The Withdrawing Hand

When I first studied martial arts (40 years ago) I was instructed to pull one hand back strongly to my hip or (in a few cases) abdomen. Pull it back strongly, I was instructed, to strengthen the outgoing hand. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, Isaac Newton figured out. So, by pulling back strongly, I was to add force to my strike. I never questioned this, because I'm a sucker for science-themed explanations.

Years later, I met Sensei George Dillman. He said the withdrawing hand (hiki-te) is extremely important as a devastating component of pressure point techniques. "Watch this hand," he would quietly tell me whenever I asked him to show me a new point or a new knock-out. As a result, I now seek to be a student of hiki-te, an aficionado of the withdrawing hand. Enjoy this little video mini-blog.

Annual Training Event

I never set out to have students. In fact, I did things designed to make it difficult for people to train with me. Funny how that didn't stop anyone. As a result, I have a group of very skillful martial artists, all black belts, who train with me. And they have students of their own, so I'm a grandpa-sensei.

For some years now, we have held an annual (two-day) training event in Madison, WI, which we call the Annual Gathering. Anyway, I've attached the flier. If you want to come, send me an email at

christhomasmartialarts@gmail.com

and I'll reply with one of those paypal "buy it now" thingees. It's kind of cool because, instead of telling you to "go train," now I can invite you to "come train."

CT

More on Traditional Movements

My teacher, George Dillman, likes to say to people at a seminar, "Ask questions; good questions make a good seminar." Well, Ken asked a simple question about how to interpret traditional movements, and it turns out to have been a good question, because, here I am, still answering it. Really, you're getting this for free while people pay good money to have me teach them this stuff. Anyway, enjoy.

Isshin-ryu's Specialized Small Person Techniques

The Isshin-ryu style was developed by Tatsuo Shimabuku. Shimabuku was a student of Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu Karate-do), Choki Motobu (Motobu-ryu Karate-jitsu), and Chotoku Kyan (Shorin-ryu). Kyan was particularly small even by Okinawan standards, so he had modified the traditional kata Chinto with specialized movements for use against larger opponents. Shimabuku was on the small side of average for an Okinawan (about 5' 4", roughly 135 pounds). However, he had found himself in the Phillipines training Japanese military how to fight against their larger American opponents. (The "official" story, in a letter from Angi Uezu, Shimabuku's son-in-law, is that Shimabuku was in the Phillipines as a geisha – by which I assume Uezu meant entertainer – and that he "loved" Americans.)

The insights of his teacher Kyan were clearly invaluable in solving the American problem, and they are evident in Shimabuku's Isshin-ryu style, a style which truly favors small person's techniques for use against much larger opponents. Ironically, in the U.S., Isshin-ryu is more of a "big man's" system, owing to the large stature of the original pioneers, men like Steve Armstrong, Harry Smith, Harold Long.

This video mini-blog shows the use of a signature Isshin-ryu technique from the kata Kushanku.

Using Traditional Movements Continues (on and on and...)

I'm back to answering Ken's question about the use of traditional movements.

Isshin-ryu's "O-uchi"

Here is a Video Mini-Blog about a technique from Isshin-ryu (and Ryukyu kempo and Tai Chi)

Using Traditional Movements Continues

I continue to explain how to use traditional movements. This time using the move "knife-hand" (shuto-uke).

Interpreting Traditional Movements (Pt. 2)

Here is the next installment in my answer on interpreting traditional movments

Interpreting Traditional Movements (Pt. 1)

One of the questions I received (from Ken in St. Louis) required several Video Mini-Blogs to answer. This is the first part. Enjoy.

Tai Chi Posture

This quick Video Mini-Blog explains how to find good posture for tai chi – head pressed up, chin tucked, back straight, shoulders rounded, chest sunk.

Tai Chi, relaxed yet firm

Tai chi chuan is relaxed, but not limp. It should feel like a steel bar wrapped in cotton.

Training in Chen Tai Chi Chuan

Photo: Xuejiao Chen, Jean-Paul Bindel, Chris Thomas, Thierry Mas

(Thierry is sifu Chen's husband. In the Photo, note how Jean-Paul and I look hot and sweaty, while sifu Chen and Thierry look cool and dry.)

