Martial Arts Videos

[Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan demonstrating Chinte]

Chinte (珍手) (Japanese: “Rare Hand” or “Unusual Hand”) is a very old kata originating from China. Its mixture of standard movements and rarely seen techniques, vestiges of ancient forms, give this kata a special appeal.

Particularly dynamic, with its alternating strong and slow passages, Chinte is unique also in the presence of a number of circular techniques, despite the preference in Shotokan karate for linear movements. It is a kata of close distance self defense techniques. The somewhat peculiar closing movements allude to the absorption of the power of the waves by the sand, which is a symbol of the return to tranquility after the violent storm.
Some believe the final three movements, a series of backwards hops, were added to bring the kata back to the original starting place in order to facilitate competition, because they are not present in the other versions of the kata practiced by other styles of Japanese Karate.

Alternatively, it could be that the final movements were dropped by other styles because their meaning was lost. One interpretation of the final movements is that a bully’s grab to one’s chest is secured and then the hops are used to apply one’s body weight to break his wrist.

[From Wikipedia. Original page is here]

[G. Bigot 7th dan and S. Fauchard 5th dan showing bunkai (application) of Chinte]

[Muay Thai vs Taekwondo MMA fight]

[Koji Komuro vs Wakabayashi Zirou, The Contenders X Rage]

[Some atemi (striking) applications to aikido, filmed at Stefan Stenudd's dojo. Tori Stefan Stenudd, Uke Andreas Johansson]

The use of striking in the performance of Aikido waza or applied technique is not well documented and is even the source of quite a bit of conflicting information. Saotome Sensei has made it quite clear that O-Sensei taught that atemi in Aikido was at the heart of the practice. Yet other instructors have been known to say there are no strikes in Aikido.

A number of practitioners believe that Aikido’s peaceful intent is lost when atemi is used yet those who have worked to preserve the martial integrity of the art know from experience that any experienced attacker will defeat Aikido techniques if there is no use of atemi. Even those who feel that use of atemi is perfectly appropriate in Aikido waza may not have considered in any systematic manner the various ways in which it is actually utilized in the art.

[By George S. Ledyard. Full article here]

[Courtesy of ITFtuls]

Toi-Gye was the pen name of the noted scholar and philosopher Yi Hwang (16th Century), an authority on neo-Confucianism. The 37 movements refer to his birthplace on 37 degrees latitude, the diagram represents ‘scholar’.

[Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan executing Nijūshiho]

Nijushiho, was apparently created by Anikichi Aragaki, and is a very popular kata. The kata name is translated to mean ‘twenty four steps’, and the simplicity and ambiguity of the name has been a topic of much debate. Kata such as Sochin have a translation that perfectly highlights the attitude and feeling of the kata. Nijushiho however, a kata of much personality has a name of limited symbolic significance. It is this fact that has challeneged many to learn more about the philosophy of the kata, for it is not blatantly clear in the kata title.

This kata teaches you to move and defend from many angles, and helps teach you co-ordination. Many use this kata as a tool to highlight the need for total concentration. If you take a student and force him to perform Heian Shodan in an angle that is different from the regular (for example, facing a corner of the room) they find it quite simple to finish the kata correctly in the accurate position. Nijushiho however does not use such basic and predictable angles, so to perform this kata accurately in a position that is irregular takes much concentration, since it is very easy to lose your co-ordination.

[From theshotokanway.com. Original page is here]

[Nijūshiho bunkai by Didier Lupo]

The best judokas and their favourites throwing techniques:

morote seoi nage: Choi
seoi otoshi: Fallon
tai otoshi: Lee
sode tsurikomi goshi: Arencibia
uchi mata: Inoue
o goshi: Iliadis
morote seoi nage: Camilo
ippon seoi nage: Koga
kata guruma: Derly
seoi nage: Nomura
uchi mata: Tmenov
de ashi barai: Suzuki
osoto gari: Yamashita
uchi mata: Douillet
tai otoshi: Elmont
uchi mata: Huizinga
te guruma: Grol

[Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan demostrating Tekki Sandan]

Tekki Sandan, the most advanced in the Tekki Series, is the most complex and difficult to master. However, once the fundamental elements have been perfected in the previous kata such as maintaining correct posture, and the development of a strong and rooted dachi, attention can be paid to the complicated hand and arm movements.

This is in common regard, the most popular of the Tekki Series, because of its sharp and effective hand movements. Although very difficult to learn, great power can be generated. These kata are also very important in developing alternative methods of using the hips.

With many kata, such as Heian Shodan, and Heian Nidan, power is generated through both big technique and through big hip movements. As a beginner, this is an excellent way to develop power. As the karateka advances however, he aims to make this big power with as minimal movement as possible. This is where the Tekki kata help develop the karateka. Because of the dominance of kiba-dachi, and because of the lateral embusen, there is little opportunity to generate huge levels of power via the hips through big hip action. Therefore, the karateka is challenged to generate power through alternative means.

Many Instructors place huge emphasis on hip vibration in these kata, and this is one concept that is both vital and effective to the Shotokan karateka, and through the study of these kata, the karateka will improve greatly.

[From www.theshotokanway.com. Original page is here]

[Tekki Sandan's Bunkai by Imura Sensei 7th dan]

[A simple option of rotating yourself off the wall. Uses trapping, leverage, and blocking principles. Courtesy of Submissions101]

Learn how to correctly use a leg Nikyo to defend a roundhouse kick in this free Aikido video featuring a 4th degree black belt.