Usa Jingu

Making the most of Japan’s fantastic summer weather, today Mizuho and I decided to travel to Usa Jingu (宇佐神宮) for a walk in fresh air. Luckily today, unlike other crowded visits, we virtually had the place to ourselves! Needless to say, we had wondeful time strolling around.

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Usa Jingu: The Usa shrine is one of the most famous in Japan, and has long been the recipient of Imperial patronage. In actual fact, in all of Japan, it is considered second only to Ise Jingu. Interestingly enough, for believers, it is the home of Emperior Ojin, who was deified as Hachiman-jin (The God of Military Power).
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A little history: The shrine was founded in Kyushu during the Nara period. Ancient records place the foundation of Usa jingū in the Wado era (708-714). It is today the center from which over 40,000 branch shrines have grown. Usa's Hachiman shrine first appears in the chronicles of Imperial history during the reign of Empress Shotoku. The empress allegedly had an affair with a Buddhist monk named Dokyo. An oracle was said to have proclaimed that the monk should be made emperor; and the Kami (God) Hachiman at Usa Shrine was consulted for verification. However, the empress died before anything further could develop...

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Architecture and spiritual residences: The main hall and the Kujaku Monkei are designated amongst Japan's National Treasures. The structures which comprise the current shrine complex were was built in the middle of the 19th century. This characteristic configuration of the Hachiman-zukuri consists of two main buildings, which are situated, one in front of the other. The structure in front is called the ge-in, which is where the deity is said to reside during the daytime. The structure in the rear is called the nai-in, which serves as the deity's sleeping chamber during the night.
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Usa Jingu holds a very special position in traditional Japanese culture and therefore, is a must visit, if you come to Japan, especially if you find yourself here, in beautful Kyushu.

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Best wishes from Oita, Japan.

© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

Totemo Isogashii

Please excuse my lack of posts as of late, I've been 'very busy', and simply have had no time. In saying that, I have plenty of articles still in the works, videos to upload, and so forth. So please bare with me!

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I'd like to take this brief chance to thank all of my readers from around the world. I sincerely hope that my blog continues to assist you, where ever you may be. Over the last couple of years I've received so many wonderful emails from people of every ethnicity. All who mutually love the art of traditional Japanese Karatedo. Such letters always put a big smile on my face. Karate never ceases to amaze me, in regards the development of strong international bonds, regardless of cultural differences.

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My kindest regards to you all from Nakatsu City, Oita, Japan.

© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

The 2nd Anniversary of Andre Bertel's Karate-Do

On this day, two years ago, I wrote and published my first post here, on Andre Bertel's Karate-Do.

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In that first post I outlined the aims of my website, none of which have changed.

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"I decided to start this karate website upon returning to Japan, as in the past, I simply kept private notes of my training and experiences here. This blog allows me to update my Asai-ryuha Shotokan karate students, friends and family in real time, and also means that I can monitor my own training without the worry of misplacing journals, and worse still, countless pieces of note paper! It is my hope that this online karate resource might help those interested in the karate of my late teacher, Tetsuhiko Asai." (Here is a direct link to the first post: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2007/06/back-in-japan.html).

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I'd like to conclude by offering another relevant link, the first anniversary of my blog: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2008/06/1st-birthday-of-andre-bertels-karatedo.html

To all of the thousands of readers from around the world... DOMO ARIGATO GOZAIMASU! I wish you all the very best in your karate-do keiko.

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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

Sashimi & Kihon

I enjoy eating sashimi (raw fish), a delicacy here in Japan. To me, the beauty of munching on sashimi is that you can really taste the fish. It's as if you are the actual predator eating it... Consuming something without any distractions (such as the addition of sauces, spices etc) gives one the 'real taste' of the food in its base form. Likewise, by eating fish raw, we can fully reveal the texture of it, in its original state.
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In order to maximise our kihon training, we must recognise, and practice the techniques, in their most basic/raw form. Only by practicing techniques in this way, in their rawness, like eating sashimi, can we fully understand them. The more we 'add to them', the more easy it becomes to be distracted, from what really matters (the technical depth - the definition required for practical application which is optimal). Therefore, a single technique such as an oi-zuki, jodan age-uke, or mae-geri, is far more valuable, than any elaborate combination technique, or fancy maneuver.
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In my opinion, the best way to establish a person’s level is by their execution of the most basic techniques individually. Because these waza in isolation cannot lie. I can’t count how many times I’ve seen people do an athletic Unsu, which may seem impressive to a untrained person, or poorly trained karateka, yet cannot do a proper Heian-shodan! Put in a slightly different way, “Simple things’ are more difficult, as they show everything. They reveal deeper layers of skill”…

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Advice for renzokuwaza: I'm not by any means implying that renzokuwaza (combination techniques), are not important, but more so stressing that they're only as good, as each individual technique featured within them. It is therefore crucial, throughout one’s karate career, to continue practicing the most ‘basic’ fundamental techniques, in their rawest form. Just keep in mind, that when practicing renzokuwaza and kata, we must ensure that each technique is full, not blurred, deteriorated, and thus cheating ourselves. We must still be able to distinctly taste the raw fish, even when the rice, wasabi and soy sauce are added.
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Time for me to down some sashimi then practice some kihon… All the best from sunny Kyushu.

