
I really can’t give relationship advice. It’s not my field of expertise. I do know I would want to be in a relationship with someone who would accept me for me and appreciate what is important to me. I'm not you though and it may be helpful to talk this through with friends and family who know you both better.
It is selfish that she ask you to drop your karate. It is inmarure also. It is a red flag. Is a bad sign that could mean she could ask for other unfair changes in the future, slowly transforming you into her pupet and into something you may not like. Her "reasons" are shallow. Every culture has done realy bad things and realy good things in the past. Every culture with no exceptions. The smart and moral thing to do is to learn and accept the good stuff and reject the bad stuff of each and every culture in the world. Should we reject everything german just because of their nazi past? I don't think so. Should black people reject everything european just because of the slavery in the past? That would isolate them from science and great artistic and cultural achievements from human kind, it would be so silly and resentful. Should we isolate from any chinese good stuff just because china has done bad stuff to tibet? I don't think so. We should not isolate ourselves from japanesse good stuff just because Japan (just as any other culture) has done bad stuff to someone else in the past. That would be cancelation culture and is stupid.
Take the good stuff no matter where it comes from, reject the bad stuff no matter where it comes from (even if it comes from your own culture or your girlfriend) and be open to more good stuff even if it comes from a culture that has done something evil in the past, just as any other culture.
Some clever person needs to make proper codgers karate. Iain?
practicing kihon is always good and also punching below the shoulders is better and also practicong fin8shing with one blow.