At 73 Higaonna shinshi is still a powerful and truly gifted martial artist and we are very fortunate to still be benefiting from his depth of knowledge regarding so many important (but increasingly obscure) training methodologies. He inspires me in every way.
I had the privilege of training with this man many years ago in Collingwood, Ontario Canada. He was here from Okinawa for seminar. There was even a picture of us in the local paper.
God this man could take my skin off with one finger. Incredible strength he is very humble that’s extremely important. You are not just conditioning the body with physical strength but emotional strength as well. I admire watching him.
This man is no joke, I myself hold a fifth degree black belt in Goju Ryu. Our style is a very powerful and deadly style if it is applied correctly. If one masters Sanchin Go or hard style which is the foundation of GojuRyu alongside Tensho which is the Ju or soft. Goju standing for hard/soft style. The body is conditioned to be powerful and hard like iron, and when required can be soft flexible fluid and flowing a balance of Yin and Yang. Sanchin Kata derived from Chi Kung (energy exercises) to develop a hard body impervious to impact blows. You can’t compare sport martial arts (MMA) to traditional self defense. Those young individuals are blind to the facts MMA is for Mixed Martial Arts with rules and regulations omitting most of the techniques used in traditional martial arts. Goju Ryu employs techniques of breaking the knee joints using Kakuto Geri or (joint kicks) a technique banned from MMA throat strikes, groin strikes using crane fist techniques etc. So MMA will never be in comparison to Goju. Now if we look back at Mas Oyama who studied Goju under Gogen Yamaguchi, was able to kill live bulls with his bare hands, his hands could chop the horn off a bull. Mas Oyama did fight in no holds barred kumite and was undefeated his hands where so enormous that wherever he struck a person they could no longer carry on a fight with him, he developed his own style of martial arts that allowed for full contact in the fort karate style known as Kyokushin Kai. With that said Morio Higaonna is the highest ranking GojuRyu master and well respected in all martial art circles of karate. These master employ some of the powerful bodies and most powerful techniques. To blindly compare this man to that of MMA is not practical and is a foolish statement to make. I agree with the other guys who commented a regular MMA fighter would be in a world of hurt if they where grabbed by this man. His hands are so strong to where he has been known to tear strips of raw meat with his bare hands. Morio conditions his hand using the traditional ways of the makiwara, punching stones, trees, etc
He reportedly has no issues with his hands or joints. He's in his 70s and claims to have been doing this type of conditioning for most of his karate training years. If done right, that is gradually over time, hand and body conditioning can be done successfully with no ill effects. Those that try to immediately hit things as hard as they can from the time they start are the ones that suffer damage. And when talking about a combat art....this type of conditioning is anything but "unnecessary".
@@asmrbully6980 Mike tyson had a very conditioned neck, but those exercises hurt your spine a lot over the years. It's not worth it. Conditioning isn't for the skull or neck unfortunately
I also train Kyokushin and use TONS of training methods from Goju Ryu and Uechi-Ryu. Extremely good stuff and I'm finding it all fits together nicely. OSU 🥋
Ok for those people who wanted to know what he is talking about in this video, I will help summarize what he said. Since Japanese is not my first nor last language I will translate it for everyone. What he is explaining and showing in this video are the ways and items that he use to massage himself every day. For example the concrete pillar was used to massage his hands, wrist, and forearm. He showed how he does it everyday. This is how he relieve stress on a daily basis. If he feels angry, he will use the round stone to slap his anger away. He also said he likes to make noises when he does all these because he believes it will increase his power. In all seriousness, this guy would slap your soul straight to heaven/hell. Do not mess with him.
this great master trained the late great karate legend gary spiers .gary lived with him for a while gary went on to be the worlds toughest boncer body guard in the world
This is the real Okinawan Karate training if you think here in America what we called traditional karate training because we do repetitive katas and we wear a traditional white Gi well I think it's part traditional and contemporary what I have notice is we don't train as hard as these Okinawan people because that's the reason why Karate when you punch the punch alone can really hurt you so bad that's the reason why they train so hard that they have to make there body really tough like iron that's the signature of karate it's a hard style art. I've been studying Karate for 22 years and I do realize that I still have a lot of things to learn so even though I have rank that doesn't mean your are done you still continue on your training no matter what
Kofi Perry I read it. This is RU-vid man not a formal essay writing platform. Those who read should actually find their own pace if they wanna read it.
