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Transcript of OSU !: OSU! MAGAZINE THE SPIRIT OF FULL CONTACT · PDF fileOSU! MAGAZINE: THE SPIRIT OF FULL...
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JAN 2012 / # 1
OS
U !
THE SPIRIT OF FULL CONTACT KARATE
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OSU! MAGAZINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
5Shihan John Lehner - American Knockdown
Karate LegendBy Nilo Rivera
8Sensei And Senpaiby Rob Redmond
11Four Minutes Of Hell - Tabata Intervals
by Patty Pittman
13Ethics In Kyokushinby Willen Brunekreef
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OSU! MAGAZINE: THE SPIRIT OF FULL CONTACT KARATE
OSU! It’s finally done.
To my Knockdown/Full Contact Karate family I would like to introduce to the world,
OSU! MAGAZINE
The mission of OSU! Magazine is to bring together a unity within the Knockdown karate
Community rather than separation. To do this OSU! Magazine will be a politic free magazine
that promotes the art of Knockdown karate. OSU! Magazine separates itself from all
organizations so that anyone that wants to contribute to the advancements of this publication
can do so without any ties to any organization. So much has been said and done in the past to
taint the history and legacy of Knockdown karate it is time for complete healing. Knockdown
karate by far is the strongest karate. I believe that we must maintain not only strong bodies,
but also strong heart, forgiving and compassionate. One of Sosai’s goals was to attain world
peace through Kyokushinkai. Remember we can agree to disagree. But don't let what we
disagree divide us any longer. I want to make this magazine your magazine. So email me let me
know what you what to see in OSU! Please share your comments. Thank you to those who help
push this publication.
Arigatou gozaimasu
ありがとうございます
Duval Hamilton, Publisher
OSU!
5]
SHIH
AN JO
HN LE
HNER
AMERICAN KNOCKDOWN KARATE LEGEND
6]
I joined Kyokushinkai I-Kan in 1968. I had
a neighbor named Bill Damari who worked at
IBM and trained in Kyokushinkai at the Saizen
Dojo in Binghamton, New York under Sensei
Robert Downey, 4th Dan (RIP). Sempai Damari
(RIP), who weighed 230 pounds, dared me to
come with him to train one night at the Saizen
Dojo. I went and trained for two hours, even
doing kumite on that first night. I immediately fell
in love with this powerful style of Karate.
I trained at all the classes I could get and
fought in many tournaments in Manhattan,
Brooklyn, Connecticut, and Syracuse. After 5
years, in 1973, I was awarded my Sho-Dan by
Tadashi Nakamura, who along with Shigeru
Oyama, brought Kyokushin Karate to the United
States in the 1960’s.
One of the highlights of my early career
was meeting Mas Oyama in 1975. Sensei
Downey was friends with Master Oyama. He
invited me and my Kohai Bobby Wright (now
head of North American Kyokushin Karate under
Shihan Henioh) to a big feast in downtown
Manhattan with Mas Oyama, Shigeru Oyama,
and Seije Kanamura.
Seije Kanamura awarded me my Ni-Dan a
year later, in 1976.
I have been a part of the World Oyama
Karate organization, headed by Shigeru Oyama
and Yasuhiko Oyama, since the time of its split
from the Kyokushin Organization in 1992. All of
my further Dans (3-6) were awarded by Shigeru
Oyama within this organization.
When I started at age 28, I was 5’ 10” and
220 pounds of muscle. 43 years later, at 71, I’m
a leaner 177 pounds, still flexible enough to do
the splits, and still training 3 times a week.
Incidentally, after reading Chuck Norris’s
biography, I found we are the same age, same
height, and same weight, but I am better
looking. He has more money.
What you feel karatedo is truly about or
its essence ?. I believe the essence of karatedo
is to improve you first physically, then mentally
(both through sweat), and then spiritually.
I remember a brochure that Soshu Shigeru
Oyama made for summer camp at Brodie
Mountain. The brochure was beautiful, and
across the cover it said “Discover Yourself!
Come to summer camp!” That quote captures
the essence of our art in another way. I never
forgot it. (In fact, I put “Discover Yourself” on my
license plate holder.)
After many years and much training, you
can achieve an effortless practice (known in
Chinese as “wu-wei”), in which techniques flow
naturally from one another.
There are many practices in which such a
state can be achieved, but karatedo is a warrior
way of achieving this. One needs to follow his or
her heart. I am a warrior at heart. I like fighting,
but I temper the white heat with Bushido and
the code of Chivalry. Loyalty is very important to
me – to my art and to my family. This is my way
of life.
