Shotokan Karate (Beach Ave Dojo)

"I can say that I fear nothing, not even death! And this I don't say in a big-headed or conceited way. My meaning is that I always try my best in everything I d...o, so I will be satisfied when I do die. I think the reason that people fear death is because they want to do and accomplish so many other things that are still undone...they always want to do more. Also, I truly believe that life continues after physical death, all life continues... life is a circle!" - Hirokazu Kanazawa - Lucas Barboza

I was honored to have Fumio Demura in attendance at Caylor Adkins Memorial practice January 19, 2019.Long Beach State. A good friend to us all.

Any age is a good time to start practicing Karate.

Thank you Val Mijailovic

LA sports arena early 1970s Historical picture

Shigeru Egami Sensei once said: - "The great ideal of Gichin Funakoshi who came to be recognized as the 'Father of Modern Karate-D' was to be able to advance f...rom Jutsu (Technique) to D (Path) And with that, the distinction between these two aspects must be clearly assimilated ... "Karate-jutsu" can be understood as being nothing more than a technique aimed at homicide, and this emphatically does not define the purpose of "Karate-D". He who seeks the true path of Karate must seek not only to coexist with his opponent, but also to achieve unity with him. In Karate-D, there are no questions about homicide, and no emphasis is placed on victory. When practicing Karate-D, the important thing is to seek to be one with your partner, move together and progress collectively! " - Lucas Barboza

Special photo.... Otsuka, founder of Wado Ryu, receiving the first ever 1st Dan Black belt from Funakoshi Gichin. This was 1924.

"I think Ki is a form of energy and that energy is not physical, in the strict sense of the term. We, humans, are living beings and to live, we must be in full ...force. In particular, the energy we have in the centre of the body can be used to move. To move, to live in our body, even if we don't know exactly how it happens. Some people have the ability to combine muscle strength with energy stored in the centre of the body. When that fusion happens, a truly incredible force is released. Also, through training, this energy continuously grows and undergoes a qualitative transformation. A slightly inappropriate example may be when an electric current is transformed into a very high voltage discharge under certain conditions. Speaking of Ki, people have their Ki, this is the natural basis that everyone has, but when, for example, muscle strength, breathing strength, and mental concentration strength blend harmoniously, another force comes and goes. In karate, I believe that these three elements are harmoniously connected, the basis of the energy needed for training. We also know that Ki exists scattered in the atmosphere, i.e. outside our body and that in the past the Samurai have found a way to open a channel of communication with this energy source. In short, they managed to unite the Ki of the universe and the Earth, and that process took place in the body of the Samurai, in which immense energy was expressed, I would dare to say almost "terrible". These are not my opinions, but they are transmitted throughout history. In short, the principle is heaven (Ten), earth (Chi), and man (Yin) together. It was an idea that Budo was trying to achieve, and the highest level was to combine this principle by expressing it in technique." - "Passing on the legacy of Yoshitaka Funakoshi", Interview with Master T. Kase made by Luciano Puricelli (published in Italian language) See more

Sensei Taiji Kase on the differences in exercise when he started with karate and today. "In those days there was no Sports Karate and the only competition was w...ith yourself. Like climbing a great mountain you had to train very hard in a totally committed way in order to gain endurance. The greatest difference is that with Sports karate the emphasis is now on fighting only to win the competition, but in our case, it was a fight to the death and a matter of winning in order to survive. By fighting in this way we not only won on the battlefield but we also found out more about ourselves, like Solomon. We practiced to learn what we were doing wrong and not just to make points by using some winning technique. Through our minds and spiritual approach, we can create and develop." - excerpt from an interview conducted by SKCE Chairman, Gerry Grey in1984, Crystal Palace, London.

