When do proper fundamentals become techniques and what is the difference between them?

That’s a difficult question to answer. There are many opinions that vary and none can be discounted. Martial training is a personal trek that we make. We’re all headed down the same path but all of us are at different places on that path and many of us don’t even speak the same language.

Fundamentals? Techniques? How about fundamental techniques? See what I mean? We’re all learning martial science from different teachers, with different views, different methods and different “jargon.”

To keep it simple, I’d refer to fundamentals as being proper stances, why they are the way they are, what happens if they aren’t done correctly etc. Also, proper weight distribution, proper footwork, proper making of a fist, proper hand strikes, effective blocks, proper kicking….the list goes on and on so if I’ve left something out forgive the oversights.

This is fundamental teaching in a martial arts system as I see it.

Putting these fundamental teachings into practice is what I would call techniques. There are more techniques than there are martial artists. Many styles have loads of drills and pre-sets where the aspiring martial artist can employ his/her fundamental teachings and see them in action against an opponent of sorts. Then begins techniques – I do this technique and my opponent does that technique. Some will be found to be more useful than others depending on the martial arts student’s abilities and his opponent’s abilities.

This shouldn’t lead to a position of “this doesn’t work or that doesn’t work,” since for some students some techniques will work in the future or against an opponent of different stature. A technique that scores heavily on slower, more stationary opponents will not work very good on opponents who are nimble, light on their feet or just more experienced.

I like to keep an “it’s all good” attitude about techniques. They’re all good in the right place at the right time.

Fundamentals remain more stable and are less apt to be changed or tossed aside for another day. I believe in sound basic training which is found in about every training center I’ve ever walked into.

It’s good to train a lot of techniques, to be proficient in their application. They will, over the course of many years start to appear without thought, having become a part of you.

In the end, it’s a higher level to train and understand concepts (another topic itself). Understanding concepts encompass all of the multitude of fundamentals, techniques and situations that may present themselves to you in self defense encounters.

A final example of what I’ve tried to say at length

Concept: Mirroring or Shadowing

Fundamental: Balance, solid stance, good timing

Technique: left palm down and right palm up

Encounter:

Attacker steps in with right leg and attempts to strike your face or grab your collar.

Mirroring his attack, you step to the right quickly as your left palm engages the attacking right arm of the opponent and deflects downwards. (you’re no longer in front of him but 45* to his left)

Your right palm rises to catch his left arm or elbow, if it’s tucked in and lifts. You then rotate at the waist and continue turning at your waist as your left palm presses down and your right palm lifts up.

Your opponent will be easily thrown to the ground if you’ve spent enough time learning, training and understanding this concept.

This is my point of view and may vary from yours. I respect your right to disagree. Karate begins and ends with courtesy!

Here are the 20 Principles of Gichin Funakoshi. They are thought provoking and speak to the karateka as well as practitioners of other martial arts as well. I’m posting these for your consideration. These are two excellent translations that I read and meditate on. They are of great value to those who are open to learn and are irrespective of rank or time in the martial arts. I’ve found these principles to be timeless and relevant to my study of martial arts throughout the years.

1. Karate begins with courtesy and ends with courtesy.

2. There is no first attack in karate.

3. Karate is an aid to justice.

4. First control yourself before attempting to control others.

5. Spirit first, technique second.

6. Always be ready to release your mind.

7. Accidents arise from negligence.

8. Do not think that karate training is only in the dojo.

9. It will take your entire life to learn karate; there is no limit.

10. Put your everyday living into karate and you will find “Myo” (subtle secrets).

11. Karate is like boiling water. If you do not heat it constantly, it will cool.

12. Do not think that you have to win, think rather that you do not have to lose.

13. Victory depends on your ability to distinguish vulnerable points from invulnerable ones.

14. The battle is according to how you move guarded and unguarded (move according to your opponent).

15. Think of your hands and feet as swords.

16. When you leave home, think that you have numerous opponents waiting for you. It is your behavior that invites trouble from them.

17. Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced.

