Colorado Springs Martial Arts » Martial Arts and Fitness Articles

Karate Seminar – Tekki Shodan Bunki

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:30:12 +0000

What a great day we had with Hanshi Ron Rogers at the Tekki Shodan bunki seminar. Three members of Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs attended the Seminar this Saturday put on by the Family Karate Association at the Family Karate Center. In attedance from our school was Sensei Scott Ward, Instructor Joshua Ward, and Brown Belt Keri Myers.

Bunki is the explanation of what each move of the kata is for or does. Hanshi Rogers is perhaps the most knowledgeable martial arts in the area of kata bunki in the United State. In a conversation with Hanshi Rogers today he said each move of the kata should be able to be interpreted with 5 possible bunki. the 5 bunki should cover a block, a strike, a release, a choke and a throw.

Todays seminar looked at the kata Tekki Shodan (or Tekki #1). The Seminar was limited to Brown belts and above at least 13 years old and every was required to know the kata Tekki Shodan. The Seminar was also limited to 30 students. This made for a very high quality seminar and very personal instruction. Since I was working with one of my friends, Stew, also a Nidan, we were able to us some pretty hard contact and really get a good understanding of the intensity of this kata. It’s also, just fun to hit stuff, especially when is says ouch or flinches when you strike! Choki Motobu said that Tekki Shodan had 100 deadly strikes in it. We supposedly covered about a third of these.

Tekki is a short kata that takes only about 30 seconds to preform. The kata is performed in a straight line moving left and right. This is a kata with true Okinawan origins, since all of the techniques demonstrate in fighting style (that is very close range fighting). As Hanshi said their are no insignificant moves in the kata, as we quickly learned. Even the hand movement into Yoi position is a devastating wrist lock and so practical (don’t you dare push me buddy!).

I would have to conclude this was one of the best seminars that I have had the pleasure of attending. This is one of the perks of being a student at Ward’s Family Karate since we are members of the Family Karate Association. The Family Karate Association is about 600 Martial Artist strong in Colorado Springs and is the reason we are able to have access to such renowned Martial Arts instructors such as Hanshi Ron Rogers.

Next seminar this month Eagle Claw Kung Fu #3.

See you there!

Sincerely,

Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs martial arts: http://www.wardsfamilykarate.com/colorado-springs-martial-arts/
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com

The Passing of a Great Master

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:36:40 +0000

It saddens me to tell you that a great master of the Martial Arts has passed away. My Arnis instructor Grand Master Federico Lazo passed way this Monday (1/25/2010) at the age to 72.

Grand Master Federico Lazo

It is very interesting as a martial artist at this stage of my career to have met and worked with great masters and to now see some of them passing away. Not only do we loose wonderful people who will be missed very much, but we lose the body of the skill and knowledge that they possess.

Grand Master Lazo is the first of those that I have trained under that have passed away. It makes me realize how important it is that we learn the arts that they know and do our part to pass these arts on for future generations.

I really only meet with Grand Master Lazo twice. I first meet him in a seminar that he taught here in Colorado Springs at Kyoshi Haynes’ school. Not only was I amazed by his stick ability but also by his empty hand techniques with some of the most painful jujitsu like holds that I have every felt.

Last summer I was most fortunate to travel to Florida and visit Grand Master Lazo at his home. I and my son Joshua trained with him for three hours in the Florida heat. What a unique experience. Rather than the air conditioned comfort of a modern dojo this was more like authentic training in the Philippines . We training in large shed (or small barn) in the back yard. Two giant industrial fans hummed away in an attempt to keep us cool. In this 3 hour private lesson I nearly passed out twice from the heat and humidity. I seemed like half of the lesson was being thrown on the floor and getting back up. That will really take it out of you.

Grand Master Lazo taught us great locks, disarms and Sinawali drills. Though in the heat so much of it seems a blur in my mind now.

One thing I will say for sure at 71 years of age Grand Master Lazo did not look like someone who would only live not quite another year. At less than 5 ½ feet tall he was strong. The heat did not even phase him. His grip was like putting your hand is a vice, and he swung a stick far larger that I was use to using.

He also told me how his Luzviminda system also uses a long staff or bo, and that next time we would work with the bo. I was really looking forward to that. He also showed me a wall chart of Kali knifes and swords and said “I make all of these”. He went on to explain that in jujitsu the joint is turn 90 degrees but in arnis the joint in turned 180 degrees (ouch!). I can believe it too.

