Deadly techniques of Uechiryu
I have not been writing about martial arts (especially karate) for a very long time. But that does not mean I have stopped practicing. Life has been busy with works lately and today my “mood” suddenly revisits me and so I decide to write this post.
Many of you may be wondering what I have been up to in karate. Have I stopped training? Hell no. I have been reading a lot about human anatomy and meridian pressure points these days. I find them enlightening. I became interested in human anatomy after working on a project building a gynecology website.
Using the knowledge that I have learned about human anatomy, many questions about Uechiryu techniques have been answered. These techniques are extremely dangerous and deadly when applied with medical knowledge.
What it is left now is training and more training to attain surgical precision strike in applying these techniques.
摧心取脑
好久没写关于空手道和武术的文章了。上星期和学生谈到了一些练武心得。最近也有一些新领悟。这一领悟，和我先前所写的一篇文章有很密切的关系。在此记录一下：
Joints – Part 1 – The Power Generator
In order to understand my earlier article about Oneness and subsequently other parts of it; the understanding of power generation from joints, especially elbows, is utterly crucial and cannot be disregarded.
Joints are important to our movements and acted as a power transmission center along the transmission lines of our limbs. In martial arts, especially internal system such as Wing-Chun, punching power is generated from elbows. Wing-Chun is mimicking many animals and among them are mainly crane and tiger. Crane being the foundation and essential form of Wing-Chun, it is also one of the three main animals in Uechi-ryu.
Sifu Hoe (my uncle) has been training Tiger style boxing since young. He has many years of training in Tiger style boxing. He also practices Taijiquan until now. According to Sifu Hoe’s teaching, the important factor in Tiger style boxing is to lighten up your upper body but have a firm stance and powerful hips for movement and striking. His description matches Ikyuro perfectly but with deeper knowledge and details. The striking power is generated by forearm, from elbow down to the every finger tips. The upper arm and shoulder are locomotive and transmission lines.
Although the power is generated by forearm, power generation using dan tien (the human body center of gravity in the lower abdomen situated 3 inches below navel) and stance can never be ignored. The ground is the ultimate power generator.
So, we know what being the power generators. The question now is how. How do we generate power using joints? I will discuss in details later.
Sandairyu
Sandairyu performed by Toyama Sensei, Ju-dan (10th dan).
Oneness – Part 1
My training on Okinawa has opened up a totally new dimension of understanding in karate techniques. As we all know, karate derived from Chinese kung-fu. Old grand masters of various Okinawan schools went to China to learn. When they brought back the knowledge, they blended what they had learned from China into their aboriginal martial arts and became karate during the mid of last century.
I learned about Ikyuro or oneness or moving stance / striking together at the same time for deep impact. Locking at specific joints and contraction of muscles at specific areas during striking is essential to generate sharper and more powerful impact. This has to be performed with good stance.
When you focus on the muscles on your calves and thighs, you can suspend your entire body weight and sink it down to the ground via both legs. This suspension provides power generation and stability at the same time.
My understanding of Ikyuro was never complete before I research into Kosonken or tiger style boxing. Tiger is one of the three main animals in Uechi-ryu.
In Tiger style, 六合归一 or 6-in-1 or 6-become-1, is the emphasis of power generation using 6 elements, 3 externals and 3 internals. The 3 external elements are body, foundation and stance. The 3 internal elements are 精 (jing) or essence, 气 (qi) or energy and 神 (shen) or internal organs, bones fresh and blood.
If you have watched carefully the Sandairyu performance of Toyama Sensei, he has all these 6 elements in one body, one mind and one soul.
Shoulder bursitis
I had shoulder pain since March. Initially, it began at my left shoulder after waking up one morning. The pain was not too serious until recently (for the past two weeks), I had lousy sleep. Both of my shoulders were aching and often woke me up in the middle of the night. I thought it was some kind of spraining and it would go away after good rest with less training. But it seems to self-exacerbate. The pain was getting more intense every night.
Last night, I read articles about shoulder bursitis or rotator cuff injuries and treatment. After reading these articles, I decided to give it a try. I applied Fastum gel (Ketoprofen) on both shoulders. Guess what? I had the best sleep ever since March. I woke up early this morning without any pain.
Fastum is used to relief localized pain of arthritis, rheumatism or sports injury. I should have acted earlier.
On and off, I had been doing some wauke spontaneously while I was thinking or working on some programming problems. Some kind of off-my-mind of physical activities after sitting in front of computer for too long. I guess it was the effect of banging my head on the keyboard and I lost sense of safety. Without doing proper stretching, I performed wauke with speed and force as in a counter attack situation. That could have torn my muscles or tendons on the bursa and I overlook the seriousness of the pain. How insanely I was!
Alright, now I am on Ketoprofen and I am going to apply it for the second time. Hope my shoulders will recover in a month or two.
The true meaning of martial arts training
Whilst many people engage in martial arts training, many of them neglect or not knowing the true meaning of training. It is very difficult to teach younger children about the philosophy of training but the older people tends to refuse or ignore the importance of training philosophy.
