Iain Abernethy - The Practical Application Of Karate

Welcome to third and final part of the 2021 end of year podcast! I’ve answered as many of your questions as I can on a wide range of topics! Thanks to everyone who submitted them!

Bob is my co-host for these ones (it does not go well!) and this year we have a single sponsor! If you are new to this silliness, you’ll quickly understand!

This part covers the Teaching and Miscellaneous questions!

Part 1 covers Self-Defense, Kata and Bunkai questions.

Part 2 covers Training and General Karate Questions.

Thanks for all your support in 2021!

All the best,

Iain

Welcome to second part of the 2021 end of year podcast! I’ve answered as many of your questions as I can on a wide range of topics! Thanks to everyone who submitted them!

Bob is my co-host for these ones (it does not go well!) and this year we have a single sponsor! If you are new to this silliness, you’ll quickly understand!

This part covers the Training and General Karate Questions!

Part 1 covers Self-Defense, Kata and Bunkai questions.

Part 3 covers Teaching and Miscellaneous questions.

Thanks for all your support in 2021!

All the best,

Iain

Welcome to first part of the 2021 end of year podcast! I’ve answered as many of your questions as I can on a wide range of topics! Thanks to everyone who submitted them!

Bob is my co-host for these ones (it does not go well!) and this year we have a single sponsor! If you are new to this silliness, you’ll quickly understand!

This part covers the Self-Defense, Kata and Bunkai questions!

Part 2 covers Training and General Karate Questions.

Part 3 covers Teaching and Miscellaneous questions.

Thanks for all your support in 2021!

All the best,

Iain

In this podcast I have a conversation with Oliver Martinez (Aikido, Karate, Filipino Martial Arts & JKD) about what a practical syllabus should contain and the parallels between the karate and aikido communities!

This was initially a personal conversation, but we enjoyed it so much, and thought it covered so much, that had the same chat again and recorded it for you!

I hope that you enjoy it!

All the best,

Iain

About Oliver: Fifth degree black belt Oliver Martinez II has over 25 years of martial arts experience. He is passionate about teaching both traditional martial arts as well as modern methods of self -protection. In addition to teaching martial arts, he also currently works in private security where he has received specialized training in defensive tactics and use of force.

In this podcast I talk to my friend and fellow practical karateka Christian Wedewardt! I have known Christian for many years, he is a fellow member of the World Combat Association (WCA) and we have taught together many times in the UK and Germany. Christian has a great approach to karate. His material is functional and well structured. In addition, Christian’s infectious enthusiasm and clear communication style makes him a joy to train with and teach alongside!

You will no doubt be aware of Christian’s Karate Praxis organisation, his popular book, “The Heian Kata Bunkai Phenomenon: A Systematical Kata Workbook” (available in both English and German), his YouTube videos, and his appearances with the one and only Master Ken!

In this podcast, Christian and I discuss his background, some of the principles of his approach (“first things first” and his pragmatic redefining of jodan, chudan and gedan), his teaching style, his appearances with Master Ken, and loads more besides!

Many thanks to Christian for making time to appear on the podcast! It was a fun conversation and I hope you enjoy it!

All the best,

Iain

In this podcast I chat with Dan Trailescu (Aikidoka and Reality Based Self-Defence Instructor). It’s a great conversation and I am sure you will enjoy it! Dan has 15 years of martial arts experience, focused on Aikido and reality-based self-defence. He teaches communication, conflict resolution, and self-defence to university students, martial artists and business professionals. He holds a 3rd degree black belt in Aikido and is a certified instructor for Conflict Communications. He also has a postgraduate degree in Counselling Studies, with a focus on the psychology of self-defence instruction, and runs Luceo Training Ltd, a communication skills training company, as well as harmandharmony.com, a website dedicated to practical martial arts training.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harm_and_harmony/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmAndHarmonyAikido

Website: www.harmandharmony.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/harmandharmony

All the best,

Iain

PART 3: In this podcast Randy Brown (Mantis Boxing & BJJ Coach) and I talk about the evolution of traditional martial arts, the role of forms, martial arts dogma, pseudo-history vs real history, and a whole host of other topics!

