Iain Abernethy - The Practical Application Of Karate

In this new podcast we cover martial virtues and warrior ethics! The podcast begins by discussing character development in the martial arts and how that relates to effective combat skills. We then move on to cover martial virtues and warrior ethics as found in the writings of the past masters and others. We also look at the relationship between virtue and valour, and show how virtue is not passively adhering to a tick list of prohibited actions, but instead requires critical thought, bravery and positive action.

In particular we look at Sokon Matsumura’s “7 Virtues of Bu” (1882) and Nitobe Inazo's 1899 book on Bushido (the way of the warrior). We then discuss all eight of the virtues of Bushido in turn: Righteousness, Courage, Benevolence, Respect, Sincerity, Honour, Loyalty and Self-Control. As part of this discussion I draw on such diverse sources as Captain America, Nelson Mandela, Confucius, Sun Tzu, Rob Roy and Heraclitus!

We also discuss the value of virtue to the individual, the groups the individual belongs to, and wider society. From there, the podcasts also looks at how martial arts can, and don’t, develop character. We also discuss the need for effective introspection and I suggests the approach of Benjamin Franklin to virtue and introspection as being a logical one that is well suited to martial artists.

It’s a fairly long podcast – as the subject matter dictates – and there’s a lot of information within it. I hope you enjoy the podcast and find it of value!

All the best,

Iain

Welcome to one of the longest podcasts we’ve ever done! It’s been a while since I last turned the podcast over to listeners and asked for questions and topics; so in this one I put that right! I asked for questions via Facebook, Twitter and the newsletters and got way more than I could possibly answer! Thanks to all who contributed!

I printed them all off and did my best to answer as many as I could in the time available. Here are just some of the topics covered:

How many kata should we learn; individual expression and kata; how the differing versions of kata complement each other; how karate has changed and my predictions for the future; the role of stances; heel down or heal up when punching; karate for the older practitioner; kumite vs. kata; kakie exercises; throws in self-defence; my favourite kata; seminar teaching; developing a bunkai-based syllabus; kata and multiple enemies; how to validate bunkai; stretching; kyusho Jitsu and kata applications; karate in schools; kata in the Olympics; fitting training into a busy schedule; is karate still Japanese; what most people disagree with me on; and more!

Whether you agree or disagree with my take on the various subjects covered, I hope that you find it an interesting and entertaining listen.

To break the podcast up also I recorded some “fake sponsor announcements” which are interspaced every 15 mins or so. I could have just used some music, but this amused me more :-) Whether they amuse anyone else remains to be seen.

I’m aware that at this time of year many listeners will be traveling for their holidays and I hope the increased length of the podcast helps pass the time on various road tips and flights.

Many thanks for all your support of these podcasts!

All the best,

Iain

PLEASE NOTE: In the podcast I got little confused! This October see the start of the 10th year of the podcasts … whereas when recording I said it was the 10th anniversary (which would the end of the 10th year and not the start). Still a great achievement which is entirely down to the support of listeners … but we need to keep the champagne on ice for a little longer :-)

In this podcast we discuss basic kihon training. For practitioners of arts other than karate, “kihon” generally refers to the practice of techniques without a partner or equipment. Typically it’s done in lines where the karateka goes up and down the room.

While kihon practise forms a significant part of modern karate training, it would be fair to say that many now question its value and, on my travels, I even see some abandoning the practise all together. It is my view that kihon is a vital part of the mix, but it needs to be the right kind of kihon and be part of a holistic training matrix.

In this podcast I’d therefore like to explain the role I think kihon training should have, and then elaborate to explain how it can be most efficiently and effectively practised.

The podcast also covers my “3Ts” and “3Ws” models of what the effective application of a technique requires.

There are lots of aspects to this topic and, agree or disagree with my personal take on things, I hope you feel the podcast does a good job of articulating the relevant issues around kihon training.

Thanks for listening and I’ll be back with more soon!

All the best,

Iain

Put on your horned-helmets and pick up your battle axes … it’s time to look at self-protection: Viking Style!

This podcast looks at a Viking wisdom poem (which is well over 1000 years old) and discuss the bits that relate to personal safety, self-protection and success in battle. As I hope you will agree, much of it rings true today and has quite a bit in common with the advice and guidance we find passed down to us in the traditional martial arts.

The poem covers awareness, dealing with difficult and potentially violent people, the causes of conflict, good personal safety habits, martial focus, what is worth fighting for and what is not, the difference between the wise use of discretion and cowardice, and a lot more!

I must confess that the TV show Vikings was part of the inspiration for this podcast! I have combined my interests in martial arts, self-protection, history and mythology into, what I hope you’ll agree, makes for an interesting and entertaining way to discuss many of often overlooked, and yet vitally important, aspects of modern day self-protection.

All the best,

Iain

PS I’m aware that that Vikings never wore horned-helmets in battle :-)

If you’ve been in the martial arts for more than five minutes you can help but be struck by the vast number of animal names associated with techniques and styles. We have cat stance, horse stance, the anaconda choke, gator rolls, white crane kung fu, “crane on a rock” (Gankaku kata), Enpi (Japanese for the Swallow), and so on.

We have lions, bears, tigers, cranes, snakes, monkeys, leopards and many more.

However, I feel we are missing one animal. It’s an animal that accurately reflects the state of much of modern martial arts. The animal in question is a bird called the “Kakapo”; which is why I’ve called this podcast “Kakapo-do” or “The Way of the Kakapo”.