What karatedo has done for you or how
it changed you ?
Karatedo has made me mentally stronger
and more focused, and has kept me physically
strong and healthy.
When I started practicing karate, I saw
phenomenal things, such as Shigeru Oyama
catching a sword at full speed, and Tadashi
Nakamura doing a beautiful Kanku kata and
then fighting 60 of us at a clinic for the Saizen
Dojo. Talk about wu-wei effortless action -- I
saw it in person. I wanted to be a Black Belt.
The models we had then were the epitome of
the art. Soshu Shigeru Oyama’s moves in kata
and fighting remain imprinted on me to this day.
There is no explaining this, but you see and feel
it.
I coveted the Black Belt, but I failed my first
Sho-dan test. This was really hard. It made me
humble, but it also made me more determined
than ever to succeed. I spent the next 6 months
re-dedicating myself to improving, then took the
test again and passed. This was one of the first
times I focused on an ambitious goal and
achieved it.
I can’t fail to mention how karate has also
allowed me to stay physically healthy over my
entire life. Up until the age of 70, I never missed
more than a handful of classes. And I’ve never
been content to “coach” from the sidelines. If I
ask my students to do something, I do it too. I
refuse to lower my expectations and ask less of
myself, and this keeps me strong.
How you feel being a Karateka in
general and after so many years. I still try to
approach the art as a white belt. “Beginners
mind” stays with me forever. Compared to when
I first started karate, I am more tranquil now. The
bloodlust has somewhat left me. (Though you
may want to check with my wife on that one.)
Today there is less pride and more humility.
Leading a class today after so many years is
pure pleasure, without hesitation or struggle. My
greatest reward is watching my students
develop as Karateka and as people.
My overall feelings of/on Knockdown!
Knockdown is the ring of fire -- just you and
your opponent, alone -- a test of indomitable
spirit. Being a natural fighter in many ways, I
loved competition, from being a champion
sprinter to a successful Martial Artist. I have
participated in many tournaments, both open
and closed to our style. I always felt, as Soshu
Shigeru Oyama said to me, “I want action not
talk”. I think Knockdown cuts through the veil of
favoritism, poor judging, and plain luck. There is
a loser and winner, mostly clear-cut, and at
times with a clean knockout. I always get a
queasy feeling in my stomach when a match is
left up to a decision call. I have seen some bad
calls, very questionable over the decades. Not
everyone is or will be a knockdown fighter, but
the knockdown system is there, offering a
chance to prove oneself in the ring. I normally
leave it up to the student. I do not believe in
coercing anyone to enter competition. We
sometimes forget this art is lethal. To me this is
not a game. A dojo needs to maintain
awareness of the “lethality” of the art.
I do think that hard styles have at times put
brute force over spiritual needs. I appreciate a
balance between the spiritual and the physical.
We’ve had tremendous examples of both in
teachers such as Tadashi Nakamura, with his
emphasis on the Zen of Karate, and Shigeru
Oyama, with his tremendous fighting prowess.
Dominance in the arena of public opinion
seems to be the goal of some styles. But
bloodlust leaves us as we get older. At a certain
age we realize that there is more to the art than
pure pugilism. I always said that if fighting is all
you want, become a boxer. Taking one fighter to
the top is not my way of teaching. I try to take all
of my students to their maximum potential both
in fighting and in the more spiritual aspects of
the art.
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Hopes, desires, about karatedo in
general, especially for the knockdown styles.
After over four decades, there are still charlatans
out there. Self-proclaimed masters -- and they
know who they are. I was fortunate to train with
three of the world’s best masters: Shigeru
Oyama, Yasuhiko Oyama, and Tadashi
Nakamura. I think that Genjōkōan Karate and
World Oyama Karate both have a very nice
traditional balance that we should adhere to --
the balance of warrior spirit imbued with Zen,
and a philosophy that tempers the bloodlust that
exists in all fighters.
However, it seems the quest for fame and
glory goes on. I have seen some needless
exploitation of individuals. Martial arts as
entertainment, and domination in the public
arena seems to be the goal of many styles. In
that environment, you devote all of your time to
competition, letting slide the true meaning of
Budo. I do not like dojos training for
tournaments only. I never trained extra for
tournaments. Championship was never my goal.
I would like to see us keep it real, I am not
saying we all need to be monks. I hope in the
future, dojos focus on balance -- Kihon, Kata,
Kumite, Zen and the beginner’s mind.