"The competition does not have a very high significance from a martial arts perspective and the same judgment has to be made on the practice methods that are ap...plied in these arts. It is not my intention to say that we should not compete but instead fight to the death. Such kind of thing cannot be allowed in modern society. Therefore those people who want to know the strictness of real martial arts should already pause at this point and take a new look at things (in martial arts when confronting the opponent) and be strict against oneself. Being strict against oneself in martial arts is to be able to, at any time, defeat and destroy the opponent that confronts you and not doing it. It is to make sure not to destroy the opponent but to greatly spare the opponent's life." - excerpt from the text "Aikido is a Language" By Shoji Nishio sensei (Photo: Nishio Shoji sensei) See more

Tom Muzila with the perfect kick

When your temper rises, lower your fists when your fists rise, lower your temper. - Chojun Miyagi, founder of Goju-Ryu (On the photo: Chojun Miyagi sensei)

10 differences between Karate in Okinawa & Japan

I was maybe 18 years old had won Nisei Week twice. I have to say that being a KID facing seasoned fighters, fighters that have real life experiences and real ...life fights not tournaments I was humbled. I continue to be. Jordan Roth woke me up to facing reality of really fighting a serious opponent. It changed my practice and my understanding of Kata and movements that actually work. So much respect to Jordan and what he pasted to us. See more

This was s Special moment and completely unplanned Jeffrey Klein and Mark Kohagura. Someone said do something and that happened. Wow

Sensei Ohshima performing Hangetsu Kata during the Grand Opening of the Shotokan Ohshima Dojo in the year 2000. I was taking the Godan exam and passed.

From the 1960's, My early years of training in Karate started in the beginning of 1965 as my high school friend Steve Becker took me to a demonstration in Santa... Monica at a park on Wilshire Blvd. Sensei Tsutomu Ohshima was expanding his organization and brought several members to give a demonstration. France Borka (3rd Kyu) and George Gamble (5th Kyu) was given permission to open up a Santa Monica Dojo that was suppose to be taught by Mr. Honda or Mr. Okabe. It was brutal in the early years as I trained, although I wanted to surf, hang out with my club the Jasons and party. Practices went 2-4 hours with Sensei Ohshima teaching every Thursday evening and we had tea after with Sensei sharing his stories. I attended my first Winter Special Training in 1965 at the Ogden Dojo in Long Beach during a frozen weekend that changed my life. It was pure hell as I was 6th Kyu, the smallest and youngest of 27 total Karate participants led by Caylor Adkins, Sadaharu Honda, Mr Ohara, Shoji Okabe, Jordan Roth and Sensei Ohshima. All the participants at that Special Training influenced my life no matter what rank the held; Brown belts France Borka, George Gamble, Henry Wilkerson, Albert Kubota, Floyd Herbert, and Warren Griffin. some of the White Belts were Don DePree, Buddy Bailey. I hated covered with sand and sweat from the Friday night beach practice with no showers. running barefoot over broken glass to the beach with frozen feet and standing Kibadachi Horse-stance for 90 minutes. The next day was 30 minutes Back stance on each leg, but it was 45 minutes and Kumite. I saw so many black eyes and split eyes. I wanted to quit....but I stayed to get my Brown Belt so I could train with Ohshima Sensei on Sunday mornings at the Melrose Dojo. Many times we would go to the open practice on Friday nights to the dismay of my girlfriend. All these Seniors and all the practices changed the course of my life. See more

Learn from the past.

"Gichin threw Okinawa-style kicks, short and strong in high posture, although much more modern than Okinawa. His style was a form of self-defense. His son, on t...he contrary, innovated kicks, unknown in Okinawa like Mawashi, Yoko and Ushiro-Geri, Mawashi-Uchi, etc., in a very long and deep way, much more sporty. His father totally approved of his idea but given his advanced age did not try to apply this style suitable for younger academics. During the war, the first students of modern style were Hironishi, Hayashi, Uemura. All were 4th Dan, the highest rank at that time. No one was 5th Dan." - Taiji Kase sensei in Interview for Budo Magazine Europe VOL XVII - 8 N 4 October 1967 See more

We wish our sensei Ohshima a happy birthday. And still a long life made of transmission and happiness.

