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Heian Shodan Shotokan Karate Kata Video
2007-09-19 08:11:00
Several years ago, the first kata practiced at our dojo was Heian shodan, today, Taikyoku Shodan or Kihon Kata, is the first kata. Very basic and very difficult, Sensei Dave Hooper JKA, told me that, Osaka Sensei can tell the grade of someone, by watching their heian shodan. Anyway, I have just uploaded a video of heian shodan, performed fast then slowly. Soon, we are going to perform all the shotokan kata in detail and upload them to shotokanunleahed.comShotokan Karate -ka can join unleashed for free and upload their own videos, it's all free so head over there and sign up, before they change their mind and start charging!OssuLindenThe Karate Way
More About: Video , Okan

Jitte (ten hands) Shotokan Karate Kata Video
2007-09-18 15:03:00
I have just uploaded a jitte video to www.shotokanunleashed.com First video, correct speed, then performed slowly.There are several differences in the kata, depending on association, but the kata is probably 95% the same for all shotokan karate-ka.JitteThe history of jitte is very clouded, but most agree that the kata developed in Tomari, but probably originated in China.The kata has very moves, associated with defence against a staff. These unusual kata moves seem to have been mixed with the more traditional shotokan karate moves, ie, age-uke (upper rising block), taesho (palm heal strike) and manji-gamae (double block).Jitte is a very smooth and flowing kata, with slow moves, suddenly exploding into fast, jitte also has two haito-uchi (ridge hand) attacks and an unusual mika zuki geri (crescent kick), double arm block combination, in kaba dachi (horse riding stance).Jitte is usually practiced at black belt.
More About: Video , Karate , Hands , Okan

Karate Training Weekend
2007-09-16 22:14:00
Michael from New York emailed and asked what’s a typical training weekend for me.Friday~ We practiced and filmed Jitte on Friday evening, I will upload the video to www.shotokanunleashed.com on Tuesday. It’s been a while, but 15 years ago, Jitte (ten hands) kata, used to be a regular part of my kata training. Its origin is from the Tomari-te school of Okinawan karate, jitte translates as ten hands and shows several defences against a bo (staff).Saturday~ We practiced ju ippon kumite, basai dai and yamani ryu bo. The yamani ryu bo kata was Choun no kon.Sunday~ Morning, we practiced basai dai (to storm a fortress), enpi (flying swallow), Lohai and ju ippon.On Sunday afternoon we ran and practiced yamani ryu bo outside.That’s a typical weekend for me, thanks for asking.OssuLinden
More About: Karate , Training , Weekend , TRAI , Raining

More Visitors To Your blog, And It's FREE!
2007-09-16 01:13:00
A little off topic, but several people have asked me how I drive traffic to my blog, well if you have a blog, check this out below.I'm hoping to get a lot more karate-ka to my blog by implementing John Reece's BLOG RUSH, which you can see on the top left of my side bar.Check it out if you have a karate blog, actually it works for any blog. CLICK HERE to check out this amazing way to send traffic to your blog.OssuLindenThe Karate Way
More About: Free , Blog , Visitors

Shihan Akio Minakami 8th Dan UK 2007 Visit
2007-09-15 18:49:00
I am very excited this weekend, on Monday shihan Mina kami 8th Dan arrives for his 2007 Uk tour. All karate-ka are welcome to train on the seminars, just drop me a line or email to confirm and I'll see you there.Shihan Minakami Tour DetailsShihan is an awesome karate master, who's teacher was the late Soke Teruo Hayashi!His shito Ryu karate is like nothing I have ever seen and his Yamani Ryu weapons skills are breathtaking to see.Hope to see some of you at the seminars.OssuLindenThe Karate Way
More About: Visit , Kami

Should Kids Be Awarded Black Belt?
2007-09-11 15:28:00
Child, man, woman, or beast! If they put the time and effort in, they should be rewarded. Black belt shouldn’t be awarded to someone, just because they turn up every week, it should be difficult, if a child or adult pass black belt, they should sleep at night, knowing they deserve the Kuro-Obi (black belt).There is no way a child black belt can compare with an adult black belt, I believe the title, ‘Junior Black Belt ’ should be given to anyone under the age of sixteen. The obvious one is strength, people will say, ‘he or she may be a black belt, but they would never be able to defend themselves in the street, they’re just a child’ This statement is obviously true and this fact should be explained to the junior black belts, who, if training properly, will already know this. But when they get older…………….A junior karate black belt, who trains properly, with the correct attitude, will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come, I mean that in the nicest way po...
More About: Kids