The ancestors of the Kakapo could fly, but the Kakapo itself evolved in an environment with no predators, and all was well, until predators were reintroduced. The Kakapo does not recognise its predators, engages in behaviour that puts it at risk, it can’t fly (but tries to when threatened), and it should come as no surprise to hear it is critically endangered.

I can see many parallels between the Kakapo and much of modern martial arts (as I’m sure can you). The podcast is therefore essentially about the state of modern martial arts and some of the pitfalls we need to avoid.

Thank you for listening in and I hope you enjoy it!

All the best,

Iain

PS Checkout the new music! Four new tunes provide the background and interludes and I hope they add to the listening experience.

Happy new-year everyone! In the first podcast of 2015 we look at “10 things the martial arts should have taught you about life”.

I’m a great believer in the ability of the martial arts to both enhance as well as preserve life. Gichin Funakoshi’s 10th precept is “Put Karate into your everyday life and you will find its subtle secrets.”

There are lessons that are learnt in the microcosm of the dojo that we can apply to the macrocosm of everyday life. So for this podcast, I thought we’d look at 10 lessons that you should have learnt from your time in the dojo that apply to everyday life and, if you take them to heart, they can help make the next 12 months more productive and enjoyable than they may otherwise have been.

These 10 lessons as not meant to be a definitive 10, and they are presented in no particular order. These are simply 10 lessons that came to mind when I sat down to write this podcast.

I hope these 10 lessons give you pause for thought, help you to underline some of the non-physical benefits of martial arts training, and help you get you into the right mind-set to make 2015 a great year for you and yours.

All the best,

Iain

In the final podcast of 2014 we discuss the requirements of a moral, healthy and effective approach to violence. The mix of effective self-protection skills and the development of character is the common goal of most martial arts. In this episode I use the model of the three As (Appreciation, Ability and Attitude) to ensure our approach to unprovoked criminal violence is both effective and in keeping with the morality of the martial arts.

As part of this discussion we touch on many topics including: the two core goals all martial arts should achieve; the nature and myths of violence; healthy precautions vs. unhealthy paranoia; when using physical skills is appropriate; the criminal attitude to violence (hate based) as opposed to the martial artist’s attitude to violence (love based); what the past masters had to say on the issue (Funakoshi, Mabuni, Motobu, Otsuka, Takamura, etc.); martial arts and pacifism; and quite a bit more!

It’s impossible to cover all aspect of this issue in a thirty-minute podcast, but I think the podcast does a good job of framing the issue and will hopefully prompt further thought and discussion.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and I’ll be back more early in 2015!

All the best,

Iain

In this podcast I wish to discuss what constitutes a “karate technique”. Or in other words, what makes a technique a part of karate? Can techniques be added to practise and legitimately be considered to be part of karate? And what of “forgotten” techniques that were once part of practise? Are they no longer karate techniques? How do we define a “karate technique” anyway?

While it may seem this is one of those pedantic discussions that are so prevalent in the martial arts, I would suggest it’s an important question that has a huge impact on how karate is practised today and the future course it will take.

Our discussion of this topic will also allow us to look at the relationships that exist between the various martial arts, and for us to tackle that long existing martial myth of the unique origin of technique.

In the podcast we look at techniques which were not practised within karate but now are commonplace; techniques which were commonplace within karate which are now generally not practised; and what all these “karate techniques” have in common.

Thanks for joining me to discuss these issues and for your support of these podcasts!

All the best,

Iain

Welcome to the latest podcast! In this episode we discuss what differentiates a living kata from a dead one. When karateka commonly talk about kata being “alive” what they are referring to is a vigorous performance; as opposed to a lacklustre one. However, to my way of thinking, a kata needs far more than simply looking “lively” to be truly alive!

For kata to be alive it must be part of a wider process. It is the "seed" that the fighting systems of the past produced. The seed can only truly live when it is allowed to grow and thrive. Kata must be practiced. The applications of kata must be understood; and more importantly the combative principles that those applications encapsulate must be internalised thorough drills and live practise with live partners, such that those principles form habits; habits we will fight in accordance with. The kata then is living and breathing within us. It’s if fulfilling the purpose for which it was created. It is not lying dormant awaiting the inevitable rot; it is alive and thriving every time we move, every time we train and every time we are forced to protect ourselves and those we love.

In this podcast we look at the “lifecycle” of kata and explain the process that ensures a kata truly lives within the karateka. In listening to the podcast you will also find out how kata can be both like strawberries and zombies!

I hope you enjoy the podcast and find it useful. Thanks for listening and I’ll be back with more soon!

All the best,

Iain

One of the never-ending controversies in martial arts is the role and influence of the combat sports. Some are ardent supporters and some see the sporting side of the martial arts as a heresy that should be challenged and slighted at every opportunity.

Those who would class themselves as “traditional martial artists” often see the modern sporting offspring of the traditional arts as an aberration that is a betrayal of the values, objectives and ethos of their non-sporting forerunners. Those who concentrate on civilian self-protection are also often quick to slight combat sports for their limitations, rules and lack of “realism”.

So in this podcast I’m going to come out in defence of sport against the traditional and reality based neigh-sayers. The reason I feel the need to do that is that our combat athletes are normally incredibly bad at doing this! The arguments put forward in defence of sport to the traditional and reality based communities are normally very poor. They are frequently logically unsound and actually bolster the arguments made against sport.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and I’ll be back with more soon!

All the best,

Iain

PS The download link can be found below the player