18. Practicing a kata is one thing, engaging in a real fight is another.

19. Do not forget to correctly apply: strength and weakness of power, stretching and contraction of the body and slowness and speed of techniques.

20. Always think and devise ways to live the 20 Principles every day.

From Wikipedia we have an old and beautiful translation, perhaps my favorite. It may be slightly different than other translations that you read but the spirit of Master Funakoshi’s 20 Principles is the same.

1. Karate-do begins and ends with rei
空手道は礼に始まり礼に終る事を忘るな
Karate-do wa rei ni hajimari rei ni owaru koto a wasaru na

2. There is no first strike in karate
空手に先手なし
Karate ni sente nashi

3. Karate stands on the side of justice
空手は義の補け
Karate wa, gi no taske

4. First know yourself, then know others
先づ自己を知れ而して他を知れ
Mazu onore o shire, shikashite ta o shire

5. Mentality over technique
技術より心術
Gijitsu yori shinjitsu

6. The mind must be set free
心は放たん事を要す
Kokoro wa hanatan koto o yosu

7. Calamity springs from carelessness
禍は懈怠に生ず
Wazawai wa ketai ni seizu

8. Karate goes beyond the dojo
道場のみの空手と思ふな
Dojo nomino karate to omou na

9. Karate is a lifelong pursuit
空手の修業は一生である
Karate-do no shugyo wa isssho de aru

10. Apply the way of karate to all things. Therein lies its beauty
凡ゆるものを空手化せよ其処に妙味あり
Ara yuru mono o karateka seyo; sokoni myomi ari

11. Karate is like boiling water; without heat, it returns to its tepid state
空手は湯の如し絶えず熱度を与えざれば元の水に還る
Karate Wa Yu No Gotoku Taezu Netsu O Atae Zareba Motono Mizuni Kaeru

12. Do not think of winning. Think, rather, of not losing
勝つ考は持つな負けぬ考は必要
Katsu kangae wa motsuna; makenu kangae wa hitsuyo

13. Make adjustments according to your opponent
敵に因って轉化せよ
Tekki ni yotte tenka seyo

14. The outcome of a battle depends on how one handles emptiness and fullness (weakness and strength)
戦は虚実の操縦如何に在り
Tattakai wa kyo-jitsu no soju ikan ni ari

15. Think of hands and feet as swords
人の手足を剣と思へ
Hi to no te-ashi wa ken to omoe

16. When you step beyond your own gate, you face a million enemies
男子門を出づれば百万の敵あり
Danshi mon o izureba hyakuman no teki ari

17. Kamae is for beginners; later, one stands in shizentai
構は初心者に後は自然体
Kamae wa shoshinsha ni atowa shizentai

18. Perform kata exactly; actual combat is another matter
形は正しく実戦は別物
Kata wa tadashiku, jisen wa betsumono

19. Do not forget the employment of withdrawal of power, the extension or contraction of the body, the swift or leisurely application of technique
力の強弱体の伸縮技の緩急を忘るな
Chikara no kyojaku tai no shinshuku waza no kankyu

20. Be constantly mindful, diligent, and resourceful, in your pursuit of the Way
常に思念工夫せよ
Tsune ni shinen ku fu seyo

I hope that readers who are martial arts practitioners will take some time and meditate on these words of wisdom. They are as relevant today as the day they were first published.

L.J. Blevins honored for his lifetime of excellence as a practiotioner and teacher of Shorin Ryu karate.

Master L.J. Blevins was a student of Shorin Ryu Karate for over 31 years. He was a traditional Shorin Ryu practitioner and held the rank of Godan. Master Blevins was a high school wrestler and had trained in Olympic style boxing before he began his formal Shorin Ryu training which started in March of 1976. With a solid background in grappling and boxing, L.J. Blevins immediately became an excellent student of karate, bringing his love of hard training and discipline with him to the Dojo.

At the age of 25 years old he earned his Shodan and from that time he faithfully trained and instructed traditional Shorin Ryu karate, passing on it’s teachings to a multitude of students in the Ottawa County area for 27 years. Sensei Blevins delighted in the traditional aspects of Shorin Ryu. He could often be found on an off night, practicing alone, either working out a segment of kata and exploring it’s self defense applications, creating a new kata to pass on to students for competition, or working on a kata for a traditional weapon.