While I was in France, I had the pleasure of training with a Chen-family master. This was my second time training with a Chen family master, the first time was with 19th generation master Chen Xiao Wang. This time, I received training from 21st generation master Chen Xuejao. My DKI-colleague in France, Jean-Paul Bindel, invited me to attend and introduced my to this fine master. Such a pleasure! Madame Chen is a superb technician, with powerful and mature movements which defy her age (she is 26 or 27) and her "condition" (she is pregnant with her first child and due in December).

During the class, sifu Chen made direct and frequent references to the martial uses of Chen tai chi chuan. For her, the health benefits of the movements – the usual reason for people to take tai chi – are inseparable from the martial application. If you visualize the application, you will move correctly. If you move correctly, your energy will flow in a healthy and life sustaining manner.

As a Yang style practitioner, I found the Chen to be challenging and fascinating. It was also interesting to see what sifu Chen did not teach outwardly – an interesting "stirring" movement which initiated several of her actions.

As a pressure point practitioner, I found Chen style to be very effective. Clearly, I have a very unique perspective on tai chi. I believe that a great way to "move a thousand pound with four ounces" is to use pressure points. I am not saying that pressure points are the "best" way to do this, or the "true" way to do this, but it is my preferred way. And this made for interesting dinner conversation after class. Sifu Chen was knowledgeable about points but somewhat more cautious about their use than we western kyusho-jitsu practitioners tend to be.

I am definitely going to explore Chen style. I don't know if that means I will become a practitioner, or if it means that I will simply steal as much knowledge from the system as I can. Either way, I look forward to my next chance to train with Chen Xuejao.

Thanks for reading,

Now, go train!

CT

Video mini-blog: Full Intent

Video Blog: Not Doing Anything

I get questions about Chi

I got a question from Christa, she wrote, Good morning Master Thomas. I was wondering if I could bother you for your take on what chi is. I didn't believe in it before I started martial arts and I dont want the wrong belief in place of no belief...

This is how I answered:

Well... The word chi has many meanings, so there is no one definition possible (for example, in Japanese "gen-ki" refers to physical health). But here are some ways I think about it:

First, the word chi is equivalent to the word prana, is equivalent to the word ruach, is equivalent to the word pneuma, is equivalent to the word spiritus, all of which mean breath, all of which mean spirit, and all of which could mean the animating principle of life. So, the word chi-gung means "breath work", and, in its basic form, it is (just) a series of breathing exercises.

If we speak in terms of physics, we say (E=MC[squared]) that everything is just energy. Even what we call matter, is just energy. Particles are just energy. To put it in non-scientific language, everything is made of light.

Now, when I reach my hand out to grab a glass, I am moving and directing energy by conscious intent. When I slow my breathing down, or meditate, or calm down an intense emotional state, or work up emotional agitation, I am manipulating energy by conscious intent.

We also believe that it is possible to move energy around in the body by conscious intent, and even to consciously extend energy beyond the apparent material boundaries of our bodies. And this we refer to using the term chi-gung.

Personally, when I do chi-gung, I bind it to my spiritual work (and here I mean "spiritual" in the religious sense). I don't have time or inclination to practice a breathing exercise, then practice an energy-mind-intention-projection exercise, then engage in a spiritual discipline like contemplative prayer. So, I incorporate a traditional breath-prayer in my chi-gung and try to accomplish all these things at once. This works well for me.

And I got a question from Dave, who wrote, How do you explain chi to christians? I am one but some of the "brouthern" think Im headed to you know where thanks for any help

This is how I answered:

Personally, I simply talk about energy from a physics perspective. Everything is energy, even what we call "matter". So, if I reach out my hand to touch someone, I am moving energy by conscious intent. We know that energy also radiates out bodies in the form of light (mostly infrared, but some visible light as well), radio waves, microwaves, em-fields, etc. In the martial arts, we simply believe that it is possible to direct some of these radiating energies by conscious intent, as well.

Then, I emphasize that the practice of chi does not involve call upon any false gods or spirits for assistance, or putting faith in any other God but God.

But, mostly, I just allow people to see my faith and my faithfulness. If they choose to be narrow-minded I cannot change that. If they choose to judge me, well, they are not my judge, before my own Master I will stand or fall (and stand I will, for He will make me stand [Rm 14]).

Hope this helps a bit.

Today I will be studio answering questions on video blog. I expect them to start posting right away (even though I will be in France teaching – see you soon, Jean-Paul).

Thanks for reading.

Now, go train!