So as we say fair well to this Grand Master and Grand Man what will happen to his art? Thankfully Grand Master has intrusted his art to his son Ricky (Master Ricky) and his daughter Christine. So perhaps on my next Florida visit I will be visiting Master Ricky.

However I need not travel so far since my instructor Kyoshi Haynes holds a black belt in Luzviminda arnis. He conducts classes in this art twice a week, which unfortunately I have not been able to attend. But in any case he is helping to preserve the art. A number of other black belt level instructors exist around the country as well doing there part.

As a reference point for my students the arnis that I teach in our Kyu belt classes is Modern Arnis the system developed by Professor Remy Presas . At black belt we delve deeper into Modern Arnis exploring a truly effective fighting system. However as I work with it I find parts for Luzviminda and Jay Haynes methods creeping into the stick techniques.

So let us honor the life of Grand Master Lazo and all of those in the martial arts and do our best to preserve these great arts.

Good bye Grand Master Lazo.

Sincerely,

Personal Goal – The One Inch Punch.

admin — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:58:41 +0000

A person goal of mine has been to break a board with a one inch punch. Is the one inch punch a fact or a myth? Bruce Lee popularized the term when he perfected the mechanics of this punch. Many have demonstrated it since that time. But just because it exists does not mean that it is easy to do.

So, what is a one inch punch?

Board Breaking is a good test of your power and technique

Any adult black belt should be able to break a board with a punch. It’s not that hard to do. That is, if you do it right. If you don’t do it right, it hurts. A LOT. You might even break a bone in your hand.

Now a normal punch starts from the chambered position or just pulled back by your ear like a boxer. When you punch you put every part of your body into the punch. Your fist, shoulder, hips and even your foot as you push your way through the board.

A one inch punch is different. The idea is to hold your fist one inch from the board. Then without pulling your hand back (winding up) drive your first through the board. What this takes is a perfect alignment of the body and the proper use of hip torque to drive your entire body wait through the board with very little movement. It is a perfect example of economy of motion and energy used in karate and other Martial Arts.

OK that is the theory. In reality its more like a 3 or 4 inch punch. The way you set it up is to place your extended finger tip right on the board. Then rather than drawing back you simple fold your hand into a fist just before you make contact with the board.

Here at Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs we do not require our students to break boards or bricks. However, I may consider making this available to advanced students. Karateka (karate students) often wonder how much damage their punch or kick could do. Of course the real test is what happens when you hit a person! Karateka are generally peaceful people. Even though karate and other martial arts may look violent, the practitioners of karate seek peaceful solutions over violent solutions. Think of it as “armed deterrence”. We don’t like to use violence but the threat of it is always there.

Breaking boards does provide a non violent method of putting striking power to the test. Let me repeat this here. Done wrong this can be a very painful test!

That being said I have found board breaking an intriguing way not only to test the power of ones punch or other strike but also a valuable tool to refine the striking effectiveness.

One of my goals has been to perfect my technique in order to break a one inch board with a one inch punch. It has always eluded me, ending in my fist striking the board with a very unpleasant and even painful THUD!

Today was different. Today the technique was properly applied and the board broke.

Another goal of mine has been to break a suspended board. That is a board not being held by someone or something. This could be dangled from a string or simply balanced on edge.

Well today I achieved that goal as well breaking a board free standing.

Too make things even sweeter I broke the free standing board with a one inch punch.

Unfortunately I did not have my video camera with me to record this. We did think about this but the camera was at home. However I do have a witness. Chet, one of my assistant instructors was with me. So feel free to ask Chet about it.

I was fortunate that Chet was there. He made an interesting observation. He had positioned himself directly to the side of the board. He stated that my fist did not go through board. This is consistent with what I felt as I hit the board. Rather than driving my hand through the board like I mentioned above as a boxer might do I only drive my hand into the board.

This had the effect of transferring all of the energy of the punch directly into the board. If I had tried to punch through the board I might of actually pushed the board away without breaking it. The end result was that the board essentially exploded.

This is what makes the precision strikes of karate so powerful without a follow through. Learn this technique of transferring power into an object and you will be able to break boards and bricks also.