What I want for karate in the future is
pretty much what I have always strived for in the
past. Soshu Shigeru Oyama used to say to us,
“When you build a building you must start with a
good level foundation, or the building will start
to lean. The same is true for building your
karate. If you don’t start with good basics, you
will end up crooked.” The same can be said for
building a dojo. It must be on a sound basis of
respect, discipline, protocol, and dedication.
Our Dojo started in a living room, till one of
the students got side kicked out the picture
window. Then it was time to move to the barn.
We had 3-hour training sessions, including
barefoot runs up a steep hill on a gravel road,
with fighting at the top. Then we’d head back
down to train some more on the dirt floor of the
barn. We had students from all walks of life,
from good homes and bad, musicians,
engineers, a blacksmith. I think your future
depends on that basic foundation that Soshu
Shigeru Oyama talked about. All my students
could fight, do kata, and do basics. We had
about 30 people. Most made Sho-dan.
It’s your history that lays the groundwork
for the future. The new leaders in my Dojo are
Sensei Motoi Fukinishi our branch chief
(awarded 3rd Dan by on Soshu Shigeru Oyama)
and Sempai Jared Ramsey our international
champion (awarded 1st Dan by Saiko Shihan Y.
Oyama). They are the product of hard core
training. But that training did not just churn out
replicas and stress brute force over the spiritual
aspects. It combined physical discipline with
traditional means of spiritual development.
Across the board all out students are formidable
opponents, but are great parents and good
people. All of them, not just one or two special
fighters, but the whole Dojo wins inside and
outside the Dojo, even in their daily lives. I have
to tell you a story. At an invitational tournament
in 1981, five of my Brown Belts competed in
team kumite against five Black Belts and won.
This is a great example of strength across the
Dojo. No one person was the hero, all were
phenomenal in their own right.
OSU! Respectfully, Shihan John 6th Dan
World Oyama Karate.
Interview conducted by
Nilo Rivera, Chief Instructor
Genjokoan Karate Organization
8]
9]
Sensei and Senpai
In bringing Karate to the United States, the Japanese have brought with them some Japanese terminology to use to refer to some of the more common techniques, practices, and even people that you will encounter in a karate dojo. Perhaps one of the most frequently used “Karate words” out there other than the word Karate itself is the word “sensei,” which is generally used to mean “teacher.” The Japanese append this title at the end of someone’s name when they are addressing them or speaking about them.
For example, I studied Karate under Katayama-sensei. I do not say “Sensei Katayama,” because the Japanese put titles after names. The Japanese speak names as family name first, given name next, and any title follows after that. Calling me “Sensei Rob” is backwards. It should be “Rob Sensei,” though I do not ask that anyone ever refer to me in that way. Here at home, “Rob” will be fine, thank you. Sensei is also a spoken title for another person. For example, I would never print business cards in Japan that said, “Rob-sensei” on them, because I would be referring to myself using an honorific expression, and in the Japanese language, that is considered very rude. Instead, I would refer to myself as “Rob” on my business card, and under that, as a title, I might put the name of the Karate club that I teach at. I could also use the word “kyoshi” toward myself, because it is a generic word meaning “teacher.”
The word sensei is composed of two characters. The first is SEN, which means before or ahead. The next character is SEI, which means to be born or to be alive. Literally, sensei means that someone is born before us or lives ahead of us.
I think a better literal translation than teacher would be the word “mentor.” Sensei refers to a particular person as an expression of respect. Kyoshi is a job. To refer to yourself as sensei is incorrect in terms of politeness, and to refer to your teacher at school by their name followed by kyoshi is not customary either. Literally thousands of people around the world who are not Japanese make themselves uniforms, patches, t-shirts, business cards, yellow pages ads, and web pages where they refer to themselves as sensei in a way that no Japanese would ever let himself be caught doing. I guess this is what happens when bits of a foreign language are used in a practice of a sport from a foreign country. Just as the Japanese call a home run a “homah,” we run around calling ourselves sensei inappropriately. How much you care about that is probably dependent upon how much you care about using the word authentically as they do in Japan. Sensei is usually translated to mean “teacher,” but it can be used also toward a doctor, lawyer, teacher, professor, or scientist as a way of saying “sir” very politely. In fact, some Japanese use the word to refer to male senior citizens when they are being very polite.
In the Karate club I was a member of in Nagoya, our members used the word sensei toward our teacher, Mr. Katayama. We also used the word toward other members of the club who were significantly more senior than we were. For example, in our club, my teacher called me by my first name. Those a little higher than me called me Rob-san, which means “Mr. Rob.” My peers called me Rob, and those who were newer to karate called me “Rob-sensei.” To understand this usage, it is necessary to understand the Japanese concept of in-group and out-group.