Shotokan Karate Kicking Exercise
2007-08-29 17:00:00
We practiced a really good kicking exercise last night, only using, mae geri, yoko geri kekomi, mawashi geri and ushiro mawashi geri.From Hidari Ju Kamae (left leg in front, free fighting stance). 1. Kicking mae geri (front kick) with the right leg and stepping back into ju kamae.2. Bring the right knee up into the mae geri preparatory position, then kicking yoko geri kekomi (side thrust kick), the kicking leg then returns back to the starting position (knee up in front, supporting legs foot, facing the front), then stepping back into ju kamae.3. Bring the right knee up into the mae geri preparatory position, then kick mawashi geri (round house kick), the kicking leg then returns back to the starting position (knee up in front, supporting legs foot, facing the front), then stepping back into ju kamae.4. Bring the right knee up into the mae geri preparatory position, then kick ushiro mawashi geri (hook kick), the kicking leg then returns back to the starting position (knee up in fron...
More About: Karate , Exercise , Okan

Shihan Minakami 8th Dan 2007 UK Tour
2007-08-23 00:11:00
We have just about confirmed the dates for Shihan Akio Mina kami's 2007 UK visit. If you don't know about Shihan Minakami, he was a student of the late, great, Soke Teruo Hayashi, who was known for his Dojo Yaburi (challenge), this is where you would visit a dojo and lay down a challenge to fight. Although many in the west would call this practice, stupid and dangerous, it was quite common in Japan and Okinawa. Shihan Minakami's karate and kobudo are inspirational, he has an amazing teaching style and is warm, friendly and approachable. If you want to see a real karate master in action, train with Shihan Minakami. Shihan Akio Minakami (8th Dan), was born in Tokyo, Japan and made a name for himself as an outstanding karate man. He won 5 Gold Medals at the Hayashi-Ha Shitoryu-Kai International Championships and 5 Gold Medals at the All Japan Karate Championships. He was also the first man ever to win 5 Gold Medals (every division possible) at the AAU National Championships. He was ...
More About: Tour , Kami

Want To Start Karate? How To Chose The Right Karate For You!
2007-08-11 17:16:00
What to look for and how to prepare yourself, so you can confidently walk into a karate school and not only know what to expect, but know what to do!People have practiced martial arts for thousands of years. There are many reasons why people practice martial arts and the reasons have changed and evolved over the years. In times of war, it was the fighting skills learned from karate that were the main reason to train, in times of peace, health and character development took precedence and now we have the competition side of karate, which is huge!Master Gichin Funakoshi, who was the founder of Shotokan karate, believed the development of character was the most important part of the martial arts. He believed and passed on the philosophy of, no first attack in karate.It seems modern day martial arts go into one, or a combination of four directions, 1.Self defence.2.Fitness.3.Health and character development.4.Competition training.Self DefenceThe self defence aspect of karate is plain to...
More About: Karate , Start

Dave Hooper Sensei JKA Shotokan Karate
2007-08-08 17:22:00
We have just finished training with sensei Dave Hooper JKA, the seminars concentrated on shotokan kihon, JKA style!Sensei Hooper rocked the UK shotokan world several years when he made an 'end of the world' statement, I won't go into the story here, but for a time, he was really not liked by some of the UK senior shotokan karateka. The fact that he was correct in his statement was completely ignored, at no point did Hooper sensei say the karate in the UK was no good, just that it was different!Well after training with sensei Hooper, I am going to have to agree with him, JKA shotokan in the UK, is different from JKA shotokan in Japan. I'm not saying that's good or bad, just that it's true. I'm sure that there are dojo in the UK that practice authentic JKA karate, so I don't mean all shotokan karate dojo. Well, back to the dojo,In the first class, Hooper sensei worked on chokuzuki and the correct use of the legs, hips and hikite arm. He explained, when punching with the right ...
More About: Karate , Okan