A word of warning: don’t try this at home. One mistake can result in a very painful injury. Kids, make sure you talk to your parents, and please talk to your Sensei. Breaking must be set up correctly to keep it safe as possible.

It’s good to achieve a goal. Perhaps next time we will talk about setting and achieving goals.

Sincerely,

Iron Man Vs. Bruce Lee

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:52:35 +0000

You have to check this out. This is great.

Who do you think wins?

http://vimeo.com/3784524

Sincerely,

Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com

Green Stripe

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:06:43 +0000

I wanted to take this opportunity to clarify how our stripe system works here at Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs. Specifically I wanted to talk about our Green Stripe the review stripe. We use a four stripe system. the first three stripes cover the skills that students need to test for their next belt. The green stripe signifies that the student is ready to test. Therefore you can not test without a green stripe.

I set aside one week of class for reviewing students for green stripe. Each student will need to come in twice in order to earn their green stripe. So do a Monday and a Wednesday or a Tuesday and a Thursday and you should be OK.

Now lets discuss what is expected on the review week. You should be thinking of the review week as your test. You would not go into your school on a test day, sit down to take the test and start asking the instructor basic questions about the material in the test. Well review week is not a time to be asking questions (not if you intend on testing the next week). You are there to show me how much you know! I will be watching you and all of the rest of the class to determine who is ready to test.

Don’t ever be afraid to as a question. Yes that may mean you are not ready to test. But you will have proven that to yourself if you are needing to ask how to do some technique just a week before the test. I don’t mind if you are asking for a correction or refinement on a technique. What I don’t want to hear is someone asking “What are my five self defenses?” or “I don’t remember what number two is”. That just shows me that you have not been practicing enough and you really need to spend another cycle learning the material.

If you know your are not testing please ask all the questions you want. This is a review for you to. however, for you it is a review to help you learn the material. Even if you know it by the end of the class, it is probably not a good idea for you to go into the belt test. If you want to come in the very next night and show me the same techiques, well then I might accept it, if you do a good job.

I will be more lenient with our beginner students. That is white belt through orange belt. By the time you reach the advanced class I want you to know your new material well and remember all of your previous material. This may sound like I am being very hard on my students, but I am doing for your own good.

Class changes when you reach brown belt. You will only have one belt cycle to learn what I am teaching. Then with the new belt cycle I will introduce new material and will not teach the previous material until it comes around again in about 9 months. At brown belt I will expect you to show me all of your lower belt techniques at any or all of your belt test. So as I said, I am being hard on you for your own good. I don’t want you having to play catch up at this rank. It’s just better to learn it all now.

So don’t be upset with me if I deny you your green stripe. Karate has always been about earn rewards not about being given things that you do not deserve.

When you come in with your green stripe on your belt to take your test you should not be hesitating or looking confused about what to do. You should be giving all of us a great show of your ability.

I look forwards to seeing you in your next test, and I look forward to seeing you in your future black belt test.

Work hard in class. Practice often at home. Be proud of what you have accomplished.

Sincerely,

eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense is looking great

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:01:08 +0000

Our eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense program at Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs CO is under way and looking great. I had a change recently to stick around and watch Sensei Tony Duenas’ class for a few nights. All as Ican say is this eXtreme class is fantastic. Tony likes to work his students hard, and he does with a great Kettle weight program to build their strength, and calisthenics to build their endurance. Then the fun starts. Tony teaches a uniques style of street self defense. DO NOT come this class without a cup on! Tony believes strongly in attacks to the groin. Whether it’s a hand strike or a knee strike Tony will show you how its done and then there will be plenty of practice. Tony showed his studetns stand up techniques, take downs, how fight on the ground from the top and from the bottom. Remember all of this was just from a coupled of classes I watched. The great thing was to watch how much fun everyone was having in the class.

If you really want to get in shape and learn effective self defense this a great coarse to take. We start our students our will free week of classes and their first month for only $69. If any of my adult (14 up) Karate students want to take this program along side of your traditional karate training you can do so for any additional $55 a month.

If you would like to get hold of Sensei Duenas you can call him at 719-243-3787. He would love to talk to about eXtreme F/SD or call me Sensei Ward at 719-659-2106.

We also have Traditional Karate and Cardio-Fit Kickboxing to help get you in shape this holiday season.

Now check out this great video of “eXetreme Fitness / Self Defense“.

