Traditions and Traditional Karate

Chinese New Year celebration. Left to right, Soke Hausel,
Ben Froidevaux and Zhen.
University of Wyoming photo.

“In traditional karate, few things are as devastating as a rising elbow strike to the chin - other than a lack of respect”.  Courtesy  and respect in karate (karate no michi) as well as in any traditional (non-sport) martial art is considered most important. Without courtesy, you cannot have martial art. Instead one would have something less than a true martial art: for example, visualize MMA, boxing, Krav Maga, street-fighting. 

We are not suggesting these disciplines are not good, we are only saying that traditional martial arts are unique because of a combination of philosophy, traditions, respect, and combat techniques. Traditional martial arts and courtesy go hand in hand.

As some members approach rank exams, there is a need to muster important qualities if one would like to be considered worthy of promotion. Traditional instructors (sensei) mentally grade performance of all students each night and look for: (1) spirit, (2) courtesy, (3) dedication, and (4) technique. If the students lack in any of these, they are not worthy of promotion. 

Soke Hausel with Hanshi Watson at the
University of Wyoming

The first of these - SPIRIT should be obvious when performing kata and bunkai. When I was accepted in Juko Kai International 3 decades ago, I established a niche in this elite martial arts organization by demonstrating nearly every kata I knew. I used full power and full focus on every kata and every technique - it was how I was taught to do martial arts. I was congratulated by many high-ranking yudansha and told by one individual that it was the most powerful demonstration of Shorin-Ryu kata he had ever seen. He was a 7th dan and I was 4th dan at the time - so, it was an incredible compliment. Another martial artist (5th dan) told me the foundations of the building were literally shaking from the power of my kata (well, they didn’t actually, but it was a nice way of expressing his thoughts about my power and focus). And when ever I demonstrate bunkai (self-defense applications), it was with full-power and speed, but keeping my training partners safety in mind. 

In the following years, I always tried to pair with my good friend Shihan Ron Smith at the JKI clinics, because Ron also like power, focus, and liked to hit others! So, these attributes, along with sincere respect and courtesy, placed me in good standing with JKI, an American-Japanese-Okinawan martial arts organization that sits at the very top of all martial arts associations, in my opinion.

As a Sensei, I don’t care if student makes mistakes when performing kata or bunkai, I look for effort, good stances, crisp snap of the gi, power & focus oozing from punches, kicks and blocks, and lots and lots of respect. And when training in bunkai, I watch for these characteristics. All bunkai (self-defense) starts and ends with rei (bowing) to your training partner. The attacker (uke) should (unless otherwise told to do different) begin in zenkutsu dachi (front stance) to let tori (training partner) know the attack is coming. This is part of respect.

Soke Hausel at the University of Wyoming

Until one obtains a little muscle memory, they should practice technique slowly (yukkuri) 4 to 5 times, and then begin firing the after burners. At that point, it should be done as fast as both students can move (without hitting each other) and yell kiai to develop focus.

Show respect to your training partner, since this is not a contest, and your partner is leaving himself/herself open to allow you to practice technique. So, if you hit your partner with much power (unless both of you agree to also practice body hardening technique), you are being disrespectful. Learn to block very hard (unless your partner has physical limitations). Each person is different, so be courteous and keep in mind their limitations.

Next time you are in the dojo, ask yourself: Can I knock down an attacker with a single punch or kick? Will my block provide an attacker with a bruise? How is my stance, am I balanced with knees bent properly? Judge yourself each night, because this is what your instructor is doing.

Turn volume up. Typically, one sees the focus &

power in strikes and blocks. In this video, one can

not only see, but they can also hear focus. This

short kata, known as Kihon Kata, teaches power,

focus, and hip rotation.

Additionally, judge your performance on courtesy and respect. Our Hombu dojo, is unique - we all train together, and are friends. Many of us have been training together for years and all are outstanding individuals. In most dojo, students cannot approach a master instructor or grandmaster beyond martial arts training. But in our school, we are friends, and it is difficult to distance ourselves from one another. So, in our dojo, we relax courtesy a little. But we also respect members of higher rank, respect our dojo, respect the martial art and respect our sensei. Respect is paramount in traditional martial arts when it comes to training, and should carry outside the dojo. It is what makes us better people. If the school boards in the Phoenix Valley would include traditional karate in their curriculum and clubs, we would see a change in the personality of students and teachers throughout the city.

Block with power and focus - if done properly

blocks can be very effective defensive strikes.

Some years ago, I taught a couple of karate classes at Arizona State university. One student refused to bow because of religious belief. Bowing to one another is taught to teach all of us to respect not only one another, but also to the martial arts. It has little to do with religion. So, I told the student he had to bow, or leave the class simply because I could not teach him unless he was humble. He left the class. While teaching martial arts at the University of Wyoming for 3 decades, I never had this particular problem, even though I also taught at least two ministers and some missionaries in my classes. All students were willing to learn all aspects of martial arts. It is bad enough when someone new comes into a dojo and does not bow, but it is sad when yudansha (black belts) enter a dojo and do not bow, or bow with little effort - it only shows ignorance. One should always bow lower than a person of higher rank.

“Karate Begins and Ends with Courtesy” - Gichin Funakoshi

So, be sure you bow (rei) when you enter a dojo; bow when you exit, bow to your training partner, bow to your sensei, listen to and do not correct senpai (senior ranks). A dojo should also be kept clean and free of trash. Leaving trash in a dojo is very disrespectful to your sensei and to your dojo. It is the sensei who then has to clean it up - and leaving trash behind is something not easily forgotten. In traditional dojo in the far East, students take care of all maintenance and cleaning - not instructors. Rate yourself. How do you rate?

“Spirit first, technique second” - Gichin Funakoshi

Karate spirit is important - if you do not train hard with focus and power during training, your spirit is greatly diminished. Karate spirit is evaluated each time you train. If it is lacking, there is little chance your technique will improve and little chance you will be selected to test. Judge yourself! Are you putting lots of energy, focus and power in your technique during kata and bunkai?

Soke Hausel at the University of Wyoming

Technique is individual. Each person is build different and technique conforms to their body type, balance and natural talent. As we start in martial arts, we try to keep stances deep as our knees allow. After time and age, the stances should become more natural, but in the beginning, building a good foundation is necessary and we must keep our knees bent. This is not only for stability and strength, but also for safety. Judge yourself! Are you making every effort to improve technique?

When a sensei calls you to attention, stop what you are doing immediately. When you are asked to take part in a demonstration, do not resist - go with the flow! Techniques are demonstrated with safety in mind. If you resist the sensei will be forced to hurt you, a major breach of trust to both the sensei and student.

On the street, every Shorin-Ryu karate technique begins with a block followed by a devastating strike to the attacker (something not done in the dojo) - so keep this in mind when you demonstrate with your sensei. Be courteous, do NOT resist. 

Soke Hausel at the University of Wyoming

Soke Hausel at the Utah Shorin Kai, Murray, Utah.