The Japanese generally view the world through the filter of whether or not someone is a member of their immediate in-group or whether or not they are an outsider. Depending on context, a typical Japanese person sees the world radiating outward from them in even increasing and sometimes overlapping circles of in-group and out-group. One’s closest in-group is the immediate family. When speaking to one another within this primary in-group, the Japanese are particularly forgetful of their famous politeness. When a stranger knocks at the door of the house, the same Japanese who speak so bluntly to one another will adopt a very polite, formal level of speech.
This linguistic ability of the Japanese language allows for no mistake between the two of them that they are not a member of the in-group. Because of this, the Japanese will speak of their family members without using -san (Mr., Mrs, Ms.) at the end and instead will only speak the name to the out-group person. This a way of claiming that person as a member of one’s in-group. Likewise, when speaking of someone who works within your company to someone from another company, the in-group/out-group thing comes into play again, and the -san or title is dropped from the names of the people within your own company that you speak of. When turning to speak directly to them, the titles and suffixes re-appear as if by magic. It is the magic of Japanese levels of intimacy being defined clearly and literally through language.
10]
Sensei and Senpai
Likewise, the word sensei appears and disappears using rules probably out of the scope of this article. But, for me to call my teacher Katayama to you is probably correct, while I called him only “Sensei” to his face, and refer to him as “Katayama-Sensei” with my peers from the Atsuta Karate Club. Accidentally dropping the suffix from a name when speaking to peers is a particularly mild and yet scolded offense in Japan, so remembering these rules while speaking Japanese becomes an interesting exercise in something akin to solving a crossword puzzle while drawing a family tree.
I once had the dubious distinction at
my office in Japan of speaking with my
colleague Eiko referring to our boss by his
family name only. The look I received was
one of amusement, shock, and then I
received a firm lesson in discipline about
using -san at the end of our boss’s name
when speaking to one another. When
speaking to those who called on the
phone, I did not use the -san. When
speaking to his wife, she did not use the -
san. It all depended on which of us was
closest to him as to who dropped the
honorific suffix from his name. What a
nightmare! I could never keep it straight,
and it was hard enough trying to speak
and listen to Japanese everyday as it was
with everyone around me speaking with
this dialect or that one muddled by varying
degrees of accents. I sometimes just used
the suffixes all the time out of laziness.
Another word that I have run into
repeatedly during my karate experience is
the word “senpai.” Senpai is composed of
the same character SEN and the character
HAI, which can also be pronounced
tomogara, meaning “comrade.”
Linguistically, a senpai is someone who is
a colleague and yet senior to you. But do
the Japanese use it that way?
My experience in our karate club is
that no one was ever called “senpai.” We
just didn’t use it. I think one reason is that
we were from all different backgrounds,
and none of us was sure who was senior
to who. Yoshigai, Masako, and myself were
the three highest ranking members of the
club, but most of the people we outranked
were older than we were. We all referred to
Yoshigai as Yoshigai-Sensei, since he was
middle aged and clearly superior in ability
than the rest of us. No one ever called
anyone senpai, that I can remember.
I was beginning to think that the
Japanese did not even use this word until I
saw a sign at the national tournament
which said, “Go Yoshimoto Senpai!”
Apparently in the university clubs, where
everyone is about the same age, but very
clearly stratified between classes (seniors,
juniors, sophomores, & freshmen), using
the word senpai makes sense. Often it is
used within universities anyway, as
freshmen often refer to seniors as
“senpai.” In the West, the word senpai has
become a sort of station or office,
something akin to being an executive
officer. I have seen clubs which actually
treat the top member spot as an appointed
post with the title of senpai. That’s not
really how the word works in Japan, at
least not in my experience.
Also, like sensei, the word senpai is an
honorific word used toward or about
another person, never toward oneself.
Therefore, embroidering the word senpai
on your uniform or gym bag would, in
Japan anyway, be considered rude. How
much this bothers you is probably again
dependent upon how authentic you want
your gym bag to be. If you receive a gift
from friends that has Senpai Joe
embroidered on it, what are you going to
do? Throw it back in their faces and yell,
“You morons! Senpai comes after the
name, and I cannot carry a bag like this, it
would be considered rude in Japan!” So,
maybe you don’t care except for trivia’s
sake. Besides, your Japanese friends, if
you ever have any, probably would not
care very much anyway.
