November 2013

Why Kissaki-Kai? Kissaki-Kai teaches

effective defensive karate

Kissaki-Kai promotes

reality in training

Sport & Fun are not

forgotten!

Family atmosphere

No Politics

Not Style dependent.

Recognized world-wide

International Dojo

Mawashi-zuki sensei Vince

01

Maswashi-zuki sensei Vince.

02

Michigan Seminar Information

03

Distance Learning website

04

Advertising 05

DVDs & Books Website Shop.

06

Inside this issue:

November 2013

Vol.16 No.8

Some fifty or more years

ago as I was beginning my

continuing fascination with

the Japanese fighting arts,

and Karate in particular, I

was intrigued to discover

the variety of peculiar hand

and finger configurations

there were instead of just

the ubiquitous and easily

recognized clenched fist

which were used to deliver

powerful blows to an oppo-

nent.

If these were essentially

unknown then, they are

mostly completely unknown

in Dojo practice today!

The reasons for this fading

into obscurity are not diffi-

cult to find: Firstly there is

the switch from Karate as a

defensive art to becoming a

rule-governed ‘safe’ sport

with only light or regulated

(no punches to the head)

contact rules.

The move from Okinawa

and common Okinawan

forms of training to Japan

and the requirements of the

new regulated and different

type of training also played

a major part.

The third - and more obvi-

ous - modern-day change

has been brought about by

the development and prolif-

eration of MMA fighting.

Let’s look at these various

stages and see the

consequences:

In early Okinawan training,

the emphasis was firmly

upon the pragmatic of real-

istic and effective methods

of disabling attackers who

posed a definite and dan-

gerous physical threat to

you or your family.

In order to become effective

at using these skills it was

found necessary to devote a

certain amount of time in

the Dojo to strengthening

the body in general - in or-

der to withstand blows and

throws from an attacker

etc.. - and in strengthening

certain of the parts of the

body used to deliver the de-

fensive blows - hands, fin-

gers, fists, knees, feet etc.

This led eventually to the

manufacture of various

metal and stone imple-

ments to enhance the train-

ing of what became known

as ‘Hojo Undo.’ The partici-

pants were also frequently

struck about the limbs and

body by the sensei, to

toughen them and to have

the students become used to

being hit so that in a real

confrontation they would

not be stressed by being in

an unknown situation.

In an uncompetitive (no

shiai) environment students

were able to develop fists

The Forgotten Techniques - 1

Mawashi - zuki

Nihon-nukite - 2 finger spear

Washide - Eagle hand

Hiraken - fore-knuckle fist

Kakuto - Bent wrist

Kumade - Bear hand

Volume 16 issue 8 page 5

Page 2

and feet capable of deliver-

ing immensely powerful

blows without sustaining

damage. The tips of the

toes were pressed together

and used as weapons, as

were the tips of the fingers.

As can be seen by the pre-

ceding illustrations, there

were (and are) many and

various ways of forming a

striking weapon and of

training the body parts

over time to become strong

enough to deliver these

powerful strikes without

causing the kind of self-

injury that an untrained

finger, fist or foot would

sustain.

With the focus moving to

the spread of Japanese

sport karate, the rules im-

posed on the grounds of

safety led inexorable away

from defensive concern to

those of competition, some

original techniques and

targets becoming complete-

ly prohibited.

It became illegal to deliver

any kicks to the groin nev-

er-mind compressed toe

kicks, and finger strikes to

the eyes were banned, as

were knife-hand strikes or

flat fist strikes to the

throat or other vital areas.

Eventually, these tech-

niques became less and

less practiced in the Dojo

as their perceived useful-

ness decreased.

As the need to deliver

forceful blows diminished,

so did the trend of toughen-

ing the fist by daily use of

the makiwara, once

deemed an essential aid to

training!

There are not many Dojo

outside of the diehards

which today figure lines of

karate-ka diligently strik-

ing the straw-covered

board.

Now, it isn't wrong to not

use these special fist

shapes, not if your major

interest is in MMA fighting

or sport - light or no con-

tact - karate. Nor is it

wrong not to spend some

time in strengthening and

toughening your fist in the

traditional fashion. UN-

LESS your main reason for

training is in developing an

arsenal of very effective

methods of delivering pow-

erful blows and strikes to a

real enemy, intent on doing

you or a loved on real

harm!

If this is the case then you

should indeed pursue this

latter practice, and spend a

lot of time in the Dojo prac-

ticing to deliver the tech-

niques accurately, power-

fully and quickly to a part-

ner in realistic scenario

training.

Remember - Kihon (Basics)

are only that; they are not

an end in themselves, they

are part of your training

which enables you to move

on and then apply them in

realistic situations.

Let’s look at just one of the

forgotten techniques -

Mawashi-zuki.

If you take part in boxing

or MMA you will know that

one of the most devastating

punches is the hook or

cross to the head, and spe-

cifically to the side of the

head or jaw. This sharply

rotates the skull and induc-

es rapid loss of conscious-

ness.

Here is the point, though.

You will be wearing padded

gloves and even tape which

is there to protect both the

opponent and the striker’s

fingers!

If you deliver the same

punch without gloves you

stand a good chance of

damaging - even breaking -

some fingers or knuckes.

Which is not what you need

in the middle of a fight!

You can see in the two ex-

amples above that the con-

tact point between fist and

skull are the small knuckle

joints which are likely to be

damaged.

The next two photos show

the correct way to turn

over the fist to ensure that

the contact point is actual-

ly the two biggest knuckles

which are less prone to

damage.

Remember - deliver the

punch with a hard snap-

ping motion of the hips to

generate the power, do

NOT just swing your arm

around!