L.J. Blevins was born June 27, 1953 in Port Clinton Ohio. He graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1971. On August 19, 1977 he married his wife of 30 years, Linda (Dorski). They took up residence in LaCarne Ohio and their family quickly increased in numbers and includes 3 children. Their children include daughters Michelle Guerra of Port Clinton, Dana Blevins of Toledo and son Ben Blevins of LaCarne. Sensei Blevins held a position at Wilson Cabinet in the late 1970’s and was employed at Northern Manufacturing in Oak Harbor for 26 years.

Sensei Blevins was an avid outdoorsman who particularly loved spending time in the woodlands while bow hunting for deer. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. Sensei Blevins was an all around sportsman and loved the great outdoors.

Sensei Blevins has two brothers who are martial arts experts in different styles as well. They enjoyed training together, while learning and sharing various techniques from their diverse martial arts backgrounds. His older brother Carl Blevins holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in the AKA karate system, while younger brother Vernon Blevins is now an 8th Degree Black Belt in charge of the Kajukenbo Association.

Master L.J. Blevins was recognized with a (UMAA) United Martial Arts Association Life Membership Award in July, 1997. On August 9, 2003 Sensei Blevins was inducted into the Hall of Fame as Shorin Ryu Instructor of the year. Sensei L.J. Blevins will be missed by all of us who knew him.

A question was posed by a post 50 year old man regarding whether he should study TKD. He complained of a lot of soreness and how to cope with it. 100% of his replies were that he should pursue another form of Martial Art. I will include my $.02 that I contributed to the discussion.

Often over the years, people have asked me questions like “what martial art is best” or “what style should I take” and other common and sensible questions.

The first answer I usually give is that they’re all good and it’s the practitioner, more than the style, that will either yield great, average or poor results.

The second question is something that a man or woman needs to really think about as certain styles best lend themselves to the body type, temperament, age and other factors relevant to the prospective student.

If you were to ask me – and you haven’t I know – I’d ask you first if you had other styles available to you than TKD? I’d also ask you what your body type was (if in person I’d know) and your age, since these have a great amount to do with your success at TKD as compared to other styles.

TKD is more commonly known as sport karate and requires a lot of flexibility, strength and stamina. It’s also not the greatest choice for fighting/self defense, in the streets.

When I used to compete many years ago, it was quite easy to defeat TKD fighters, due to the nature of what their focus usually ends up being – “to kick you in the head.”

A couple of “for instances”:

Whenever a TKD stylist chambers for his powerful round kick or spinning/jump spinning kick, there’s a moment when a simple rush and a push will floor him.

Much easier, at this same moment, the groin is exposed like a large bulls-eye and accepts a properly thrown front, round or side snap kick. A few of these will generally bring the TKD man’s kicks down to an easier angle of attack to deal with. It will also derail many of their plans on offense.

I hope you’ve searched out what’s available to you in your area as well, 50 years old and athletic is still quite a hurdle to overcome in performing excellent TKD.

When I began Shorin Ryu karate over 37 years ago, we were taught these things called katas. When I watched black belts or the instructors doing them, they were quite explosive and beautiful to watch. Some styles have katas that I don’t find as aesthetically pleasing as those from Okinawa, but that’s another story.

Watching white belts – like I was – and even green belts performing katas, was often an exercise in frustration and even entertaining to watch as we tripped, fumbled and stumbled, in an attempt to perform them properly. There was so much to remember! You had to memorize the movements in the proper sequence, the footwork, blocks, punches and posture had to be correct and the breathing measured and controlled. It was hard work.

Katas I was told, were pre-arranged, dancelike movements that contained the components of our karate system in sets – that we could practice and gain strength, power, fluidity, proper form and even a measure of quick response ability aimed at self defense.

I later – much later – learned that katas were even more than that. Not only did they contain the movements of a martial arts system, but they concealed a wealth of hidden self defense applications. Understanding these hidden self defense techniques and breaking them down into practical use was called “Bunkai.”

