Martial Arts Training.....

[Huffman]

Okay point taken... I just have an aversion against guys who pose shirtless on facebook

 

[Sparky]

In my opinion, Karate applied properly in a self defence situation should look more like this (apart from this being a very entertaining video because Bas is a bit of a comedian) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3K-mrlYG7Y

A lot of the kind of moves Bas does here are actually kata moves. It shows them actually effectively applied.

The trouble with a lot of karate schools is they teach all this rubbish about simultaneously blocking two punches from two different attackers, and walking into kicks and so forth.

For example - lets take the basic first move of "Kihon" - step to the left and downward block. Do we SERIOUSLY think that this is a kick block? No, it's a strike to the groin. That's what I meant earlier in the thread about Karate being widely mis-taught.

Don't underestimate Karate. It has been carefully worked out and tested. But the Americanisation of it and watering down of it in competitions has led to it being disrespected.

Do we seriously think that Bas could use any of these moves in a competition? He'd get disqualified immediately.

Having said that, he then goes into groundwork in the second bit of the video which is not Karate, but the first bit definitely shows some of the Kata applications that I've learnt. And that's in Shotokan, which is very widely disrespected.

 

[Sparky]

And no, in proper Karate it is not encouraged to "Chamber" the other hand when throwing punches. That leaves you wide open. The "Chamber" acheives two things (that I can think of) :

It is in fact a backwards elbow. Each time you chamber, it is practise for elbowing an attacker grabbing you from behind.

It is grabbing the person and pulling them on to you while punching so they can't ride the punch.

Also - the long stance. It is not encouraged to fight like that. The reason we take a long stance is simply exercise for the legs. It is assumed that if you can build speed with a long stance, then when you shorten the stance your legs are very explosive. Similar to when runners practise with weights on their legs.

This is why we have "Freestyle" stance. Freestyle allows you to shorten your leg stance and put up a guard. Any instructor that does not encourage also practising like this is not worth their salt.

I hope that dispels a few Karate "myths".