Well, I will agree, but partially... The reason I am saying this is because Okinawans were always by definition "crazy". Plus, this is where Karate really started from. Even traditional Japanese training was not like the Okinawan one. It's more soft. This does not necessarily mean "bad". It depends on what you want to achieve with your Karate. Shuri-te for instance is way more hard (as a style) than Naha-te, which concentrates more on breathing, just to bring it up as an example. Then again, I expect you will say "yes, but training for your body is a different thing". True. However, there are exercises for your body that are good for your body and there are exercises for it that are bad for it. Don't forget, we ARE contemporary people and not traditional because almost all of us are not doing Karate for survival (like it was needed a few centuries ago), but we are doing it as a hobby (or even as a profession, sure). Of course I admire karateka like Morio Higaonna and even the great Hayashi and Kanazawa (legends) or many others, regardless of style. But in the organization I am a member of, we emphasize the "genki budo", meaning, in other words, if you prefer (in a free translation), "karate for good health". Our leaders constantly develop and change our style always in cooperation with doctors that practice karate in our union. So, although I am not a doctor, I do not think that transforming your hands into weapons is the healthiest thing to do. (For instance, if you were a piano player, this would destroy your hands - just a silly example that still is legit and you can see where I a getting at. But also from a health perspective, I don't think it's good). Other than that, I will AGREE with what you say. What you guys do in America, what we do in Greece, what all of us do today all over the world, is not as traditional as what these guys in Okinawa do, not only because we, by definition, are not traditional ourselves (and will never be to that extend), but also because Okinawa was where it all started and there, it IS tradition by all means! Of course it couldn't be the same anywhere else in the world - even in Japan :) Just my two pence and good evening from Greece! :) Funny coincidence, just like you, I am also training for a total of 22 years (I started in 1990 though but I stopped for 7 years at some point).
Too all you keyboard warriors out here u think these UFC fighters are trained killers? U haven't met this man. This man is a legit trained killer. He kill can you with his bare hands.
@@edgar22452 what you're trying to say is his fists are much harder because he's spent more time conditioning them. Which would help trying to kill someone yes. But the thing is its actually really easy to kill someone in a few blows if not one. Most people can't but there's a vast majority martial artists that can. Would it be easy for him possibly. Can ufc fighter do it too you betcha! Let's take him off a pedestal. He's cool but dam
@@lifebydesign9435 UFC fighters are highly overrated. Most of them couldn't kill with one punch like a highly trained karateka. U need to stop believing the hype known as the UFC.
That's the reason why Karate is not about fighting hurting someone because you have the advantage or I am a black belt I have reach this goal I am so good that the black belt makes me stronger honestly it's not it's not about going to tournament and win a lot of competition Karate is a way of living you keep on training and training it builds your character it makes you who you are that's the reason why my believe and my life change because of this training in Karate.
True. I've been doin karate 4 a long time. The dojo I go is really good but my sensei takes things seriously when it comes 2 goin 2 a tournament. But anyway I talk in the future. Have a nice day.
Saku Yamamoto These arts used to be used to kill on a battlefield. In modern times masters incorporate spirituality and hide the lethal techniques and skills until later. But what about those who seek to study only the arts application as utilized in war? Money and laws have watered down the arts.
Can any Japanese speaker please translate what he said at 3:50 please? What got me curious is I think he mentioned chi ishi as an alternative body conditioning tool than the bamboo sticks. Thanks
before he dies I'd like Higaonna Sensei to see just how many bricks or paving slabs he could break in one go... just to get a confirmed world record. I mean you see all these breaking competitions in the US where these pumped up guys hurl themselves at like 20 paving slabs... I think Higaonna has probably THE toughest hands in the world...
He can crack open your skull like an egg 1:04 , slap your *head off* 1:57 , dig through your forehead like it's clay 2:29 , and knock you out with just one, "*Pah*" 5:23 . Be afraid.