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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

Tsuyu

Tsuyu (the rainy season) has arrived here in Japan and man it’s pouring down in Kyushu. The humid weather has arrived and the heat is rising fast… Actually I’m loving it as always! Needless to say, my junbi-undo (warm-up/preparatory exercise) time has been halved. Here’s my latest training routine, which I began yesterday. All the best from Nippon! - André
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Kihon: My kihon training has gone full circle, so I’m finally back to what really matters the most, the core fundamental techniques. These foundational techniques are those which make up the majority of the standard Shotokan syllabus, and are what I always find, the most challenging. They include: (1) Oi zuki; (2) Gyaku zuki; (3) Mae geri; (4) Mawashi geri; (5) Ushiro geri; (6) Yoko keage; (7) Yoko kekomi; (8) Gedan barai; (9) Jodan age uke; (10) Chudan soto ude uke; (11) Chudan uchi ude uke; and (12) Chudan shuto uke. Combination-wise my focus is on nothing more than the basic ukewaza followed by reverse punches, and some other ‘typical’ two/three movement renzokuwaza (such as mae geri kara oi zuki, mae geri kara mawashi geri, sanbon ren zuki etcetera). Of particular importance to me at present, is full (proper) koshi no kaiten at all times. To be totally frank, I can never get past ‘simple matters’ in my karate, well at least not for long... But I’ve come to the realization, this is ‘this is what kihon is’, and this is why “karatedo begins and ends with kihon”.

How I’m practicing my kihon routine: Presently I’m treating my kihon-keiko like weight-training. On days one, three and five I focus on tewaza (ukewaza and tsukiwaza), and on days two, four, and six, I’m focused on ashiwaza (keriwaza). To supplement this practice I’m doing relevant calisthenics to strengthen my techniques i.e. – plyometric and hand stand pushups for my hand-attacks/blocks, and a variety of squats and tobi-keriwaza (jump kicks) for my leg attacks. On all six days I work on kihon-tachikata (basic stances), shisei (posture), and unsoku/ashi-hakobi (footwork/leg movements). I’m taking Sunday’s off from isolating my fundamentals and concentrating 100% on kata.

Kata: I want to have four Shotokan forms, which I can seriously call tokui (favourite/specialized) kata, however, at present, I only have three, Jion, Empi and Unsu. I’m trying to choose from Gankaku, Kanku-Sho, Bassai-Sho, Sochin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-Dai and Gojushiho-Sho but are admittedly still undecided. I know that if any of my former longtime students (or my mum back in New Zealand) read this, they will laugh, as over the years they have seen me go through 'big phases (usually several) with all of the Shotokan-ryu kata', but I’m sure this is the same story for all karate-do instructors. In addition to the standard Shotokan kata I’m currently working on, I'm also practicing the Asai-ryuha kata ‘Hakkaishu’. However, as opposed to being a tokui-kata, I’ve been using this as a 'tool' to monitor my junansei (softness). I find that practicing Sensei’s kata “creatively keeps me aware” of my power, and therefore, allows me to optimize it for maximum effect… As I’ve stated many times before, Asai Sensei’s advanced formal exercises are directly for jissen-kumite (actual-fighting).

Kumite: Ippon kumite is dominating my self-training at present, both kihon ippon and jiyu ippon kumite. However, at the dojo I’ve mainly been doing jiyu-kumite as that has been required of me. Regardless, my personal target has been to tune up my one-step sparring. I won’t go into too much depth here, except to say that my kihon ippon kumite is focused on koshi no kaiten (consistent with my kihon-keiko); and my jiyu ippon kumite simply adds tai sabaki and extreme tai no shinshuku to the equation. In both sparring drills I’m trying to retain precise technical form, and have optimal maai to achieve ichigeki-hissho.
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I’d like to leave you with some words of wisdom. “Whether kihon, kata or kumite one must harmoniously apply the maximum torque, and maximum propulsion of the body. Anything less, is nothing more than rehearsing a bad habit”.

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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

New Hirota Dogi

Based on my experience of simultaneously having both a Hirota ‘Ichi-roku-san’ (#163) and a ‘Pinak Kata’, I decided to return to the Pinak Kata. The new dogi arrived on the weekend, so I thought I’d share the reasons for my preference.

For a past articles on both of these karate uniforms please click on the following links: http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2008/09/hirota-163-dogi.html and http://andrebertel.blogspot.com/2008/03/pinak-kata-dogi.html

Why I prefer the Hirota Pinak Kata… I’m going to make this as brief and honest and possible… (1) The Pinak Kata hangs better, and it doesn’t distort your form. (2) Is lighter, more comfortable and never restricts your rapid movement. And (3) dries faster and is easier to care for.

Of course, everything stated here is nothing more than my opinion, based on my experiences, and what I want from a custom-made karate suit. Regardless, both of these do-gi are superb, therefore, karateka will prefer one over the other, most probably based on 'weight preference'.

All the very best from Western Japan.

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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).

Interview with Mike Dukas Shihan

I just read a great interview with Mike Dukas Shihan (7th Dan KWF) on the Shotokan Way. The humility and deep knowledge of this master karateka really stood out to me in the article.

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In addition to his own obvious skill, he has trained his son, Bryan Dukas, into an awesome karateka. Sadly I've never met nor trained with either of them, however, Bryan's kata and kumite, from what I've seen on video, are nothing less than fantastic. In the 2008 WKF World Championships, Bryan outclassed Luca Valdesi in the first round, with a far superior Jion, however Valdesi's Jion (arms flapping with no hip drive) "won" as one would expect.

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Anyway... Here is a link to Dukas Shihan's interview (http://www.theshotokanway.com/aninterviewwithmikedukas.htmlhotokanway.com/aninterviewwithmikedukas.html), a humble karateka with world-class skills, and knowledge. A hidden gem teaching authentic Shotokan karate-do in South Africa.

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© André Bertel, Japan (2009).