Going through my mom's 1969 WLA chapter of the JACL (Japanese American Citizen League scrapbook where she was the President, I found this newspaper article. Th...e huge Japanese Expo was opening at the Sports Arena and my dojo was performing a demonstration. Jeffrey Louis Klein and I were Black Belts with the Shotokan Karate of America organization and Jeff became on of the toughest fighters in the tournament circuit and we made the cover of Black Belt magazine October 1970. Great times indeed. See more

The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate Niju Kun () By Master Gichin Funakoshi The Shtkan niju kun were published in a book in 1938 The Twenty Guiding Principles of Karate as:... 1. Karate-do begins and ends with bowing. Hitotsu, karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto o wasuru na 2. There is no first strike in karate. Hitotsu, karate ni sente nashi 3. Karate stands on the side of justice. Hitotsu, karate wa, gi no tasuke 4. First know yourself, then know others. Hitotsu, mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire 5. Mentality over technique. Hitotsu, gijitsu yori shinjitsu 6. The heart must be set free. Hitotsu, kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu 7. Calamity springs from carelessness. Hitotsu, wazawai wa ketai ni seizu 8. Karate goes beyond the dojo. Hitotsu, dojo nomino karate to omou na 9. Karate is a lifelong pursuit. Hitotsu, karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru 10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty. Hitotsu, ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari 11. Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state. Hitotsu, karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru 12. Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing. Hitotsu, katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo 13. Make adjustments according to your opponent. Hitotsu, tekki ni yotte tenka seyo 14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength). Hitotsu, tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari 15. Think of hands and feet as swords. Hitotsu, hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe 16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies. Hitotsu, danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari 17. Formal stances are for beginners; later, one stands naturally. Hitotsu, kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai 18. Perform prescribed sets of techniques exactly; actual combat is another matter. Hitotsu, kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono 19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique. Hitotsu, chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu 20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way. Hitotsu, tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo

This picture was taken in 1964 I was standing in the first little Dojo that Chuck Norris opened it was a whopping 450 ft.. Earlier that year I was promoted to ...first-degree black belt becoming Chuck Norris first black belt. I started training in the late 1960 I was working in a little store and there was a young lady there working as a checker her name was Diane Norris One day she told me that her husband had been in the Air Force and was stationed in Korea for one year and was promoted to black belt and that he was going to put on a little karate demonstration in his mothers backyard in Gardena and wanted to know if I would like to come watch the demonstration. You have to remember this was 1960 I guess you might say the beginning of the martial arts movement in the United States most people didn’t even know what it was including myself you have to remember there weren’t any Bruce Lee’s there weren’t any karate kid movies and there weren’t a dojo in every shopping mall I decided to go and watch. I was an only child and I think I was a good boy I never got into real bad trouble after I got into high school I got into several fights and then I ended up in jail twice. At that time in my life my motivation after I watch the demonstration I was thinking this is so great I can start practising karate and fighting and I won’t have to end up in jail. We practised in Norris mothers backyard for six months and then Norris talk the local high school Lawndale high school into letting us practice there. I was 21 years old Chuck Norris was 22 years old. Mr.Norris And myself became very good friends we did everything together our wife’s were the same age and our children were the same ages when my daughter Sheri Osborne was born and I had her baptized Chuck Norris became her godfather. Most of our practice in those days was focussing on tournament fighting we started Incorporating different techniques from different styles and blending them into a style that we made up. In those early days when the tournament wars what I called them started we were winning most of the time and garnered a good reputation. Later in 1964 I open my own dojo In Redondo Beach on Pacific Coast Highway, Norris had opened another school in North Redondo beach and we went in together and open another Dojo in Inglewood.I will continue this story sometime later. There was a lot of history going on and we didn’t realize it was anything more than fun.I also met Bruce Lee in 1964 at Ed Parkers international Karate championships in Long Beach. When I first met Mr. Ohshima he was 33 years old.I think in August he will turn 90 years old.Where does the time go.My next birthday I will turn 80 years old. The story will continue at another time. See more

There is a story here. Going left to right Tom Muzila, Don DePree and Ken Osborne. I’m not sure of the year this picture was taken we are at long beach winter s...pecial training.Long beach winter special training was the beginning of so many memories to so many. I personally believe that so many high-level martial artist came out of this winter special training bar none. At one time back in the day it wasn’t unusual to have 130 to 150 people in attendance at this special training.Later on they held another winter special training at Caltech university on the same weekend to relieve some of the pressure on the attendance at Long Beach.Long beach winter special training.it had a reputation that it would chew you up in short order.It was such a hard special training that not only were you worrying about Being able to survive it to the end you were also worrying about being alive at the end. One of my more glorious moments we were all in Horse stance I was always a runner in two weeks leading up to special training I developed a serious Stone bruise on my left heel. It was killing me through the whole thing so to take the weight off my heel I was putting more pressure on the front of my foot which tightened up my thigh muscles and calf muscles. When They yelled stop I fell over on my face. Just like I was shot. Everybody was helping each other stretch out somebody was working on me I can’t remember who and then all of a sudden Caylor yelled out lineup. I remain laying on the floor they kept working on me and finally Caylor yells out drag him off the floor. I ended up going to the emergency after and I was on crutches for two weeks. Welcome to Long Beach State winner special training. you up