As a karate instructor for more than a decade of coaching and teaching experience, I have observed many different human behaviors in children, adolescent and even adults. I have very hard working students and also very ignorant and “lazy” students. Lazy not in terms of physically lazy but in mentally and attitude wise. Lazy in terms of seeking short cuts to achieve black belts as their peers do. I had students who trained with me and at the same time trained in other martial arts. With me, they had only achieved 1 grade higher then white belt for one year of training but they had achieved junior black belts in the other. They started their trainings in karate and other martial arts almost the same time. Black belts they are but yet can they kick or punch like black belts.
Two factors influenced the younger students.
- Parents attitude in transferring their responsibilities to 3rd party in their children’s physical and mental education.
- Ignorant parents and their egoism to see their children achieving some standards, in this case, black belt as their peers or neighbors’ children do.
I have parents who are very concerning about their children’s progress. But none of them consistent enough to stay concerned throughout entire year. They become concerned when grading test is approaching. This attitude reflects onto their children subconsciously.
While older children and older adults are easier to train (but not much easier then the younger children), I have formulated some training-playing methodology to help my younger students to train. I called it cognitive training. I will let them play a simple game of jumping, for instance, to help them develop muscles on their legs and hips. They usually enjoy the games very much.
As to older students, especially adults, explanation of bio-mechanism is crucial but always not taken seriously by most adult students. Only a few will absorb my explanation and apply into their training.
I wrote a similar but not identical article here. It is about learning to use the muscles.
Grading for improvement
In January, I failed 3 students during their grading test. There were 5 kids from Jasin testing for hachi-kyu. 2 passed and 3 failed. Although the 3 kids were not up to the grading standard, I deliberately tested and failed them. Why?
I am repeating again and again during training every Sunday but they take training very lightly. They don’t pay attention while training and not to mention practicing at home. These kids, including their parents, think it is enough coming for training once a week. Their concepts are wrong, so do many other people in martial arts training. The kids, including adults, come to training not to learn but to prepare their body and mind. The actual training begins when they achieve black belt sho-dan. But many people thinks they are learning which I don’t agree. Yes, learning it is, but to learn how to control our body, every single muscles and mind. That’s the learning I am talking about.
So, tonight, the grading has shown good improvement. 4 kids took the grading. The 3 kids who failed in January had retest and passed at border line and earned their hachi-kyu. The other little girl (8-year-old) had earned her nana-kyu. This girl is improving very fast.
After the grading, their parents arrived to take them home. I took the opportunity to explain to all of them the concept of training and their children’s progress, advantage and weakness. I hope these kids will continue to excel and improve.
Japanese Cultural Performance
The MMU’s Japanese Language Society had organized The Japanese Cultural Night on March 2. My karate doukoukai was given an opportunity to put up a performance on that night. The lead was established in December last year and my students and I had been busying for the performance since January and especially after the Chinese New Year.
Tonight, it was finally over, after two weeks of preparation. IMHO, the performance was very good comparing to previous performance.
A team consisted of 4 best female students had been selected to perform in the Japanese Culture Night organized by MMU’s Japanese Language Society on March 2, 2008. The team was led by Adrian Senpai. This performance showcased full Uechi-ryu techniques and training culture of Okinawa. The team had performed the best show ever since the formation of Malaysia Uechi-ryu.
The demo team members were:
- Allison Beh (MMU)
- Ong Lee Ying (SMK Ayer Keroh)
- Dalilah Mohmad Khaidar (Jasin)
- Batrisyia Mohmad Khaidar (Jasin)
The performance included:
- Dalilah and Batrisyia performing dantai no Sanchin
- Batrisyia performing Kanshiwa
- Allison and Ong performing dantai no Sanchin and received advanced Sanchin kitae
- Dantai no kata: Kanshiwa, Kanshuu, Seichin and Seisan
- Advanced kote kitae
- Renzoku kumite
These photos are courtesy of Mr. Thum Chia Chieh.
Adrian Senpai leading a bow in seiza position.
Two senior students performing Sanchin and received advanced Sanchin kitae from Adrian Senpai.
Adrian Senpai performing dantai no Kanshiwa with two senior students.
Adrian Senpai performing in dantai no kata with two senior students.
Adrian Senpai and Allison performing advanced kote kitae (body conditioning).
Adrian Senpai and Allison performing renzoku kumite.
Wa-uke
Wa-uke or circular block is the most versatile and most frequently used in Uechiryu karatedo. It is one of the secret techniques in Uechiryu. Simple by the look but it takes months or years to learn the correct method and to understand its concepts and applications. My previous research incorporated concepts from Taijiquan and Aikido into wa-uke. The keys of understanding and realization of wa-uke are change of momentum during different stages of maneuver, timing, contact points, triangulation and changing of stance. By applying the different concepts, wa-uke is not only a block but also grappling, throwing and taking down. Wa-uke is effective for mid- and close- quarter contact (CQC) fightings.
Repetitive practice of wa-uke together with the understanding of its fundamental concepts and applications, a simple technique becomes a secret technique. Complemented by the understanding of the concepts from Kosonken (tiger style boxing), this secret technique becomes more devastating and deadlier.