This video reminds me of a joke about two guys... 1st guy: "I bet 100 dollars you can not take a kick in the nuts but I can!" 2nd guy: "I bet 300 dollars I can take it!" 1st guy: "Alrighty then, let's open your legs"....and the 1st guy proceeds to kick the 2nd guy in the nuts...2nd guy goes straight to the floor agonizing in pain and after a few minutes he recovers and stands up and says... 2nd guy: "Ok, I could take it....now it's your turn..." 1st guy: "Nah Bro, I pass....here is your 300 dollars...see ya!" Moral of the story: Instead of destroying my joints preparing for a fight that probably will never happen, I prefer buying a hammer.
I feel sorry for the unfortunate soul who tries to shoulder check this man in a crowd of people, I imagine it’ll feel like walking into a concrete pillar.
I feel like these are the types of conditioning you do in a different kind of world, a world in constant war, a world of constant danger. Specifically post apocalyptic setting, or sci-fi, or fantasy world.
I was thinking about what would think anyone who do not practice karate about this video....and I'm wondering also about why do I love karate even knowing I don't live in a constant danger world...... I guess I just love pain, as someone told above 😂
Hes amazing but I never believed in this sort of conditiong I know men who spent years hardening there shins only to check a low kick and have there own shin brake. You can numb the nerves and harden to a point but this constant pounding will lead to weakness
How about save yourself from very early onset arthritis and extremely deformed knuckles and use your palm when punching a hard object (such as the head) and use your knuckles when punching, for example, the kidneys? The hands aren't designed to be thrown against concrete like this; the only reason you'd do it is to conform to some deluded martial arts tradition or to boost your ego and feel tough. Look at your hands when writing a response to this, do you see how intricate they are? That's what they were designed for, they were designed for doing intricate things such as grasping onto and holding objects and serving as mediums to transfer out intelligent thoughts (e.g. through writing literature, typing, etc.). Just seems strange to me.
Безобразные руки. И раз уж заниматься набивкой, то набивать нужно и голову и тоги и спину и грудь! Иначе такому сенсею просто сломают ноги и голову те кто набивает тоги. Тут есть о чем задуматься тем кто практикует боевые искусства!
@@gatocles99 First of all, you can't tell me what I should do. :) Second, you are ignorant for neglecting the fact that Karate practitioners do not only practice body conditioning but also different techniques to successfully defend themselves in a dangerous situation. I hope your arrogance does not blur the fact that people like Sensei Higaonna are not idiots, thus no one would jump in front of a knife - including myself. Have you ever heard about things like situational awareness? Or the motto that you should use your legs when it comes to ego fights, that is RUN AWAY? So stop being a child and watch another video if you do not like this one.
@@David-ku7mt Yes... you would run away... leaving your wife and child to fend for themselves against a knife wielding criminal. Lots of "sensei" are idiots and frauds.
There is no way your hand is getting "harder". It is just that your head thinks that way. And this is achieved by "conditioning" = destroying your nervical cells and you start not to feel, pain included. The most clear example is the kicking in the testicles. At the end if you don't feel pain, you risk to broke a bone because you don't get the feeling of the structural damage you can get by punching or kicking. It doesn't mater that this guy has no structural damages. Some time are the gens. But I have seen ex karate 65ers that by kicking and punching objects got arthritis in their cartilages. They have the same problem as some runners in the knees or hips. Don't be fooled with "eastern" crap. It is completely illogical to get hit 10.000 times at your testicles just trying not to feel pain for the 1-2 times that you will be hit at testicles on the road. When you kick and punch you applying a force to an external object. Physics says that the same force will hit your body too by the external object. A wall is a wall. Your cartilages are cartilages. Decide what you wanna be. If you want really to hit a wall,, get a hammer. Don't be fooled.
@@amk8411 That I didnt know but on the other hand I consider really foolish the "mystical" arrogance being build cause someone broke a piece of wood with his hands after hundred thousands hit with his hands against sand or wood. A saw is way faster without "Chi".. See you!
Well not really. For example in Muay Thai if you constantly side kick a banana tree your bones will be slightly damaged, then this will make you take a rest and your bones will recover making a thicker and stronger bone. That side kick is the same move that defeated Rick Roufus. Trust me you don't want to get hit by a Muay Thai kick or scraped by an Uechi Ryu or crushed by a Goju Ryu.