There is another word in Japanese,
kohai, which means someone who is junior
to another person. It is generally
considered abusive in Japan to refer to
someone else as your kohai. Therefore,
only the kohai himself would actually ever
use the word and only about himself, as if
to say, “I am Joe Senpai’s junior.” I never
heard the word even one time during my
two years in Japan. The one time I used it,
the person who heard me say it rolled their
eyes and made a comment about just
relaxing and having a good time. The
Japanese word for someone who is equal
in status is dohai. This is also a word I
never heard uttered in
This all brings up the interesting
question of how seniority is determined in
Japan. A very complex programming
language could be used to determine
whether or not someone is senior to
another person. It might look something
like this:
function who_is_senior()
{ am_i_in_debt_to_you();
what_is_the_context(); compare_age();
compare_business_title(); compare_sex();
compare_wealth(); are_you_japanese(); }
Depending on who is older, has more
status, is male, and has more financial
power, social status is generally
determined amongst Japanese. At least,
this is how I think they did it. The very last
thing that counted for anything in our
karate club was karate rank and ability. The
biggest thing was whether or not a debt
existed, and in Japan, if a teacher teaches,
you are indebted to them even if you pay
for the privelege. In a typical karate club,
the instructor has the highest status, since
all students are indebted to him, at least in
the context of his karate club. Outside of
this context, relationships can change
dramatically.
So, not only do the Japanese have a
complicated system of determining social
status, that system is dynamic and
changes depending on the situation.
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Sensei and Senpai
However, if I wanted to be reminded of my
lack of credentials in Japan, all I had to do was
encounter a police officer or any other
government clerk, and I was quickly brought
back to reality.
If I wanted to be reminded of my lack of
credentials in Japan, all I had to do was
encounter a police officer or any other
government clerk, and I was quickly brought
back to reality.
This issue really gets interesting when
considering children taking karate classes. Is a
sixteen year old black belt student the senpai of
a 50 year old white belt? Not from what I
observed. Was I, a 3rd dan from the US anyones
senpai? Not from what I observed. A few people
seemed to adopt me as their senior, but it
seemed more of a token of friendship than my
actually having any involvement in this senpai-
kohai mess. The Japanese use politeness to
deflect young people who presume to have
superior social status, but in reality, age counts
more than beauty or karate rank. In-group/out-
group thinking also counts more.
The Japanese seem to view this Senpai/
Kohai relationship as being one more like
mentoring. The senior is supposed to nurture,
discipline, and support the junior man. The
junior man is expected to support, respect, and
obey the senior. I am not sure it is even possible
for a non-Japanese to experience this in Japan
because, not being Japanese, it is like just
visiting all the time. In the karate club I trained
in, we had no visible, discernable hierarchy.
Katayama Sensei was the teacher, and the rest
of us did what he told us to.
We really did not coach one another unless
asked.
Trying to sort out and consciously obey the
Japanese rules for using various honorific terms
and showing respect and humility is quite
difficult. I have tried and failed so many times
that I ultimately decided to take my instructor’s
advice and simply use polite Japanese all the
time, even toward my friends unless I was giving
a command or making a joke, and I expressed
myself humbly and tried to show respect to
everyone around me. I don’t believe he
recommended this as a lifestyle for me because
he was trying to make me a better person so
much as he was trying to help me fit in and get
along with everyone.
Japanese is a difficult language, but as
difficult as it is, the Japanese are willing to make
allowances and blow off any mistakes you might
make as a visitor to their country. As for what
terms we use when in our countries, I believe
that is up to us. I saw some pretty incredible
attempts to use English in Japan. Some of those
attempts were both bizarre and miserable
failures. But English is not mine, it is merely a
tool that I use. Likewise, Japanese is not some
trademarked lingo that you cannot use as you
see fit. The only question is one of being
authentic – which considering the rules – may
be impossible
Written Rob Redmond
Rob Redmond is a native of the state of
Georgia in the Southeastern United States.
He began Karate training as a child and
eventually found himself the instructor of a
Karate club in 1984. After a two year stay in
Nagoya, Japan (1993-1994) studying with
Katayama Hitoshi in the Atsuta Karate Club,
Rob returned home and combined his
interests in technology and Karate to build
one of the most informative and outspoken
websites on issues surrounding the practice
of Shotokan Karate.
12]
Four Minutes of Hell : Tabata Intervals
There are many names for it. Surge, Burst, HiiT, The Tabata Protocol, and my favorite, Four Minutes of Hell. No matter what you call it, the Tabata method of interval training is the most effective way to train both the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic pathways. It only takes four minutes, but those four minutes are the longest in your life if you do the protocol correctly.
