Iain Abernethy - The Practical Application Of Karate

In this podcast we will be examining Anko Itosu’s 10 precepts of karate! In 1908, Itosu – who was the creator of the Pinan (Heian) kata – wrote a letter outlining his views on karate and explaining why he felt karate should be introduced on to the Okinawan school system. It is this letter, and the 10 precepts recorded within it, that is the subject of this month’s podcast.

There are many English translations of this important document; but unfortunately they vary quite a bit and in some instances express very different sentiments. There is a 1938 book called ’Karate-Do Taikan’ which contains relatively good quality photographs of Itosu’s 1908 letter. To get the translation discussed in the podcast, I scanned the pictures of the original Itosu document from the book and sent those scans, without any background information, to one of the UK’s leading translation companies. As non-karateka and professional translators I felt that they would be able to give an accurate translation.

The translation company informed me that the document was written in “a very old literary style” and hence was difficult to translate accurately; even for professional translators. This may also help explain why the existing translations of the document vary so much? The translation company contacted a specialist based in the USA who would be able to accurately translate the document and the scans were sent to him. Not cheap, but worth it I feel.

The translation was taken from scans of Itosu’s original handwritten letter. This translation was also done independently by a professional translator who is a specialist in this kind of work. The translator was not a martial artist and he therefore has no specific view to promote. I therefore have no reason to doubt its accuracy (copied below).

This podcast discusses Itosu’s precepts and some of the ramifications they may have for how we should view karate. I hope that you enjoy it!

Best Wishes,

Iain

Itosu’s 10 Precepts (translation commissioned by Iain Abernethy)

Karate did not develop from Buddhism or Confucianism. In the past the Shorin-ryu school and the Shorei-ryu school were brought to Okinawa from China. Both of these schools have strong points and I therefore list them below just as they are without embellishment.

1. Karate is not merely practiced for your own benefit; it can be used to protect one’s family or master. It is not intended to be used against a single assailant but instead as a way of avoiding injury by using the hands and feet should one by any chance be confronted by a villain or ruffian.

2. The purpose of karate is to make the muscles and bones hard as rock and to use the hands and legs as spears. If children were to begin training naturally in military prowess while in elementary school, then they would be well suited for military service. Remember the words attributed to the Duke of Wellington after he defeated Napoleon, “Today’s battle was won on the playing fields of our schools”.

3. Karate cannot be quickly learned. Like a slow moving bull, it eventually travels a thousand leagues. If one trains diligently for one or two hours every day, then in three or four years one will see a change in physique. Those who train in this fashion will discover the deeper principles of karate.

4. In karate, training of the hands and feet are important, so you should train thoroughly with a sheaf of straw (#).  In order to do this, drop your shoulders, open your lungs, muster your strength, grip the floor with your feet, and concentrate your energy into your lower abdomen. Practice using each arm one to two hundred times each day.

5. When you practice the stances of karate, be sure to keep your back straight, lower your shoulders, put strength in your legs, stand firmly, and drop your energy into your lower abdomen.

This latest podcast calls into question the accepted translation of “Pinan” as “Peaceful Mind”. I’m currently preparing a book on the combative application of the Pinan (Heian) series and, as a result of some of the new research for that book, I’m now convinced that the karate world has got the translation wrong and that this alternative translation has ramifications for how we should view those forms. You can see the characters used for writing “Pinan” (Heian) as part of this blog entry and their meaning will be explained in the podcast.

I believe that Anko Itosu (the creator of the Pinan Series) did not intend for these characters to be read as “Peaceful Mind” and that they do in fact have a name directly related to their purpose and combative function. The view expressed in this podcast runs contrary to the universally accepted meaning of “Pinan” and I am aware that this view is potentially controversial. To my knowledge, I am also the only person to who has suggested this alternative theory to the widely accepted “Peaceful Mind”. However, by suggesting it, I hope that others will look at the evidence for themselves and come to their own conclusions. So what does “Pinan” mean? And why do I now doubt the accepted translation of “Peaceful Mind”? You’ll have to listen to the podcast to find out!

The second part of the podcast covers some of my answers to the questions posed to me as part of Martial Arts Illustrated’s “Ask the Experts” column. The questions in this podcast relate to the creation of kata and which past master I would most like to talk to and what questions would I ask them. I hope you enjoy the podcast!

Best Wishes,

Iain

This month’s podcast and video lesson have been combined to provide a guided workout on the bag! I figured it was time we did something practical in addition to all the theory we have been discussing. 

What you first need to do is watch the video clip below. It will briefly explain and demonstrate all the various drills included in the workout. You then should download the podcast (right click on “download”) and burn it to a CD or put it on your MP3 player. 

If you listen to the podcast whilst working out on the bag it will guide you through the drills and tell you when to stop and start. The whole workout lasts around 20 minutes and can be put at the start or end of your training sessions. Done correctly, the workout will develop aerobic and anaerobic fitness, explosiveness, muscular endurance, technique, power and the correct combative mindset. 

The workout is structured as follows: 

Hands only (1 min – moderate pace)

Kicks only (1 min – moderate pace)

Hand & Feet (1 min – moderate pace)

1 Minute Rest

Heavy Hands Single Shots (1 Min)

Explosive Combinations (1 Min)

Continuous Straight Punches (1 Min)

1 Minute Rest

Hands & Feet with Lots of Movement (1 Min)

Close-Range Strikes (1 Min)

30 Seconds Rest

4 Straight Punches – 4 Hooks (1 Min)

1 Minute Rest

Anything you want (2 mins)

Jab-Cross-Hook-Cross Pyramid (1 Min)

1 Minute Rest

Hands only (1 min)

Kicks only (1 min)

Hand & Feet (1 min) 

If you watch the video clip, it will explain and demonstrate what each of the drills listed above involves, and the podcast itself will provide further guidance and reminders. 

The workout is structured around time, and it will depend upon your skill level and fitness as to how much you get done in that time. The workout should therefore be suitable for martial artists of all levels. That said: 

IMPORTANT: This workout can be both technically and physically demanding and should only be attempted by those in good health who have received prior instruction in the safe use of a punch bag from an experienced and qualified person. You attempt this workout entirely at your own risk! 

I hope you enjoy the workout and find it useful. Please let me know your thoughts and if this workout proves popular, I’ll produce a few more workouts for other aspects of training. You can also subscribe to the newsletters via the main site (www.iainabernethy.com) to be informed as soon as future workouts are ready. 

All the best, 

Iain