CT

What Constitutes Winning?

What constitutes winning? Every sporting contest defines this before the game begins. But, in self defense, what does it mean to win? Who decides this? What does it mean for us when others impose their answers on us?

A martial artist might be attacked on the street, and execute a picture perfect round kick to the attacker's head. Bam, just like in the movies. Just like in the dojo. The ideal of winning – ippon! But, suddenly that same martial artist might find himself being judged guilty of the use of excessive force. After all, a martial artist, a black belt, should have some restraint. I mean, my goodness, he kicked him in the head (DA's and jurors often have unrealistic notions of what constitutes a reasonable response to attack, and what reasonable people actually do in the moment of actual threat).

And then there are the armchair critics. There are always those who say, "You should have done this..." Or, "I wouldn't have done that..." It is easy to imagine what we would or wouldn't do, but in the actual moment, what we actually do may be quite different from our fantasy. When I talk to people who have survived assaults, they often do this to themselves, saying, "I should have done this or that." I am usually the one saying, "You did great! The fact that you are standing here today proves that you are stronger than your attacker."

So, questions of winning and losing are about not only the moment of assault, but also about what happens later. Consider this scenario, a women is raped. In one version of the scene, the women chooses to endure the outrage to survive, so she does not fight back. In another version of the scene, the woman decides to fight back – survive or die, to fight back. So she fights, she struggles, she bites, she scratches, and for her resistance she gets punched into incapacity, suffering a broken jaw, a broken rib, and multiple bruises in addition to being raped. Now, if we define winning as survival with a minimum of injury, the woman who chose to endure to survive has come out ahead of the women who chose to fight. However,...

Later the women are at the hospital being examined for forensic evidence. In the emotional aftermath of the assault, the first women is saying, "I was so scared, I just wanted it to be over. I just disconnected from my body. It was like I was watching from afar. I felt so helpless." And the second women is saying, "I couldn't stop the son-of-a-bitch, but I gave him something to remember. He may be stronger than me, but I wasn't going to let him rape me without a fight. Check my fingernails, I know I have his DNA there. And start looking for a guy with scratches and teeth marks."

So, who is in a better position to survive the long term effects of the rape? There is no right answer to the question of whether to fight back, or to endure to survive. And there is no right answer to the question of what it means to win under these circumstances. There is only the answer each of us chooses for our own selves. My only suggestion is to choose ahead of time, to be mentally prepared. But, remember, if you are attacked and things don't go the way you imagined they, you have the right to redefine what it means for you to win.

Thanks for reading,

Now, go train.

CT

P.S. There is still time to send me questions to answer for you on a series of video blogs I will be recording and posting soon. Just send your question to me at christhomasmartialarts@gmail.com

Lipstick

Two friends of mine had the opportunity to train with Taika Oyata-sensei (whom I have never had the pleasure of meeting). They were the only two people in the room who were not from Oyata's group. Everyone else was wearing the characteristic gi of Oyata's Ryu-te school, which consists of a jacket similar to a standard karate jacket, tucked into a a pair of matching nobakama (similar to the ones I mentioned in a previous post, though a bit less traditional). Oyata-sensei walked up to my friends to greet them. He pointed at their black belts, then motioned across his lips, and said, "Lipstick! That's liiip-stiick." What a great sentiment, because it's true. Our belts are for dress-up.

I have noticed that we have made a great business out of rank in the martial arts. What rank someone is becomes of vital importance. "Are you a black belt?" Is always the first question. Our belts are around our waists to make sure everyone knows where we fit in the pecking order, to make sure everyone knows our rank. And dan exams nowadays are nothing more than rights of passage. When a student is allowed to test, the instructor has already decided to promote them. If they make it through the hazing, excuse me, I mean testing process, they will receive the promotion. And if they do not make it through the hazing, I mean testing process, they will still receive the promotion.

When I was 17, it was announced at my dojo that Matayoshi Nakayama-sensei would be visiting from Japan in the fall. Included in his visit would be a dan exam. At that time, I had been a brown belt for about 2 1/2 years. The prospect of testing for black belt (black belt testing occurred only once or twice per year) under the chief instructor of the style was wondrous to me. And so, like other candidates, I worked for 6 months to get ready. I trained a minimum of 10 hours a week in the dojo, working hard on every requirement. As the test date drew near, it became well known at my high school (I was a senior) that I was testing, so all my friends and classmates were wishing me good luck and their best hopes, not to mention the support of my family.