Page 3

News and Seminars

Don’t miss this unique event - a 3 hour seminar with sensei Vince Morris 8th Dan,

probably the world’s foremost expert in the real interpretation of superbly effective

defensive skills gleaned from his extensive research into the meanings of the power-

ful techniques hidden in plain sight in the movements of the Karate Kata. Among

other elements learn the modern interpretation of Funakoshi’s 9 throws!

Recent feedback from a member of the distance-learning site

We all have gone to a seminar and thought that we would remember all those

great moves and explanations, but really we only remember a little bit after a couple of weeks. The advantage with the Kissaki-Kai distance learning site is you can review material over and over. It is like having a library of Vince Morris seminars that I can rewind and review over and over. They are not a low budget podcasts; these are high quality videos like the ones offered on the Kissaki-kai DVDs, with in-depth material on Kata bunkai, Kissaki-kai philosophy, and vide-os of real seminars and classes. It has become a vital part in the research of my karate and the material I teach in my classes. If you want to really begin to un-derstand the details of Kissaki-Kai karate this is the website to have! Phil Oakes, Bassai Karate Academy, Yon-Dan Kissaki-kai karate

Page 4

News and Seminars

Go to the website and see for yourself!

Many karate-ka are now in their 3rd year of membership. The only way

to learn Kissaki-Kai in depth and detail if you do not have access to a DOJO.

www.kissakikai.com

Every month download new training videos, see Web TV, ask questions

Highly recommended, having signed up initially as a newish Kissaki-Kai member hungry for as much information as

possible and feeling geographically isolated from other Kissaki Kai Dojos. The Kissaki-Kai learning website has been a rich resource for me and all Kissaki Kai members and anyone else genuinely interested in properly applying karate as a real and effective method of self-protection.

The Kissaki-Kai learning website should feature in everyone’s basic library of information.

I’ve used it, from the beginning to help me and my students, the articles and video downloads (and DVDs) are an inspir-ing continuing reference and many times useful as a template to structure classes. This to me is really worthwhile useful information online. It seems so obvious to me that Vince Morris has revisited not just the old ways, but revised and revises his own earlier takes and opinions on the old ways, to make karate better, to hone the principles, to get to the core important basics.. and the Distance Learning website brings this information to all martial artists! When one person joins - the whole Dojo benefits!

Gerry Smullen, 4th Dan Kissaki-Kai & 4th Dan Wado Ryu. Kissaki-Kai Rep. for Ireland.

The ‘Distance Learning’ website was created especially to fill the needs of those

who wished to study and master the essential skills of Kissaki-Kai but who did not

live near to a Kissaki-Kai Dojo. For more than 3 years now, it has been possible to

log on to the site and every month download a specially filmed video (or DVD) of all

the 5 levels of Kissaki training, showing in details each step to follow to gain mas-

tery. All aspects are covered clearly and in detail, often in slow motion, and then

showing full speed applications. Why not try it? It could be just what you need.

Volume 16 issue 8 page 5

Blatant Advertising

www.kissakikarate.com/shop or Amazon.com

Books, DVDs,& Pads - order from www.kissakikarate.com

Page 6 November 2013

Available from: www.kissakikarate.com/shop.htm or www.amazon.com

JION - The major Bunkai NEW DVD - Adults Only - Graphic content may be disturbing.

This new 1 hour DVD reveals the omote waza (Hidden techniques) of this important Kata. Jion is one of the original 15 Shotokan kata brought from Okinawa to Japan by Sensei Funakoshi. Its name is said to come from either the Jion temple in China, or a monk training there. The signature move of manji gamae is one of most misinterpreted tech-niques of karate. In this DVD Vince Morris finally reveals the true bunkai of this kata. $45 NTSC (USA) £29PAL (Europe)

Genesis of Kissaki-Kai - Set of 4 DVDs

The Genesis set is a re-mastering of seminar samplers 1,2,4 and 5, charting the development of Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do:

These 4 DVDs, recompiled from the earliest seminar videos, analyze and demonstrate the use of Kyusho points, the

Flinch Reflexes, the ‘Frisbee-uke’ - the ‘Rules of Combat’ and much more. See how the application of research and

logic altered the perception and practice of Kata Bunkai! The quality is not as good as current DVDs but the content is

important! $50 NTSC (USA) £33 PAL (Europe)

The Secret Art of Pressure Point Fighting: Book & DVD-combo

Martial arts lore tells of masters who possessed a mysterious ability to defeat an opponent with a single perfectly

placed blow. This book transforms the ancient legend into a modern reality - an anatomically based fighting and self-

defence system that allows a small defender to defeat a larger attacker. - Over 300 step-by-step photos show each

point and strike.

$28 NTSC (USA) £22PAL (Europe) DVD shows detailed action and more than the book.

Essential Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do - Double DVD

This set is giving detailed instruction in the 5 levels of Kissaki-Kai Karate-Do: Atemi-waza, shime-waza, nage-waza and

kansetsu-waza. A masterful compilation of real, effective, defensive combat techniques which should be studied by

all karate-ka wishing to gain a full understanding of this defensive art. Based upon the 3-year distance learning pro-

gram, but including much new material, this DVD set is an invaluable insight into how to make karate truly effective.

Shin-ippon Kumite, the ‘Rules of Combat’, the use of Kyusho points, the flinch reflexes, the ‘Frisbee-uke’ – and much

more is covered here!

$45 NTSC (USA) £29PAL (Europe)

Go to the web-

site shop to see

all the books,

DVDs and other

items available

(T - shirts, Pro-

tective pads

etc.)

GIFT

IDEAS