The Tabata Protocol, as near as I can find, was developed by a Japanese Speed Skating coach and later was studied by Dr. Tabata and his team. The researchers found that the athletes who did the routine improved their aerobic capacity by 14% and their anaerobic by 28%. The control group used steady state cardio showed an improved aerobic capacity of 9.4% and nothing for the anaerobic.
The Tabata team also found that the method of training lowered body fat without effecting the muscle size of the athletes. They published their findings in 1996.
Aerobic vs Anaerobic
For many years 'aerobic' conditioning as been the word tossed about by trainers and weight loss 'experts' as the main exercise humans should be preforming. It really took off in the 80s with Richard Simmons, Jane Fonda and Jazzercise. Touted as the best way to lose fat and get into shape, people have been duped into spending countless hours running in place on treadmills, or stepping on steps in a synchronized motion.
Don't get me wrong, steady state cardio has it's place. A half hour run once a week helps increase endurance and cardio function. It also improves circulation. I love to jog through the woods or bike riding around a relatively flat roads. You will even see me cruse the beach concrete paths on my inline skates. For 'exercise' though, I keep my treadmill and/or stationary bike employed only once a week for about 30 minutes, hard enough that I can't hold a conversation but I can still breathe.
If I were in a different sport, like a marathon runner, or a triathlete, aerobic conditioning would have more appearance in my workout schedule, but as a fighter, I need to balance out my cardio with anaerobic conditioning.
Just like aerobic is with oxygen, anaerobic is without oxygen. Anaerobic exercise is used by athletes in non-endurance sports to promote strength, speed and power. It also helps cardio function, circulation and endurance, just like steady state aerobics. Unlike aerobics, anaerobic routines signal the body to release HgH, a hormone that promotes fat loss and muscle gain. Another difference between anaerobic and aerobic is that anaerobic is high intensity, aerobic is low to moderate. There is nothing more intense than being in a fight.
The Tabata Method
It is so simple and so quick that at first, you may not believe that it works. However after you try it, so long as you follow the rules, you will leave a puddle of sweat on the floor. Yeah, that's right, sweat puddles after four minutes of effort, not only that, but you will curse me with what little breath you have. All it takes is 20 seconds of maximum effort, 10 seconds of rest. Repeat, repeat, repeat for a total of 8 rounds. Only do this protocol for a maximum of twice per week making sure that the next day is a rest day (flexibility training is okay).
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It is all about MAXIMUM effort. I want 20 seconds of everything you got. If you give it all you have, you might only be able to get through 4 or 5 rounds and that is okay. It is not about doing all the rounds, but more about running out of gas. When you completely deplete your oxygen, the muscles get more effective at burning glycogen, which is exactly what you want. So do not pace yourself.
With Tabata, you can choose almost any type of exercise, but it has to be something you can do without thinking about. You just need to pick one exercise per workout. Jumping-jacks, burpees, sprints, stationary bike, stairs, high knees, jump rope, heavy bag punching, box jump, agility ladder, switch kicks, lunges or just about anything. Use your imagination but don’t get too complicated.
This is the time, the only time, to throw form and technique out the window. For that reason, I would stay away from using weights, doing squats and for some people, no heavy bag. “What?” you say, “Why not a heavy bag?”. Well I have noticed that in some of the people I train that fighters focus on technique even when you tell them not too. Non fighters when given a heavy bag and told to go 'balls to the walls', they do. Karate folks tend to throw spinning back fists, and the like and that is not all out. Too much thinking. Also stay way from treadmills because they take too long to speed up and slow down for this workout.
The only other thing you need is a timer. When training others, I use a good old stopwatch. Some people use a personal round timer that you can buy for about $20 US. Another source and it is free, online stopwatch program like http://www.speedbagforum.com/timer.html or download a Tabata round MP3 and toss on your head phones.
References :
PubMed.gov http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8897392?dopt=Abstract Ross Training http://www.rosstraining.com/articles/tabataintervals.html Fox and Haskell Formula http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Exercise_zones.png
Article by Patty PittmanCheck out her blog Kihonwaza.com
14]
About Ethycs in Kyokushin and the
differences in Kyokushin after Mas Oyama
past away. Is Kyokushin still Kyokushin
n?
Kyokushin is divided.
Some people nowadays bent the basics,
syllabus, katas and principles of Kyokushin,
while others still experience and
practice Kyokushin as Kyokushin was mend to
be; with standards as set by founder Mas
Oyama and respecting his Dojo-Kun.