During the test I was nervous but prepared. I performed each of the elements with the confidence of 4 1/2 years of training, the last 6 months of which were devoted specifically to hard preparation for that test. After the test, dojo-mates told me how well I did, and expressed assurances about the outcome. The outcome was announced at a formal dinner in a Japanese restaurant. We were seated on cushions at low tables, in a large tatami covered room (divide-able with sliding doors which had been removed to accommodate the crowd). After the meal, there were various announcements. Nakayama-sensei was given gifts, including an ancient iron tsuba (sword guard). And finally, the rankings were announced.

They began with the names of those who were being awarded provisional black belt rankings (with rank tests so few and far between, this was not uncommon). I remember thinking how I hoped my name would not be among that group, and it wasn't. The announcement continued with the names of those being promoted to 1st dan. As each name was called, there was applause and congratulations. Then, as they moved on to the second dan promotions, it hit me, I had failed my black belt test. All those months of intense training, all that effort, all the assurances of my dojo-mates, all the people(!) who would be asking me if I passed, and I had failed.

Monday at school was awful. "Did you pass?" No. "How'd you do?" I failed. Monday night at the dojo wasn't much better. There I was, back in that brown belt (I hate brown belts, the color of sh*t, because being a brown belt is sh*tty), doing the same things all over again. Punches, kicks, basics, kata, sparring. I had failed my test, and I was clearly doomed to be a brown belt forever. What was the point of even continuing this karate thing?

Since that first dan exam, I have taken other dan exams. And that first test was not the only one I failed, though, clearly, I've passed some as well. But, failing that first test turned out to be incredibly valuable for me. By failing, I knew that passing wasn't a "gimme". I was being held to a standard, and I would either meet that standard or not. And failing forced me to ask myself what I was training for. Was my goal in karate just to attain a black belt? Was it just about that piece of cloth, that status? Was I a dan-chaser, or was I a martial artist?

After 40 years in the martial arts, I mostly agree with Oyata-sensei – lipstick. But, I actually like my belt, though I don't really like my rank. With the amount of talent and skill I see in my many colleagues, I usually feel over-ranked. But I do like my belt. It is tattered and worn, and that says something about my training and my values. The belt is a record of my years. However, I am getting older, and a bit wider in the middle, so now, when I knot my belt, it is starting to look a bit like a bow tie. So, I suppose I need to get a new (read longer) belt, and then wear that one out. Or maybe, I'll just go with nobakama like Oyata-sensei. And then, maybe not, because nobakama make my butt look fat.

Thanks for reading.

Now go train.

CT

Taking Your Questions

I've been getting questions. Folks have been shooting me questions through my Facebook Fan Page. But, everyone doesn't get to share in the answers. So, during the month of August, I'm taking your questions, and starting the first week of September, I'll be answering them in video clips on my blog. Please send your questions to my email address, christhomasmartialarts@gmail.com, and then watch the answers.

Thanks in advance for your questions.

Now, go train.

CT

Cool & Interesting

My son and I were talking about folks who like cosplay. Someone who had a booth at a scifi/comic convention invited him to visit. My son told me about the amazing costumes. There were Klingons, and Ironman(s) and characters I had never heard of. And these weren't vendors, these were attendees. "I was dressed in kaki's and a henley, and was completely out of place," he said.

As we talked about the colorful characters at that convention, it did not escape our notice (O, the irony) that we were wearing our karate costumes and spending the weekend in the practice of pain. As my friend Steve Cooper observed, "We're a bunch of sick puppies."

When people talk about the practice of martial arts they speak of many purposes and values. Some talk about the health benefits, and this is abundantly true. Martial movements (especially when done properly) move the body in ways that are great for maintaining health well into old age (just check out Hohan Soken doing kata as a very old man with a lot of energy). Other people talk about the spiritual and personal values of martial arts training. Discipline, self-control, courtesy, perseverance, and more, come with years of practice and training.

Self-defense is always a big reason for training. As a classical martial artist, I believe the movements of the old kata are for practical fighting (which looks almost nothing like the way in which those same movements are used by most modern martial artists). This even crosses over to my practice of old Okinawan weapons. When I do a sai kata, it looks the same as someone else's sai kata. But, when I use the movements of that kata, it looks like I am using an entirely different weapon. Yet, I will never be attacked when I am armed with sai. Nor will I ever be attacked by someone wielding the type of weapon sai was designed to deal with (except in the dojo, of course). So why would I practice sai-jitsu.