My research continues to unlock more secrets of Uechiryu and Kosonken as the time goes by. At the mean time, while waiting for more new exciting discoveries, let us practice this simple and yet secret technique.
A tiring day
Whew! After about two months of not coaching at schools, it is certainly tiring to coach two classes. Tonight, one student took the grading test. He missed the December grading and he missed last week test too. I thought more would come for the test as some little tigers from Jasin missed their test last week. Only one student turned up for grading.
Not too tiring giving grading test though. But it was really weary to correct his mistakes. I think I will go to bed early tonight. I don’t feel like carry on with some of my work.
First day at school
Today is the first training day at school after the long year-end school holidays. All schools re-opened on January 3 but co-curriculum activities only begin this week. Many old members dropped out already. Today has 90+ students came to enroll themselves into the school karate club. What a big crowd! But again, they are interim. According to my teaching experience in school, by the next two weeks, the number will drop drastically to less than half. By another 2 to 3 weeks, the number will reduce half again. It’s fine for me and it is a healthy sign as the the filtering process will filter out casual members. I hope to spot one or two (or maybe a few) potential butterflies like Ong.
The process of registering their name with the school karate club committee was quite a mess as this was the first time for these 14-year-old teenagers to handle such a big crowd. Off course, I helped out by showing them what to do. At least I was able to train the other old members. Unlike last year, I alone handled more than 100+ head counts.
How to get black belt fast? – Part 2
I wrote an article with the same title some time ago. You can find it here. There are a number of inquiries asking me how to get black belt fast. Well, I told them: “The fastest way is go to the store, buy one and wear it!” That’s the fastest way and cheapest way of becoming a “Black Belt”.
Two weeks ago, a Chinese family came to my doukoukai to inquire. Came along their two elder sons and the youngest daughter. They asked a lot of questions about our training and they watched my students practicing on their own.
Before leaving, the father asked me what dan am I? Because we don’t wear gi and belt during training, I jokingly told him I didn’t have any belt. They never return. That’s fine for me.
Many parents, including their children, are eager to reach black belt. They don’t understand the principal of training as well as the ranking system. Last night, 5 little tigers from my Jasin class turned up for the grading. These little kids do not pay attention during training and certainly do not train at home. I failed 3 of them in front of their parents to teach these little kids a lesson about failure. To my surprise, the parents were very keen at taking notes for their children. Although the students themselves are supposed to take notes after the training, it shows some positive feedback from the parents. The parents also get to know how their children are doing in training classes. Anyway, I am glad to have supportive parents like them. The 3 kids will re-test after 3 months. They are not required to pay any fee for a re-test.
Why Kanbun Sensei leaving China so soon?
My research effort about Uechi-Ryu has been gaining some momentum and one interesting fact I found out together with my students about Kanbun Sensei is that, why Kanbun Sensei left China so soon?
The research has sparkled from an unrecorded fact which was told by mouth. We gathered quite some materials which indicated some speculations and deviation from what I already knew of. Kanbun Sensei might have more than one teacher while he was in Fuzhou.
I have established many theories why Kanbun Sensei left China in a hurry. But this information cannot be published at this moment because it can affect the family honor of the Uechi’s descendants as well as shaking the Uechi-Ryu community. All these can come down with a simple question, why Kanbun Sensei left China?
My research is gaining more interesting facts and I am planning to go deeper into it.
Eagle cries
In my previous poem, I wrote “千里莺啼绿映红”
The loose translation is “Eagle cries thousand miles away and green (white) reflects red (black)”.
A deeper understanding of this sentence and the loosely translated English version needs to be understood from the Chinese literature perspective, not by using stupid translation software. The original meaning describes a beautiful scenery. But when this sentence is used in my poem, coupled with the other sentences, it becomes another meaning. The real translation with a deeper understanding is this:
An eagle cries as in “it involves in a quarrel which it defends against an accusation”. The green means white and also means correctness and right. But other people sees it as red (black) and means something so wrong.
So, the green (绿) and red (红), as reflected in a Chinese proverb: “青红皂白”. The green-red (青红) pairs into (皂白), black-white. Both green-red and black-white make vivid contrast as wrong-right makes its contrast! The Chinese use these 2 contrasts to describe right and wrong, good and bad.
In the translation, the green means white, has the meaning of innocent. The Chinese characters for green-white is “青白”. And the character green “青” (qing) is pronounced similarly as “清” (qing) or meaning clear. So, “青白” is “清白”, which means innocent.
Similarly, the character “映” means to reflect, according to dictionary. Here, in the context of the poem, it means to contrast. That’s the magic of Chinese literature.
It is a character game which the meanings of a word can be interchangeable. It cannot be translated without proper understanding.
As I said earlier about that sentence “千里莺啼绿映红” in my poem, its original meaning differs from meaning as reflected in my poem when coupled with other sentences or words. A translation software cannot cleverly determine and analyze the structure of the sentence(s) as well as the relationship between the previous and the next sentences. But a clever human being with a “proper” understanding of Chinese literature can. So, don’t use the stupid translation software to determine wrong and right!
A tiny fraction of people knows who and what I am referring to.
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