Kyokushin once was standardized
by Mas Oyama, because this was what he had
in mind; Karate as Karate should be. Mas
Oyama’s karate was an eye-opener for
many and those became his students, or
students of his students. In no-time Kyokushin
was not just practiced in Tokyo or Japan, but
worldwide. Kyokushin became a respected style
and was even respectfully named ‘the world’s
strongest Karate’. Organization wise, the
Kyokushin organization also became one of the
world’s strongest.
After the death of Mas Oyama in 1994, what
once was as a unit, became a divided camp;
resulted in split-up
organizations. Some former students of Mas
Oyama presented themselves as the new
Kyokushin leader, the successor of Mas Oyama.
A new Mas Oyama will never stand up; he was
one of a kind, an unique person, an example for
millions.
No new leader was able to be a leader for
all who served under Mas Oyama. This led
to a fragmentation within Kyokushin. New
organizations were formed, in the first instance,
these were named IKO 1, IKO 2, IKO 3 and so
on. Meanwhile, some of these
organizations have chosen a new name; like IKO
2 became WKO.
New leaders, once comrades and training
partners, were suddenly facing each other. Also
in the courtroom. The WKO organization under
the leadership of former World Champion Kenji
Midori decided to rename their karate into
Shinkyokushin; Japanese for ‘New Kyokushin’.
Meanwhile is nowadays the ownership of the
first Kyokushin dojo ever, the
official Honbu where Mas Oyama started to
teach under the new name Kyokushin Karate,
after years of wrangling back to the rightful
owners, the heirs Oyama, the Oyama family.
Mas Oyama's daughter Kuristina represents the
original IKO as custodian, protecting the
Kyokushin heritage and legacy.
The Netherlands, where I come from, is a
relatively small country. Also on Kyokushin
field. In spite of all break-ups we often continue
to work together, regardless the organization we
belong to. During seminars, summer camps,
tournaments, you'll always meet old friends and
make some new ones.
Internationally, in some countries, are now also
such attempts. Some examples: The Royama
group organized in October 2009 in Hungary an
open tournament in which all organizations
could take part, Kyokushin, Kyokushin but also
related, such as Ashihara Karate.
In 2011 a large number of international
executives decided to leave the IKO 1 / Matsui
group and founded the Karate World
Federation. Chairman of this organization
became Loek Hollander.
This organization presents itself as an umbrella
organization in which any organization can take
part, while they meanwhile stay independent
and keep their own identity.
Kickboxing, once born from Kyokushin, became
during the years a commercial, or
commercialized, sport. Kyokushin is something
you practice with your heart. Where it is possible
for many Kickboxers to gain money by facing
each other in front of a large audience,
Kyokushin is still remained and known as an
amateur sport. Amateur sport in the sense of
unpaid.
Today's youth, whether or not encouraged by
parents, tend to choose a sport which in later
life money can be earned. Tennis, Golf,
Basketball, Baseball are some
examples. Kyokushin you never practice for
making money. Kyokushin is practiced because
it suits
you, because you like it or you even love it. Kyokushin is often practiced as a hobby, but for several others it
is even a way of life. Some are able to practice Kyokushin on daily base. Others do not or cannot, because they also have a family life, work or their gym offers
Kyokushin only 2 days a week.
The old days
Some may say ’Kyokushin was better in
the old days’. Organization wise, perhaps, but
not everything from the old days is better than
today. Global communication, for a start, is so
much easier nowadays. I remember I wrote
letters to Japan and received answering letters
after a few months. Around 1991 I had my first
fax machine and communication became better.
Today I send my email and sometimes even a
few minutes later I have a mail back. Also
communication with people from all parts of the
world, sharing the same hobby, in this case
Kyokushin, is possible. Even communication
with people we never met in real live. On social
media like Facebook or Cameron Quinn's Budo
Karate Forums for example.
50 or more years ago, people had to visit
Dojos to learn Karate. The dojo was the only
place to learn it all. Then the first Karate
instruction books were published and learning
Karate became easier. A few more years later
we were able to order Karate videotapes. Now
can visit Youtube for the kata or the fight of your
choice. I wonder what the future will bring us to
simplify our trainings. But one thing did not
change yet and that is training itself. And
if someone ever invents something that replaces
training, I still will keep training Training is too
much fun to be ever replaced by any modern
technology or whatsoever!
Kyokushin degrees
Accepting a degree while you know in your
heart that you do not deserve the grade at all, is
not only deceive others but also yourself.
15]
About Ethics in Kyokushin and the
differences in Kyokushin after Mas Oyama
past away. Is Kyokushin still Kyokushin?
Unfortunately, nowadays we notice that in
some organizations or under some teachers dan
grades are given away to people who do not
deserve those.