For that matter, why do I practice martial arts at all? Why do I spend so much time training in preparation for an attack which probably will never occur? The answer is simple. I think martial arts are really interesting and really cool. The first time I took a lesson, at age 12, and I was told, "Stand like this, bend your knee like this," I was hooked, fascinated by the complexity and intricacy, by the body of knowledge to learn, the specialized vocabulary, the unique methods. And for all the values I have received from my years of training, I train today because, 40 years later, I still find it really interesting.

So, I am like those die-hard fans at the scifi/comic conventions – the ones whose costumes don't look like costumes at all, the ones who have really invested time and energy into what they are doing, the ones who actually can speak Klingon, the ones who think it is really interesting and cool. I train, I speak the language, I wear the cool costume. In fact, when I practice weapons, I don't use the cheap crap sold by Ce•••ry. Noooo. I have the really good quality weapons. And I even wear a special costume for weapons work, a special blue hakama in the working style called nobakama, because, I think weapons training (kobujitsu) is really interesting and cool, and I want to look cool when I'm doing it.

Thanks for reading.

No, go train!

CT

The Taller You Would Build the Tower

Sensei George Dillman demonstrating an impressive knock out.

I was in Indianapolis, at an annual 3 day training with my sensei George Dillman (okay, I was only there 2 days, because someone had to work Sunday morning). The weekend is organized and sponsored by Will Higginbotham, one of my colleagues in DKI. Another of my colleagues, Matt Brown, was teaching some advanced work on manipulating internal energy (qi). One of the up-and-coming instructors, Shane Lear, was teaching material he has learned in China, which also focused on energy work. I got a chance to teach and experiment with the use of primary and secondary elemental stances (an extension of elemental stance theory worked out by Dustin Seale and myself). And sensei Dillman showed some quality technique and methodology (along with a stunning and unexpected leg knockout). All in all, the training was at a very high level, appropriate to the number of long-time and high-ranking students attending (as my daughter put it, "There was a lot of red in the room" referring, of course, to the red on the belts of the seniors).

Today (Sunday) was a work day for me, with church services and a burial. But, here and there I found myself with a few moments to play around and do what I call "restroom karate". I should explain that. The name refers to my habit of doing a few techniques anytime I find myself alone in a lavatory – right after I wash my hands, when I can still check my technique in the mirror. So, "restroom karate" is when you steal a few seconds of training here and there throughout the day. So, today, as I stole time here and there for a few seconds of training, I noticed that, following all that advanced work in Indianapolis, I was training basic stances and basic movements.

This might seem odd to others, who might assume that I would be practicing qi-gung and working on advanced material. But it doesn't seem odd to me for a very simple reason – the taller you would build the tower, the stronger you must build the foundation. When martial artists become excited about advanced material and turn their art and training into nothing but advanced stuff, they can appear impressive (even astonishing) and knowledgeable, but without a proportionately strong grounding in fundamentals of movement and posture and stance and alignment, their towering knowledge cannot survive the disturbances of combat.

So, it seems to me, that the more advanced material I learn, study and practice, the more I have to return again and again to fundamentals. In fact, I have come to believe that a master is just someone who fell in love with the basics.

Thanks for reading,

Now go train!

CT

I will be teaching in France in September. Here is a truly beautiful flier for Sept 25 seminar. Click on the image to download.

I was at a karate demo, and saw what contemporary martial arts looks like. Mmmm. At times, the demonstrators would use weapons. Their weapons sure were sparkly.

As I watched, I found myself thinking, What is that? Their movements occasionally mimicked traditional actions, but more often than not, didn't look like anything. For these players, weapons are fun props for their performances, and nothing more.

Just like empty hand practice, I find that most people who train with weapons have no idea how to hold them, much less, use them. So, it seems as if I am adopting another mission – to introduce the correct usage of traditional weapons to people who think they are "fun" rather than scary.

So, I will be conducted a Master Class on the correct use of sai on the last Friday of June, in Madison, WI. Just click on the image to download the flier. Hope to see you then. In the meantime

Go train!