The original karate kid Jeff K was telling me he was about 15 years younger than I knew he was. Jeff is one of the most talented young men that I’ve ever seen.... The rule that is in place now is you can’t test for black belt until you’re 16 years of age all of you young men can blame Jeff for that he took the black belt test and he was I think 14 or 15 years old. With flying colours and I think they held him back a year or two before that so that kind of speaks to you how talented this young man he was a one of a kind until Mark K started training Mark and Jeff became good friends and were good examples to all the younger men plus the older ones As well. See more

After a long battle with illness, Koichi Sugimura 8th dan #JKA has passed away. Born in Japan in 1940, Sensei founded the Swiss #Karate Association in 1967. Nak...ayama sensei personally graded him to 4th and 5th dan in #Shotokan in the 1970's. He was recently interviewed in Shotokan Karate Magazine magazine (Sept. 2019). A sad loss. See more

I started training with Chuck Norris when he was 21 years old and I was 20.We started training in his mother’s backyard in Gardena,ca.Back in those days in the ...United States there weren’t any Bruce Lee’s they weren’t any karate kid movies and there was not a dojo in every shopping mall also every action movie didn’t have any karate scenes in it. I have been training for 60 years when I came back from Japan in 1967 I joined SCKA/SKA. The first seven years of my training was with Chuck Norris I became his first black belt in 1964 and I will always be grateful to him for giving me my start in this long journey. We became very close friends he was the godfather of my daughter and we had several schools together. We were very focused on tournament fighting back in the beginning days with some old-timers might call the tournament Wars.I loved the competition but I knew at a young age that I wanted to pursue this new art into my later years in life. I needed to move in a different direction. To be continued stay tuned See more

Hente techniques

Going to Seiza position and returning to the initial standing position has to be considered as one action. How many techniques can be done during that action? T...his is the central point in our karate practice. It is the state of mind (Zanshin) that is important, not techniques. Are we ready to react at any time? This readiness is important, techniques come after.. - Taiji Kase about readiness for action at any moment See more

Zenkutsu dachi is for beginners. On more advanced level Fudo dachi should be used. It was in the period about five years from 1940 until 1945, when in the Shot...okan dojo the main target was to develop karate. "More speed and more kime" was the main idea, as well as to develop very stable stance. That's why they always used Fudo dachi, particularly during 1944 and 1945. See more

Filmmaterial auf RTVE Spanien entdeckt Video zeigt historische Aufnahmen von Funakoshi Sensei und sein Training (07 April 1952) Oss

"All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together." - sensei Morihei Uyeshiba the founder of Aikido

"Only by practicing Karate for many years can be reached a state of unburdened consciousness, or mind free from thought. It doesn't exist then the intention in ...performing any technique. The center of the event is not consciousness but the lower abdomen, Hara. Energy does not come from muscle, but from the inside. The anticipation of the opponent's intent and attack and the immediate organization of adequate defense and counterattack are part of an instinctive reaction that occurs spontaneously without thinking. Finally, Karate-Do influences that man changes and becomes better as a human being." - Sensei Taiji Kase in interview for magazine "Budo" (Athens, february 1993) See more

A kata is not fixed or immoveable. Like water, it’s ever changing and fits itself to the shape of the vessel containing it. However, kata are not some kind of ...beautiful competitive dance, but a grand martial art of self-defense which determines life and death. Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shito-ryu Karate) See more

One more giant goes to legend. Keigo Abe Sensei (1938-2019). May he rest in peace.

A 1960 footage. Taiji Kase and, Hiroshi Shirai

Hirokazu Kanazawa (1931-2019) Legends don't die, they just go to another dimension.

