Click image to enlarge flyer

For a while, now, I have been wanting to spar more–even though I do not particularly like sparring–because I find it to be incredibly valuable. In the spirit of that and of trying to build our dojo’s name recognition I proposed the idea of an open sparring meetup to my instructor. We talked about it for a while and finally agreed on a format where anyone from any martial art can come and spar with each other without trying to compete for anything or prove that they or their art is better than anyone else or anyone else’s art.  The flyer that we’ve given to people’s gym’s is above, and there is a Facebook page for the event where people can click the Join button at the top and RSVP.

Prerequisites

Single Hand Knife Block (Shuto Uke)

Performed in horse stance, the blocking arm goes out almost completely straight with the hand tight and the fingers together and pointed up towards the ceiling. The blocking surface is the ridge along the side of the hand below the pinky.

• Attention.
• Bow.
• Announce the Kata.
• Remaining in Masubi the hands come down as they would at attention.
• The left leg steps over the right leg as both elbows come up until they are parallel with the collarbone. The forearms are level with the biceps.
• The right leg steps out to horse stance. Perform a double punch attack to the right.
• The left leg steps over the right as the right arm performs an augmented arm block to the front.
• The right leg steps out as the right arm performs an augmented hook block to the front.
• The left foot comes together with the right foot. The fists press against the hip and are then raised to the upper rib cage.
• The left leg steps out to the left. Perform a double punch to the left.
• The right leg steps over the left leg as the left arm performs an augmented arm block.
• The left leg steps out as the left arm performs an augmented hook block.
• The left hand chambers to the left of the body open with the palm facing up. The right hand chambers on top of the left in a fist.
• The right hand performs an augmented hook block to the front.
• Stomp with the right foot.
• Perform a downward vertical elbow strike with the right arm.
• Single arm knife hand block with the right hand to the right.
• Punch across the body with the left hand.
• Left leg steps over the right.
• Right leg steps out into an attention stance.
• Left arm performs a hook block to the front.
• Right hand performs a hook block to the front while the left hand performs a low block.
• Back fist with the right hand.
• Chamber the right hand, open with palm facing up, next to the hip on the right side. The left hand makes a fist on top of the right hand.
• The left hand performs an augmented hook block to the front of the body.
• Stomp with the left foot.
• Perform a downward vertical elbow strike with the left arm.
• Single arm knife hand block with the left hand to the left.
• Punch across the body with the right hand.
• Right leg steps over the left.
• Left leg steps out into an attention stance.
• Right arm performs a hook block to the front.
• Left hand performs a hook block to the front while the right hand performs a low block.
• Back fist with the left hand.
• Attention.
• Bow.

The secret to pronouncing Japanese correctly is the vowel sounds. There are five vowel sounds in Japanese. These are about the same as the vowel sounds in French – A as father, I as in marine, U as in full, E as in pen, and O as in go. Thus A, I, U, E, O, in this order, are formed with fifteen consonants to form the basic 46 Japanese syllables with some additional sound changes.

Japanese syllables are of one and two letter combinations with an occasional double consonant.

Common Vocabulary Inside a Dojo

Do: Literally means “the way, the path or the approach.” The arts of Japan are usually attached to this “do”. It suggests that the arts are a way for the ultimate perfection of human character.

Jitsu: Art, concerning itself with the physical mechanics of the technique with no emphases on the character development of the student.

Dojo: a hall or place (jo) where the way (do) of the martial arts is practiced.

Seiza: formal Japanese way of sitting on the floor with one’s knees bent under him. It literally means to “sit correctly”.

Mokuso: means meditation or quiet contemplation. The purpose of mokuso is to achieve mental and physical quietnessand tranquility before and after training.

Rei: a command used for bow. Bowing may be done standing or sitting. One bows to the front to show respect to the heritage of Karate, to the instructor and to each other to express mutual respect, trust, and appreciation.

Shomen ni rei: Bow to the front.

Sensei ni rei: Bow to the teacher.

Otagai ni rei: Bow to each other.

Yoi: a command to be mentally alert and ready for action.

Kamae: a command to move into ready position for action either for defense or attack. The open leg stance will allow one to move into action with economy of energy and motion. Zenkutsu Dachi or Shizentai Dachi are used as the ready positions.

Hajime: means the beginning or the start. As a command it is begin, start, or go.

Kiai: command to let out a sound at the moment of focus to aid in the tensing of body muscles and focusing of the mind for a more effective technique. One does not literally say “Kiai”, rather it is an outward burst of air and energy.

Lets start with making a fist.  There are several different methods of making a fist and several different ways to strike with it.  Most people tend to make a regular, balled-up-fingers fist.  This will work fine, but we can branch out from there–the Okinawans actually considered that a fist for beginners to use.  The Shuri-ken (not to be confused with shuriken), or Shuri fist, is made by curling the bottom three fingers but laying the index finger flat over the meat of the thumb, then closing the thumb across the fingers as you would with a regular fist.  This method of clenching your fist helps you make a tighter fist, which in turn makes striking with your knuckles and the back of your hand more effective.

This fist is very effective for punching but when you backfist or hammerfist strike, I have found that my thumb puts uncomfortable pressure on my extended index finger.  That isn’t to say that everyone will experience this or that you shouldn’t use the Shuri-ken for those types of strikes, but I have another fist I like use for those.  When I backfist or hammerfist strike I like to use tate-ken (vertical fist), which is a Chinese style of fist in which all four fingers are curled but the fist is held vertically with the thumb squeezing down on top, rather than across the fingers.  This takes all of the thumb-pressure you can exert and lines it up with the bottom of your fist which makes for a better (in my opinion) fist for striking with a hammerfist, and it keeps it from applying pressure to your index finger when striking with a backfist.  Some added benefits of tate-ken are that you can strike with the thumb (oyayubi-zuki), and because it is a narrower punch you have a better chance of slipping it between someone’s arms when they are holding up their guard to protect their head.

With any of these methods of making a fist you can strike a multitude of ways.  Typically, karate practitioners will strike and twist the punch on impact (hiniri).  Alternatively, however, you can also hold the fist vertically and lever the knuckles downward or upward into your opponent.  Levering them upwards causes you to strike with the bottom three knuckles (popular in Wing Chun), so be aware that if you are going to do that you will need to strengthen and condition those knuckles, but be careful.  The reason that we typically strike with the index and middle knuckles is because those bones in the hands are the strongest and most firmly held in place.  The bottom two knuckles are “floating” in that they are very loosely held, as they share muscles in the palm (which is why the bottom three fingers are the strongest for gripping).

Sticking with the theme of closed fists we have oni-ken/ryuu-ken (demon fist or dragon fist) and kiko-ken (phoenix fist, also known as the phoenix eye fist), where-in each has a single knuckle extended.  In oni-ken/ryuu-ken, the middle finger is extended from the fist so that its second knuckle can drill deep into a soft target.  Kiko-ken is performed with the index finger’s second knuckle extended and is typically levered into the strike in a Chinese manner rather than twisted, though it certainly can be twisted.  Both of these are used on soft targets such as the eyes, the solar plexus, and the nerves of the arms and legs.  You will not find many people training these fists, even though they were likely taught them, because even to strike those soft targets you need to strengthen and condition the second knuckles of those fingers or you are still likely to injure yourself.  That said, they can be very effective for quick strikes to soft, nerve-filled areas.

Remember, in karate we do not only strike with closed fists, but open and partially-open fists as well.  In Part 2 I will discuss some of the open-handed striking that can be found in karate.