CT

I'm offering a special and very limited bargain – my new Self-defense Rescripted DVD & the book Effortless Self-Defense for Women (co-authored with Kimberly Dillman Foreman). This is a $69.90 value for only 49.95. But, I have only 25 sets to sell (limited bargain). This should appear in the store shortly.

CT

I will be teaching a Friday evening seminar in the Milwaukee area. Just click on the image to download the flier.

Self-Defense Rescripted

Imagine this scenario: you are in fifth grade, and the annoying bully who sits near you likes to pounce when you are trying to write something. His method is to grab the end of your pencil as you are writing and move the pen around to make a mess on your paper. Of course, you have done all the usual, told him to "Cut it out," tried to pull your pencil away. But, nothing changes. So, one day, you do none of the usual things. Instead you place your free hand over his hand as he grabs your pencil and hold his hand to your pencil. Rather than trying to pull away, you pin his hand in place. Now, he is trying to pull away, because the situation has taken a completely unexpected turn, and he has somehow become stuck.

Imagine this scenario: you are playing with your favorite stuffed animal, and your older brother tries to take it from you. Your usual response is to hug your toy tightly to your chest, while saying, "It's mine! You can't have it!" However, this time, instead of pulling the toy to your chest, you grab your brother's arm (which is holding the stuffed animal) and pull it to your chest, saying "It's mine, you can't have it!" Now, being your brother, you feel justified in adjusting the balance of power somewhat. So, you sink your baby teeth into his wrist. Now, he is yelping and struggling to get free of the death grip you have on his arm. What started as struggle over your toy has been transformed into a struggle over your brother's arm. What started as you trying to escape him has been transformed into him desperate to escape you. This is what I call "rescripting."

When an assailant attacks he has a scenario planned out. He has already determined the time and place for action. He has tried to reduce the number of variables to basically two possible outcomes. Either his potential victim will play out the role of compliant victim, or the role of struggling prey. Rescripting means to change the plot, to take the encounter down an unexpected path, to alter the storyline. Change the narrative, change the outcome.

In a previous blog, I introduced the concept of "Single Scenario Tactical Solutions," which is an approach to teaching self defense by teaching one simple movement concept which can be applied to handle a wide variety of tactical problems. The core movement I teach is based on natural biomechanics and chosen for it's value as a method of rescripting. It is an amazingly powerful approach to self defense, and has become central to my teaching.

Of course, I can only introduce the concept in a blog, but I am happy to say that my new Self-Defense Rescripted DVD is completed and now available. I am really pleased with how it turned out, and even more pleased to see how my approach to self-defense has matured over the years. I'm sure you will find it a very helpful resource both personally and professionally. But remember, knowledge alone is not enough – there's no substitute for training. So…

Thanks for reading,

Now, go train.

CT

The Importance of a Strong Foundation

Me teaching in Switzerland.

A couple of DKI-Germany guys practicing application to the tai chi chuan movement called "boxing the ears." As my student's students had corrected me on my double-weighting of this move, I used this teaching moment to show the principle of "not double-weighting" and to show how even "grandmasters" continue to be students even of beginners. Everyone is my sensei.

This is Gabby Roloff working with Ralph Hodl. Ralph was my host, a great guy and now, a good friend. Gabby Roloff is one of the 7 people to whom Professor Remy Presas designated as inheriters of Modern Arnis with the designation "Master of Tapi Tapi. I was deeply honored to have Gabby at my seminar.

This is Enrico Gassmann, who served as translator. Enrico spent part of his childhood in upstate New York, so his English is great. One interesting thing is that the Swiss speak a very specific dialect called "Swiss-German." As a result, the German students present (a couple of them spoke great English as well) would offer a different translation – one more German-proper. It was like dueling-translators. Very cool and impressive to a mono-glot such as myself.

Gabby Roloff and me. I was so glad to have her at the seminar, that I had this picture taken first thing Saturday morning.

I just returned from Europe. In my last post, I told you a bit about the training in Germany. I then trained people in Switzerland. I was sponsored by Ralph Hodl. Ralph did this as a last-minute favor. Originally, I had been invited by DKI Germany's Gebhard Lamme. But, about a month ago, Gebhard was diagnosed with cancer and had to begin immediate treatments. So, he had to cancel all the seminars he was hosting till fall. Unfortunately, I already had my tickets, etc., and a seminar confirmed in Hanover with Kurt Steube. So, I contacted Ralph to see if we could cobble something together really quickly in Zurich. Ralph did a great job of setting things up, and even served as tour guide, so that we (my wife and I) got to see lots of interesting and beautiful places in Switzerland.