Sincerely,

Scott Ward, Sensei
Ward’s Family Karate, LLC
Providing the finest training in Karate and Martial Arts in Colorado Springs.
eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense
Colorado Springs martial arts: http://www.wardsfamilykarate.com/colorado-springs-martial-arts/
Web site: www.WardFamilyKarate.com
Email: scott.ward@wardsfamilykarate.com
Blog: www.wardsfamilykarate.blogspot.com

Does this stuff (Karate) really work?

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:54:24 +0000

I hear this all the time. I read articles or letters in Black Belt magazine where somebody (a self proclaimed expert) says karate does not work on the street. All I can say is this is such a load of bull! I know your going to say “you teach karate, of course your going to defend it”. Sure I teach karate but that is not why I defend it. I defend it because these nay sayers really do not know karate. They may be looking for a way to defend themselves and think they can learn it all in two or three months.

Karate just does not work that way. If you are getting beat up and you want take karate so you can kick so butt, probably the only butt that is going to get kicked is yours! I don’t want to discourage any of my students but it takes years to learn karate. If your wearing anything less than a brown or a black belt don’t go looking for a fight.

So I don’t sound like I am supporting my case that karate is a good art for self defense on the street. Karate is a great art for the street. Look at it’s origins. Karate is a streamlined version of Kung Fu designed to handle multiple attackers and dispatch them as quickly as possible. That sounds pretty good to me. In a karate school we are teaching much more than how to fight. We teach history, good manors, respect for others, perseverance, right attitudes, balance, how to move, how to hit, how to kick, the list goes on. You don’t learn all this overnight. I’ve been training in karate for 6 years and I know a ton, but I have still only scratch the surface of what there is to learn out there.

So why do I thing this stuff works? Because I understand the principles of karate. Everything is designed for efficiency and maximum effect. People watch us do kata and say “who is going to use a front stance in a fight” or “what could that move possibly do?” Well your right no is going to assume a front stance and start a fight. We don’t even do that in sparring. But the front stance and others are in there. Only for a split second but they are in there. Just at that moment when you need a strong foundation to land a punch or you need that stance as you shift directions. Watch any good sparring match. Don’t watch the fight just watch the feet. You will only see the stance for a split second. It works in sparring and it works on the street.

So should you learn Karate to defend yourself on the street? Absolutely. Will you be able to handle yourself in two or three months? Absolutely Not. Give me three years and you will be as convinced as I am.

You need it now! OK I understand years of training and Japanese formality is not for everyone. That OK I’ve got you covered here at Ward’s Family Karate, in Colorado Springs. Not only do we offer the fines martial arts training in Colorado in the form of karate, but we have the most effective street self defense program you will find. No belts, no uniforms, and no rules. We call this program eXtreme Fitness / Self Defense. Give us a call if you would like to be able to defend yourself is only and few months and get in the best shape of your life.

If your ready to walk down the path of the the way of the empty hand, gives us a call. We have you covered either way as Ward’s Family Karate.

Sincerely,

Ward’s Family Karate Located in Historical Building

admin — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:12:18 +0000

When I was in high school and College I did not care too much for history. But as I have gotten old I have really been fascinated with history. One of the things that I really love about Karate and Martial Arts is studying it’s history. When you get involved in karate in this way you will learn about foreign lands and cultures, historical figures and historical events. Who was at war with who. Important innovations and social relations. Maybe this is why we say a kick isn’t just a kick, and a punch isn’t just a punch. There is history behind each one of these things.

Ward's Family Karate Dojo in a Historical Building

There is some pretty neat history behind Ward’s Family Karate in Colorado Springs CO too. Not just our lineage and the great masters of Japan and Okinawa that we come from, but the building we are located in. In resent history the previous tenant of our unit was the Brazilian Capoeira school. Capoeira is a Brazilian martial art that is very dance like. I believe there was even a Champions Karate school in our space in the past. But perhaps most interesting is the original owner of the the entire building, and for that mater the entire block. Our building was build by the Alexander Film Co. one of the largest producers of commercials from 1930 through 1960. Our building was a movie studio, a film processing plant, and later on the largest Aircraft production facility in the world at the time.

All of this was highlighted in a recent article in the Colorado Springs Gazette. You can read the full article at this link: http://www.gazette.com/articles/north-65466-biggest-great.html

Enjoy

Sincerely,