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What´s in a title?

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Image highlights, My thoughts, Philosophy. 4 Comments on What´s in a title?

There are many of us who use exotic titles before our names, such as Shihan or Hanshi etc.  Are we eligible to these titles or is it that some people just give themselves the title. First what do they mean, perhaps not an easy question because after all they are foreign words that we assume we understand. For example Shihan, would mean to set an example to others a high-class word for Sensei.

Everyone wants to be a Hanshi, this is a title that should be given to you from your teacher, in my case it was Sosai Oyama, it’s more of an honorific title a teaching title. But to be different people use it before their names, maybe to be different?

Soke is another strange title a simple answer would mean a founder or head of a family or such like, nothing to do with karate qualifications.  Kaicho is another strange one as it means chairman but if you put it in front of your name and you practice karate it sounds very grand.

Lots of titles floating around but many perhaps are misunderstood and misused.

Familiarity breeds contempt

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Image highlights, Karate, My thoughts, Philosophy. No Comments on Familiarity breeds contempt

We are supposed to have a Budo style of Karate but sometimes we forget and become too familiar with our Semapi, calling them by their first name for example. Or when having a photograph taken with them and putting your arms on their shoulders and just hanging there, or just generally being a little too friendly.

Looking at the old photograph of Honbu brought back memories of my UchiDeshi days, not that I have ever forgotten them. Before I went to Japan, I had never heard the word UchiDeshi let alone understand the true meaning. When I arrived at Honbu, no one knew who I was or had any information about me, I had no place to sleep and very little money.

The first night I stayed in a hotel and then the Chief Instructor who was Yasuhiko Oyama Shihan (Now Oyama Karate USA) said I could stay with him. After one week, I moved into the dormitory and there I stayed for two years. Opening and closing Honbu every day, cleaning and training.

All these years later when I go back to Japan and meet my old Sempai´s I always show them the respect they deserve even though I may now have a higher grade.

When do you start preparing to train?

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Karate, My thoughts, Philosophy. No Comments on When do you start preparing to train?

Are you the kind of person who runs into the dojo at the very last minute and then thinks about Training? Most of us like to get to the dojo at a reasonable time in order to stretch and warm up a Little. My blog this time is about when do you start preparing to train, here are some simple tips for you.

  1. If you start from work or home the idea is the same, try not to think about the days problems rather think about the training thats going to come, take a deep breath.
  2. When you take off your shoes place them tidily on the floor, this means that you have left the outside world and have started your preparation.
  3. You take off your daily cloths and put on a clean white gi, another step in leaving not only the outside world but also your ego. Once the gi is on we are all one.
  4. When you enter the dojo you give a loud Osu showing that you are ready to do your best and train hard.
  5. Great your Sempai, Sensei to show them that your ready.
  6. Lessons usually start with Mokuso, this is the final step before you can start training the last chance to leave the outside world and focus on what is to come. Breath deeply and slowly and calm your mind.

So don’t think that your training starts when your instructor says Hajime, think again.

Its that time of year…

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Karate, My thoughts. No Comments on Its that time of year…

Its that time of year, Christmas is coming. Time to send cards to those people you think deserve a card. Do you send cards? or are you one of those people who send a mass email with the same message to everyone. Are you just lazy or is it that you have no interest.

The world we live in is changing I know, but old fashioned values should be kept. Such as acknowledging an email or saying thank you for a gift you may have received. We talk about Dojo Kun etc. the fourth line starts with “We will observe the rules of courtesy” unfortunately that seems to be forgotten.

Distance. (Maai)

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Image highlights, Karate, My thoughts. No Comments on Distance. (Maai)

Whenever I am driving to the dojo I always try to keep a safe distance from the car in front of me, a thinking distance that give me time to react in case of an emergency. I am sure that most of you do the same. So I have this safe distance where I feel I am in control and the suddenly some other car pulls into my safe distance and changes the whole situation, apart from the fact it’s bad driving its putting lives at stake.

Ok, back to Kyokushin, when you fight you have your safe distance where you feel in control and comfortable in case your opponent attacks. You always try to keep this Maai so you can react to any situation and in turn, so that you can attack. It come with experience, when you stand in front of someone you should have a pretty good idea if they can hit you or in turn you can hit them.

Just get two students to stand in front of each other and tell them to walk slowly towards each other and stop when they feel threatened. When one of them or both stop they have reached that point where they feel in danger, this is Maai.

Now if car drivers could take a lesson from Kyokushin we would be safer on the roads.

Is kiai a lost art?

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Image highlights, Karate, My thoughts. No Comments on Is kiai a lost art?

It seems that wherever I go in the world Kiai is slowly disappearing. Its slowly being replaced by something that sounds like an old steam train. Kiai should represent a combination of energy and technique culminating in ichigeki, the final blow the finishing technique. What we have now sounds like someone trying to blow out a candle. Get back to basics and practice your Kiai.

Interview

Written by Shihan on . Posted in Image highlights, Karate, My thoughts. 4 Comments on Interview

The other day I sat down with Sensei Annika from Banzai and Sempai Reine who is the Chairman of Gothenburgs Karate Kai and had an interview for my dojo 50 years celebration. We talked about the dojo, past, present and more importantly the future. Where do we go from here, will things change, lots of questions but very hard to find answers. Is Kyokushin changing? is it for the better? We talked for well over an hour, now Annika has to type everything out, not an easy task. It will be interesting to read when it´s finished.

My question to you the readers is how do you see the future of Kyokushin?