The European karateka seem very good. They are very traditional, and in that sense have solid basics. As a result, many of them easily understood and could do the concepts I was explaining. And here, I don't mean just the pressure points.

People who love martial arts, but who received very poor instruction, will gravitate toward kyusho-jitsu in the hopes of finding something which will cancel out the useless crap they learned. These martial artists often see Kyusho as a kind of stand-alone strategy. But, anyone who has ever trained with me knows that I see kyusho-jitsu as part of an integrated strategy. Fundamentally, I believe in breaking down the opponent's structure and immobilizing him by striking pressure points, dominating the combative space, claiming the advantageous position, trapping the arms and controlling the legs. I try to build redundant elements into my technique so I am not dependent on any one aspect to insure success. This means my approach does not depend on pressure points, or position, or trapping, but uses all these to win. So, as I often say to people who train with me expecting nothing but a pure pressure point lecture, "I also use pressure points!"

Good solid basics – proper stances, a clear understanding of movement, good body alignment – make everything easier and more effective. Whenever someone's stance is wrong, they have trouble doing what I teach. When their body is out of alignment they have trouble doing what I teach. But, when the basic foundation is there, everything comes so much easier.

As I taught in Germany and Switzerland, I was impressed by how many had good form and were able to understand and do what I was teaching. I wish I saw a similar commitment to, and understanding of, basics in the U.S.

I guess what I'm trying to say is,

Thanks for reading,

Now, Go Train (your basics)!

CT

Greetings from Switzerland! I had a nice seminar in Hanover, Germany, hosted by Kurt Steube. There were 60 people present, some very fine martial artists. I really appreciate the kindness of Kurt, and his wife, Andje. I also appreciate the help of Bern, the translator (who reminds me of Travis P). Bern's training is Anti-terror Kampf (defensive tactics), so at times my karate technical language was too unfamiliar. At those times, a fine Wado-ryu practitioner named Frank Carmichael (a German of Scottish decent, who spoke great English with a Scottish/German accent) would step in to translate. So, thanks Bern and Frank.

Right now we are enjoying Switzerland under the kind guidance of our host Ralph Hodl. Ralph is a very fine Shit0-ryu practitioner. He has arranged for me to teach at a Kyokushin dojo Thursday evening, a Shito-ryu dojo Firday, and a two-day seminar (full to capacity with 30 students) at Ralph's dojo Saturday and Sunday.

Interesting note, here in Europe kyusho training seems to be regarded as 'for seniors only.' In Hanover, it appeared to be only brown and black belts (and a couple of senior kung fu practitioners), and I understand the same will be true here in Switzerland.

Above, I've attached a few photo. Center one is (L-R) translator Bern, Me, Kurt Steube.

Thanks for reading.

Now, go train!

CT

A change in plans for my teaching schedule in Europe. I will be teaching as originally planned in Hannover, Germany, March 13-14. But, the following weekend, March 20-21, I will be teaching in Zurich. Attached are the fliers for these seminars. Just click on the above or below image to view full-size. – CT

Here is the last installment of To the Point. If you print and save all 9 installments you will have a good overview of important principles of kyusho-jitsu. Remember, not all of these were even published (because the magazine went out of business), so this blog is the only place to find them. Click on the image to download the full size image.

So, I always end with "Go train," and I mean it. I enjoyed some good training today with my daughter, working sai-jitsu, empty-hand kata, especially Naihanchi (my favorite, I'd have to say). I even worked on a personal variant of the six count sinawali drill practiced in Modern Arnis (Master of Tapi Tapi Ken Smith – seriously one of the very best of Prof Remy Presas' students and chosen heirs – is a colleague and friend, so I've pick up a bit of stick work along the way). I hope you've had some practice time as well. But, if not, well...

Now go train,

CT

Here is # 8 in the series of"To the Point" Columns. Enjoy.

Go train (in that order)

Chris Thomas

Upcoming Trainings and Seminars

Below are fliers for upcoming training opportunities. Just click on the image to pull up the full size image. I hope to see many of you soon. Ok, now, come train – Chris Thomas

Here is column number 7 (only two more to go). Hope you enjoy.

Now, go train.

Chris Thomas