Sadly, Shotokan has lost another of its most legendary masters. https://shotokantimes.com//update-hirokazu-kanazawa-has-p/

"Funakoshi never talked about the Ki. But I can understand better now what he meant when he used to say, 'Mr. Ohshima, If you keep it up, maybe in twenty years ...you'll turn into a pretty good karate man.' It really does take about that long to make the leap from being just a technician to being a great karate man. I'm just at that stage now where I'm preparing to make the leap. I hope I'll make it." - sensei Tsutomu Ohshima, From an article by Anthony De Leonardis published in the magazine "Black belt" - issue of October 1966. (photo: "Black belt" magazine) See more

"I think the power of the Ki is in all of us, but we just don't know how to use it. Even though we are only humble human beings, we have a power. Heaven has giv...en us tremendous power, much more than we know it to be. But we have too many mental blocks so we don't know how to use it. This question of getting rid of the "mental block" is a very important one. And the only way to get rid of this block is by training. It's like an onion, all covered up. We have to peel back the layers to get at it. Actually, your real opponent is yourself. You must be able to conquer yourself before you can conquer anything. You have to learn to take difficulties. When things are bad, for instance, you should never look down. This is the first mental block. Another thing is training to get at the Ki. It takes a concentration of the physical, mental and spiritual faculties. If all three of these faculties are low, then we are bound to do poorly. But when we feel good physically and spiritually, of course nothing bothers us and there is no mental block. Thus, it is at times like this when the Ki can come more freely. But it takes practice. You can learn from practice if you have the right master, the right rhythm, and the right mental and physical strength." - sensei Tsutomu Ohshima, From an article by Anthony De Leonardis published in the magazine "Black belt" - issue of October 1966. (photo: "Black belt" magazine) See more

During the 1950s, when we finished practice, I cleaned up the dojo myself.’ Everyone was watching, but I never asked them to do it. Some of the American studen...ts said, Hey Mr. Ohshima, you like cleaning, eh? I said, Yes. I didn’t ask them and just kept cleaning. I said, We had a habit of cleaning, because it means I appreciate the place that gave me a chance to practice. Polishing the floor is cleaning my own mind. That’s what I learned and I thought someday these guys will understand. After a few months, the American students know they should, but they don’t want to work. But they started to follow me. After one or two years, everyone wanted to clean. After finishing practice, the black belts rush to clean and the white belts are watching and white belts start to think, The black belts are doing it, so I’d better. It’s not Hey you white belts, go clean! We don’t have slaves in this country. The top guy has to work harder. That’s why other people will respect and follow him. - Sensei Tsutomu Ohshima, anecdote from the interview posted on www.shotokai.com page See more

"Karate-Do is everything! Open fist, clenched fist, fist like a knife or katana. We say," Karate ni sente nashi ", or "There is no first attack in Karate". Abov...e all, Karate-Do is a humane martial art. "sensei Gichin Funakoshi used to say," The goal of practicing Karate Do is not to win or defeat one of your opponents, but to improve their character. " that is the essence of Budo... A high level of karate skill is achieved when you use your inner strength and dissuade your opponent from aggressive intentions. It is also a way of discovering our true face by practicing Karate-Do. "- Taiji Kase sensei in interview for BUDO magazine in Athens, February, 1993. See more

"Train with both heart and soul without worrying about theory. Very often a man who lacks that essential quality of deadly seriousness will take refuge in theor...y... What you have been taught by listening to others’ words you will forget very quickly; what you have learned with your whole body you will remember for the rest of your life." - O sensei Gichin Funakoshi in his autobiographical book "Karate Do - My way of life" See more

"You must be deadly serious in training. When I say that, I do not mean that you should be reasonably diligent or moderately in earnest. I mean that your oppone...nt must always be present in your mind, whether you sit or stand or walk or raise your arms. Should you in combat strike a karate blow, you must have no doubt whatsoever that that one blow decides everything. If you have made and error, you will be the one who falls." - O sensei Gichin Funakoshi in his autobiographical book "Karate Do - My way of life" See more

After World War II, karate reached pre-war levels, but the level of karate during the war was significantly different, much higher. We tried to make every blow... lethal. The government asked us not to pay attention to injuries during training so that we would be prepared to face with war situations. Thanks to this approach, it has progressed much more and faster. - Taiji Kase sensei about development of Karate in Interview for Budo Magazine Europe VOL XVII - 8 N 4 octobar 1967. See more

