Thank you, sensei, for sharing. The differences you mentioned are pretty much like Okinawa Karate vs Japanese Karate, which is practical necessity vs aesthetic discipline. That's why I wouldn't call Shotokan a traditional Karate, but rather a traditional JAPANESE Karate, because Karate from Okinawa has been japanized to fit Japanese aesthetic, hence the loss of the original intention.
I just tried Ryukyu Kempo today. Really interesting stuff. I'd read a lot kind of playing it down because of the pressure points controversy. But most of what I learned in today's session in terms of form was what's shown here. While the pressure points were very important, the ideas of how to strike or how to use that ineffective "block" in a more effective manner I found not only interesting, but much more applicable than traditional Shotokan.
Thanks for your video sensei, I just took a seminar a week ago in kyusho with GM Luis A. Larios, In Bogotá. Colombia South America, and became even more interested in learning Ryukyu Kempo, which I heard first from Enzo Montanari ( a student of sensei Oyata) years ago as he described the differences between classical and traditional karate in his 1995 book "karate sconociuto" (in italian) and later published in 1999 as "karate desconocido" (in spanish. As a shotokan instructor & sports coach it has been very interesting, to see and experiment (through pressure point application) the many changes made due to mass instruction and standarization of the art.
Thank you Today you can subscribe to MasterClass and receive 50% off of the yearly subscription. Use the coupon code BOOM (all caps). But, this special expires on September 20. On my website you will find so much information that will enhance your learning by adding more knowledge on top of the experience of training with my colleague Luis.
It's always interesting to listen and hear interpretation of different punches and movements. I trained for 4 or 5 years as a teenager and still find multiple application for techniques. No one spoke much of different application from forms at that time. It may have been a personal experience. I'm not sure but everyone now diagnosis forms. I think that may have been limited to the U.S.A.
While Chris Thomas shinshii may seem to be talking about a single style, much of what he mentions applies to Old-Style Ryukyu Martial Arts in general (ie pre-Meiji Okinawan martial arts)... IMHO, Ryukyuy Kempo, (which includes other specifically Okinawan types of "kenpo" more generally), Tode-jutsu, Tudi, and (my personal favorite) Ruchuu-buji are not terms which refer to a specific style... Rather they are most often used as general designations for old-style Okinawan martial arts (ie pre-modern karate)... The method of punching in this video was/is common among various Okinawan karate groups. So much so, that this method of punching (diagonal orientation of the fist, downward orientation of the slightly bent elbow, as well as striking somewhat off centerline target) is not infrequently called "the Okinawan punch" (www.downloadkarate.com/karate-articles/punching-with-snap-and-elbow-lock---is-it-traditional---elbow-injuries). Okinawan teachers such as Shimabuku shinshii, Kuda shinshii, Soken shinshii, Oyata shinshii, Uehara shinshii, Taira shinshii (and so many others...) are good examples of the use of "The Okinawan Punch". Likewise, the horizontally oriented (with locked-out elbow) version of a karate "punch" (which also generally features a symetrically aligned hiki-te) is purely a modern creation... One which would seem to place aesthetics over functionallity. That said, the classical Okinawan punch included elements not mentioned in this video... For instance qualities such as Gamaku. Here are a couple of articles relating to the Old-Style Okinawan punch: ryukyuma.blogspot.com/2012/08/classical-tsuki-waza.html ryukyuma.blogspot.com/2014/08/five-oral-teachings-kuden-and-gamaku.html Likewise, using forward energy, over and above, purely sideways energy, is very common amougst various (old-style oriented) Okinawan methods for Uke-waza etc... As a final note, here is a link about various hand formations and structural support. ryukyuma.blogspot.com/2013/04/small-surface-strikes-structurally.html Thank you Chris Thomas shinshii!!! I am deeply grateful that you share so many of Old-Style Karate methods so freely... I try to contribute to this effort on a much smaller scale... We are always grateful to those who are more in the "public eye" who are willing to share "the good stuff".
In answer to your sources question, the earliest source I know is Funakoshi, 1922. Interestingly, in Karate-do Kyohan (1935), Funakoshi can be seen using the "old fist" in the photo's of kata performance (most visible in the opening of Pinan Shodan/Heian Nidan). In the 50's, books by Ichikawa (1955), Konishi (1956), Giken (1952) all show the "old fist".
raksh9 Yes, that’s me. I have written some 60 articles for Black Belt (and other magazines) since 1981, as well as co-authoring the definitive books on Ryukyu kempo, kyushojitsu and tuitejitsu.
Yess... i totally understand n agree to what you are saying after studying n researching various other martial art forms.. Japanese modern versions of Karate like Shotokan, etc as propagated world wide has been diluted n over simplified so as not to give the secret techniques n strategies.. The way the Uke or blocks n movements are taught is all wrong n render useless.. The Uke is not a block n is designed for something else.. The interpretation of Katas is also shady... No explanation of Pressure points applications in the forms n movements.. The total traditional Okinawan system is kept hidden in modern Japanese Karate styles n garbage is taught the world over.. That's why i had real problem connecting with it by any logic.. Its time to expose the fake kind of systems/arts... 😐😒
Thank you sensei, I ve practiced Kempo RyuKyu 5 years 27 years ago!!!... I am 46 years old. I couldnt find a school in Buenos Aires. Do you know if its exist nowadays?