For quite some time, people had been telling me that I should talk to Randy because our approaches had much in common. Apparently, Randy was getting told the same. It turns out people were right! We originally planned to chat for around 1 hour, but after 2.5 hours we were still going strong (which is why I have split this podcast into three parts!).

Despite our differing arts and backgrounds, the way we approach our respective systems has a lot of common ground. It was really interesting to compare notes see how our thoughts and experiences related to each other’s. We both enjoyed this conversation and I’m sure you will too!

Enjoy!

All the best,

Iain

PART 2: In this podcast Randy Brown (Mantis Boxing & BJJ Coach) and I talk about the evolution of traditional martial arts, the role of forms, martial arts dogma, pseudo-history vs real history, and a whole host of other topics!

For quite some time, people had been telling me that I should talk to Randy because our approaches had much in common. Apparently, Randy was getting told the same. It turns out people were right! We originally planned to chat for around 1 hour, but after 2.5 hours we were still going strong (which is why I have split this podcast into three parts!).

Despite our differing arts and backgrounds, the way we approach our respective systems has a lot of common ground. It was really interesting to compare notes see how our thoughts and experiences related to each other’s. We both enjoyed this conversation and I’m sure you will too!

Enjoy!

All the best,

Iain

PART 1: In this podcast Randy Brown (Mantis Boxing & BJJ Coach) and I talk about the evolution of traditional martial arts, the role of forms, martial arts dogma, pseudo-history vs real history, and a whole host of other topics!

For quite some time, people had been telling me that I should talk to Randy because our approaches had much in common. Apparently, Randy was getting told the same. It turns out people were right! We originally planned to chat for around 1 hour, but after 2.5 hours we were still going strong (which is why I have split this podcast into three parts!).

Despite our differing arts and backgrounds, the way we approach our respective systems has a lot of common ground. It was really interesting to compare notes see how our thoughts and experiences related to each other’s. We both enjoyed this conversation and I’m sure you will too!

Enjoy!

All the best,

Iain

In this podcast I chat with Mike Turbitt about his 10 precepts for teaching children. Mike runs a very successful school and the quality of the karateka he produces speaks for itself. It was also Mike who convinced me to start teaching children again. This is a fascinating and information packed discussion that is sure to be of interest to all instructors! Enjoy!

All the best,

Iain

Precept 1: The aim of Karate is to the improve lives of its practitioners. You have a responsibility to your students and child welfare, which far exceeds your responsibility to your style, system, sensei or tradition.

Precept 2: Understand karate’s values, understand your values, understand children’s values.

Precept 3: Karate takes a lifetime to master, so teach children by meeting their needs not yours. If they don't attend, you can teach them anything. 

Precept 4:  Make them feel fantastic in every lesson and they come back.

Precept 5: Discipline is correct behaviour at the correct time.

Precept 6: Children’s education and lives are already structured; it is advantageous to work within that structure.

Precept 7: Programs - Follow the school system, they are the experts.

Precept 8: Teach the same thing, to the same class, at the same time.

Precept 9: Public praise. Private correction.

Precept 10: Parents stay during the class.

I started training at the age of fifteen back in the days of the BKA under the instruction of Barry Tatlow Sensei. I was awarded 1 dan in 1981 as part of the Tera group under Takamizawa Sensei. Second Dan followed a couple of years later, and then a small twenty-something year gap until 2005 when I achieved 3rd Dan.

It was at this grading that I met up with an old training partner, Nigel Davison, who invited him to his dojo in Northampton.

It was the cleanest brightest dojo I had ever been in the teaching and the atmosphere was electric.  I knew instantly that’s what I wanted to have and do.

That was the second week in December, on the third week I attended another old training partner at his school and after training he told me it was to be the last session at that venue as he had had enough. I took over the venue from the 3rd of January and so Team Black belt was born.

My son Mitch was Seven at the time and to keep his interest I had to create high energy fast paced lessons; I knew if I could keep him motivated, I could keep anyone.

We grew and grew; Team Black Belt now has had its own full-time dojo for the last 14 years and regularly (pre covid) teach 300 plus children a week. 

Oh, and I only teach 4 evenings a week and have holidays!!!