Technique of the Week (March 29th, 2009)

From Tamir Sensei, Shihan
Ueshiro Suntree YMCA Karate Dojo

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Excerpts from the Green Book on training for
street situations

In today's era of Google-like searches for information via the
internet, we tend to forget the treasures of wisdom available to us
from the reading of books. Hanshi shares in the Green Book ("Karate
of Okinawa: Building Warrior Spirit") tremendous insight about the
practical application of karate training that he was able to
personally experience first hand as a police officer on the streets of
New York City.

The following are sample excerpts of the treasures awaiting us in our
books to supplement our training in the dojo:

"...In tournament fighting and even in boxing the so-called fighting
stance is really a "passive" stance, because you are standing still
waiting for your opponent to hit you. You're on the defensive,
wasting time signaling to your opponent your intentions, to fight. On
the street you never want to arm your adversary with this
information. The time it takes to pose this "passive" stance could
well be spent punching or kicking your opponent and winning the
fight ...

... [on the street] We never under any circumstance get into a game of
tag, back and forth ...

... On the street the only rule is to fight for your life, and
certainly the sooner you react with effective movement the better.
There aren't any referees to control the fight on the street ...

... The reflex may be dulled in Jyu Kumite because the practitioner
becomes unconcerned with the attacks to many vital areas such as the
spine, groin, throat, knees, kidneys, and eyes ...

... There are many strategies developed in tournament Kumite which are
totally contrary to street situations. This type of fighting erodes
the correct instincts necessary for real life confrontations ...

... In Jyu Kumite attacking tools are limited -- there are rules
prohibiting the use of elbows, knees, fingertips, head butts, again
seriously limiting the practitioners arsenal of attacks. These are
excellent techniques that should be developed. In Kata practice,
there are no rules or restrictions regarding areas of attack or types
of offensive techniques employed ... there are no rules in fighting
imaginary opponents. Consequently more deadly techniques are
"allowed" and thereby developed through Kata training ..."

Don't forget to supplement your training with the treasures of wisdom
provided to you in our various recommended books. Check with your
sensei which books you may not have discovered yet and re-read those
you already have.

Domo Arigato Gozaimasu

Tamir Sensei, Shihan
Ueshiro Suntree YMCA Karate Dojo

Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate USA
Under the Direction of Hanshi Scaglione