Don’t mess with The old guys

When karate is only a sport, it can be practiced up to the limited age range of 25-30 years. Then what? I am 65 years old and feel better and stronger every day.... In true Karate-Do, there are no boundaries, neither time nor age. He should get better with age. Budo karate is for life. I came to Europe in 1964 and since then I have been teaching my Karate-Do students in that traditional Budo spirit as it was in Japan, not as a competitive sport; but as something more sublime, deeper and more intelligent. - Taiji Kase sensei in interview for BUDO magazine in Athens, February, 1993. See more

"If you teach Karate, you have to practice regularly yourself. You have to practice harder and more than your students. If you have practised for long enough, Karate is inside you and you can train wherever you are - Taiji Kase sensei.

"Having reached a peak in the development of martial efficiency, the ultimate goal of training is no longer death, but life." - Taiji Kase sensei

I'm at top of the mountain and I try to pull you up. When you reach the top, I'm already on the other mountain. - Taiji Kase sensei - photo from Martial arts magazine Budo international june 2014

If you are really serious about your martial arts training you need this book. Caylor Adkins spent a lifetime studying how to achieve the maximum effectiveness ...of your training. Many of us had the honor and privilege to train with Caylor over the years he gave so much of himself to the advancement of Martial arts I wouldn’t know where to start. He was not only my mentor but my best friend as he was to hundreds if not thousands over the year’s. This book was his life work. You can purchase this book on Amazon I don’t know how many times they will reprint but this is a chance To have A little bit of this amazing man’s life. I just have one more thing to say if you come from the newer generations of martial arts practitioners whether you ever met Caylor or had the honor to practice with him everyone of you has a little bit of Caylor Adkins within you.His legacy will be handed down for many generations to come. See more

Training in karate is like trying to make fire with wet matches. After several times you may get some sparks, and if you are patient you will get fire that lasts forever. - sensei Taiji Kase (photo by Velibor Dimitrijevi)

"The important thing is to progress, each at his own pace, in relation to oneself and not in relation to others. We know that nothing is definitively acquired and that we must never lose either humility or patience." - sensei Taiji Kase about advancing in Karate

"The human body is like a radio. When you want to listen music on the radio you have to tune the station to the correct frequency, otherwise you will only hear ...rustling, crunching, interference. It's the same with us. When you tune your body, you will feel Ki coming in from above. " - Taiji Kase sensei during an conversation with Sensei Velibor Dimitrijevic in Athens in 1993 (from Velibor Dimitrijevic's book "Kase Ha Karate-Do - The Way Beyond" page 82 - Serbian edition 2017.) See more

The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements. In extreme cases, it is... sometimes heard that ’this kata moves in 8 directions so it is designed for fighting 8 opponents’ or some such nonsense. Kenwa Mabuni (1889-1952) founder of Shito-Ryu Kenwa Mabuni was an absolute master of kata and many of the masters of the time would seek out his knowledge and instruction. He was known as Mabuni the technician, he was held in such high regard by his peers. After all the years that have passed since Kenwa Mabuni stated this, there are some who still see kata this way. Research and look deeper into the kata and truly try to understand the depth that is available to us. . #karate

Master Shigeru Egami Comments on Kata Observing how Kata are practised today, viewed as a whole, all movements, from the initial hachiji-dachi until the end must be elastic and continuous, the sequence must be beautiful and rhythmical and the performer must irradiate vitality and strength. Body and spirit must be one entity and the strength must be concentrated. Breathing must be continuous without retentions. In the ancient practice, there used to be pauses between each move...ment; now movements follow each other rhythmically, without pause, in a fluid and flexible way. Appearances may deceive, even though movements may look weak, they truly are not so. When the body and the movements were rigid and the strength was in a very dissipated form, techniques looked strong. Nowadays it is only the performer who feels that his blows are effective. The satisfaction is only his own. Master Shigeru Egami See more

Okinawan karate - the art of grappling with strikes. Video presented by Karate Culture.

EASE OF MOVEMENT IS PARAMOUNTEASE OF MOVEMENT IS PARAMOUNT