With the big splash that MMA has made on the world scene, and even before to some degree, there was always a rumbling that kata was a waste of time. I still practiced kata diligently and to this day still run through them to keep them in my memory or work on a certain portion of one for self defense instruction.

Until you’ve trained with instructors who understand the intricacies of Bunkai, you are missing out on the value of your kata. If your Sensei is adept at breaking down the self defense applications of your katas, you’ll begin to have a whole new outlook on practicing and exploring your katas.

Recently I discussed one of our Okinawan karate katas with a student, called Gojushiho (meaning 54 steps) which is a denomination of 108. I decided to do some research and I learned that it’s meaning had something to do with the number 108.  It’s said that all Buddhist temples have 108 steps, or walks of 2 sets of 54, or 3 sets of 36.  Interestingly they will be a denomination of 108. 

These 108 steps represent the 108 defilements, or character flaws which Buddhist practitioners try to identify and refine in their lives. These come later in the practice of Buddhism, after learning the Four Noble Truth and Eightfold path.  I will leave you, the reader to type 108 Defilements into a search engine and read them for yourself, since time and space don’t permit me the luxury of listing them all in this post.

Buddhism spread from India, to China and Okinawa / Japan.  The famous Shaolin Temple was Buddhist and the school of Shorin comes from the word Shaolin.  T’ai Chi Ch’uan has routines that consist of 108 movements.  There are also 108 major pressure points to be found in Chinese medicine.  Hmm?

Interestingly, Shorin Ryu karate portrays these ideas, embodied within the name of the kata.  It’s a curious propensity of Asian Martial Arts Masters, some also having been practitioners of Buddhism, to hide meanings within not only the application, or breakdown of a kata, but also right in your face – in this case the name of the kata Gojushiho, itself. 

This may be done to remind one of the Buddhist ancestral roots of the kata that they are performing and perhaps cause a student in future generations to pause and ask “What am I doing?  What exactly does this mean?”

It was a long time in coming but I managed to swing a sweet deal on a new Spyderco Police tactical folder. It has a VG10 grade, steel blade of almost 4.5 inches, housed in a fully steel lined grip with G10 scales (grips). 

This material is very sticky to the hand and doesn’t come dislodged from one’s hand easily. G10 is the newest and best scale material and makes Zytel and other polymers feel chintzy by comparison.

As an Eskrima / Escrima practitioner, I love the feel of a quality blade in my hand. After a firearm or a baton, the knife is your last “weapon” in a layered self defense carry package.

Of course, there are still martial arts skills behind the blade, but if you need the edge, then the Spyderco Police model affords you a formidable and lethal self defense option.

The knife comes with drilled out holes for left or right hand, tip-up or tip-down carry.  Spyderco’s signature, large 1/2 inch deployment hole in the blade is extremely easy to use by comparison to a thumb-stud.

Mine locks up tight in the vertical or horizontal directions like a bank vault. The blade is flat ground and wickedly, razor sharp.  It’s ideal for both slashing techniques and with the gimping on the blade and contoured G10 handle, very safe for hard thrusts as well.

Having such a long blade this knife affords plenty of room on the handle for use as an impact or kubotan striking device, whether open or closed.

Finally, it has a lock-back with a small depression to insure that a tight grip is not going to accidentally release the blade’s locking mechanism.  A very well made, safe knife for last ditch tactical self defense carry.  I love it, but then again I love all well made knives!

I recently got involved in a heated discussion with a few guys.  We discussed traditional martial arts and their value, or lack thereof, as battle proven systems.

I mentioned the Boxers of China, who used kung fu, the broadsword and other weapons. They scoffed at the fact, and pointed out that they were simply killed with bullets.

But were they all?  With all things being equal – ancient weaponry such as flintlocks, knives and such, would the Boxers have fared well?  I believe yes, they would have.

Is the mastery of Karate or Kung Fu useless in battle?  I’d like your comments if you stumble into this post and have a minute to give your opinions. 

I plan on continuing my discussion with the original gentlemen that I mentioned above and would like other’s input to bring to the table.