The Way of Least Resistance

A while ago I wrote a lengthy treatise on timing your foot to land with your punch .  I called it a "secret".  And given the private mail I got on the subject arguing vehemently with me, it looks like for many it was a "secret" - or at least something totally unknown. But looking around I see the same technique used commonly in boxing/MMA.  So, surprise: another traditional technique turns out to be nothing more than common sense.  And common knowledge amongst people who actually bother to engage in some form of contact (and not against Michelin Man suited zombies ). Consider this guy's video.  Note his punch (standard kizami zuki, ie. karate " lunge punch ".  Note his stance (standard zenkutsu dachi) which is only transitional .  Note his follow up step (straight yori ashi).  Note his finishing stance (straight out of arnis). And note the timing of his foot - straight out of traditional martial arts as I previously discussed . Once yo...

These questions were once put to me by a Shotokan karateka: "I would just like to ask your opinion. When I use the kick shields, the kick take the same form on the shields as they do in fresh air. However, whenever I use the focus mitts or bag. I seem to use more of a boxing style punch. By this I mean. jabs, straight right/left, and hooks. Now I know we can call them kizami-zuki, gyaku-zuki and mawashi-zuki. But its the way in which I strike the pad. Using the shoulder, plenty of hip and up on the balls of my feet. Also I breath through my nose. I feel very comfortable in striking this way and I can hit the pads/bags quiet hard. However, this is contradictory to the way I train and teach karate punches. Shoulders down, using the back muscles. Same hip movement, but heel down pushing to the floor. And breathing through the mouth. We do have access to makiwara. The Goju-ryu boys use these all the time. I have used one in the past, only for a short while. I do not use one now becaus...