What should we call the five basic Kata from Itosu? Pinan or Heian? Itosu Ankō, the creator of the Pinan Kata. Itosu was raised in a strict home of the Keimochi (系持, a family of position, Pechin class) and was educated in the Chinese classics and calligraphy. In 1905 Itosu Ankō was a part-time teacher […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Kata is a series of movements consisting of offensive and defensive combat techniques, which are composed of former Karate masters. To create Kata was a method of remembering techniques, as you know, they did not have USB sticks or video cameras at that time, unfortunately. Kata are teaching and training methods that pass on successful […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
By learning Kata, you get the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the ancient masters. If you perform Kata with the right spirit, confidence, and humility, you will eventually understand the thinking and meaning behind these. In the past (except Kumite), Kata was the only way to train, later the concept of Kihon came […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Many people make a big deal out of breathing, however, breathing is one of the first things you do when you are born! Breathe in, breathe out, that’s as simple as it can be said, and thus ends this article. Just kidding 😉 Or am I? The focus on breathing is not only about health, […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Kihon means basic technique; here we practice the basic techniques repeatedly. In addition to the technical aspects such as punches, blocks, and kicks, proper posture, balance, and breathing are also trained. As the popularity of Karate grew, especially after Karate reached Japan, Kihon became an integral part of daily training. Of course, training in individual […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
I have been digging into the use of the word “Kime”. Most Karate people know the word, and most likely the meaning of it. At least they know what their Sensei has told them, and this is of course right 😉 However, the definition is manifold. The use of the word Kime in Karate can […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
This article delves into a crucial aspect of martial arts, particularly in Karate – the potential risks associated with overstretching your elbow and knee joints during punching and kicking movements. I will explore the importance of proper technique execution and the significance of controlled muscle contractions to prevent injuries and optimize your performance. Whether you […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
In the following, I will try to clarify what I understand by Kime. There have been a lot of different explanations for Kime over time. One explanation is that one’s Gi must give a loud “snap” while punching. If there is a loud “snap” the technique was done correctly. Now the technique is performed with […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
I already gave you my interpretation of Kiai in part 1, and as such, I will not go into depth with this again. Nonetheless, it can’t be avoided that I get into the topic anyway, as concepts like Kime, Kiai, and breathing are unequivocally related. Most of all, in the following I will deal with […]
Written by Gert Corfitzen Jürgensen
Kiai and Kime have a certain kind of mystery in Karate and have been highlighted as something supernatural. Kime and Kiai were often associative with power, focus, and of course the famous snap of the Gi. The mystification has gone fast over the past few decades, but there is nothing mysterious about Kiai, Kime, and […]