I cannot talk for some other countries but I can
give a very sad and recent example from
my country, the Netherlands.
Someone, a very poor skilled
Kyokushin ‘teacher’ was in December
2011 awarded with a 5th dan grade. And
this while only a few years back he
made the switch from Wado Karate (3rd dan)
to Kyokushin, where he also
immediately received 3rd dan and a certificate.
Only short time later, September 2009, this
person was promoted to 4th Dan. Just two
years later, in December 2011, a fifth dan grade
was offered. To answer some of your questions.
NO, this man is no Superman, NO this man
has no hidden talents, NO this man has never
performed at a high level, NO this man has
never took part in any tournament,
100 man kumite, not even in 10 man kumite. NO
he has never taken a dan grade test, NO he
does not master brown belt level katas, NO he
has never participated in any training or
competition or seminars. For most in Kyokushin,
he has been more invisible than a Ninja for
years. Now he is presenting himself as examiner
for people who have to show techniques and
katas he never has showed. Now he is judging
others and katas he can’t perform. He is
someone who in my dojo is not allowed
to wear a brown belt. How is it possible that
such differences are possible. In Holland
we call people like that ‘Kami no obi, or a belt of
paper’.
It is in nobody's interest that the
name Kyokushin on this, and
perhaps countless other ways, is harmed. Giving
away degrees, just like that is Kyokushin
unworthy. Shame on the persons who create
these situations, shame on the persons who
accept grades just like this.
What does this mean for you? Most likely
you earned your degree with blood, sweat and
tears. With organizations handing out
certificates that easy and people accepting a
grade while they know that they do not earn a
grade like this, Kyokushin no longer sticks out
head and shoulders above the rest. Kyokushin
will become just one of the other style groups
each with their own syllabi and priorities as to
attract teachers by promising people degrees or
certificates. There is only one solution.
Kyokushin must become Kyokushin again. With
high standards within every organization. Sector
diversification leads to decline and if there is
anything that we used to learn in Kyokushin
from our teachers: performing and not
compromising.
Nowadays Kyokushin teachers are contacting
other organizations when they have failed for
their grading in their present organization. They
apparently hope to find another organization
with lower grading standards or an organization
that welcomes them with a grade by
joining. That's the wrong mentality. The
challenge within Kyokushin has always been the
hard way. When you notice in your organization
that some people do not pass, you have to
respect this. This means quality control and high
standards. Be proud that you belong to such an
organization and not one wherein anyone after a
certain period gets their degree hand out.
Kyokushin was always known as the elite within
the Karate, like the special forces or Navy Seals
in the army. Respected in the dojo, respected
during tournaments, respected everywhere they
go.
Let old times revive. Let everyone in their
own country try to achieve these goals, let the
strong parties cooperate, let Kyokushin be
Kyokushin again as soon as possible. In my
country, I am together working with others,
creating a National website for quality control
within Kyokushin. On this website we will
publish just the names of real Kyokushin
teachers and quality dojos.
Is this the best method? Perhaps there are more
ways, but we have to start somewhere.
A teacher’s obligation is to produce
students a least the same level; and when
possible even better than he ever was.
A few years back I wrote this; I like to share
this with you all.
OSU
Article Submitted by
Willem Brunekreef
16]
Monthly National Fighters training for Tournament fighters
Mas Oyamas daughter Kuristina visiting Holland; November 2011. From left to right; Willem Brunekreef Shihan, Mrs Kuristina Oyama and Ruud van Buren Sensei.
17]
THIS IS KYOKUSHIN
Kyokushin For some, a hobby a-er school or work,
for others, ‘a way of life’
Kyokushin What this means for you, is for you alone to decide
Kyokushin One <es a white belt, another <es a black belt.
Yet the truth of Kyokushin lies within:The <e that counts is the one that binds our heart to Kyokushin
Kyokushin
You reap what you sow;nothing of value is gained for free.
Kyokushin In Kyokushin are no Hooligans, just friendsWhatever the color, religion or race may be
We respect all: every prac<<oner,every club, every school, because we are Kyokushin
Kyokushin We are Kyokushin,
Not just in the Dojo, not just in our beloved white dogi,But in heart and soul, in our daily lives.No one can take that feeling away
Kyokushin I do it my way, you do it your way,
but we both follow and respect the Mas Oyama way
Kyokushin From Mudansha to Sosai, from Holland to Japan,
we speak one Universal language, understood by all,the language of respect: OSU
Willem Brunekreef
18]
Prepared by MagCloud for Frank van den Dungen. Get more at senseid.magcloud.com.