Low Tech Combat is a great site focused on applicable, scientific means of self defense proven through study and case scenarios. I've always enjoyed Adam's work there and was pleased to represent some of the traditional side. Although I hardly speak for everyone, I felt like it was a good chance to discuss the differences between classical and traditional training, and how valuable each can be to real self defense.

Observing top practitioners of any classical style can quickly fill you with a mix of emotion (admiration, uncertainty, self-consciousness, inspiration, etc). It can also be a surefire way to stay humble.

If you think about it...a martial artist who trains with 10-15 people will eventually start to base his/her sense of ability on how they perform against those other individuals. If said martial artist starts to dominate, he/she could easily lose perspective and let ego grab hold.

If that pool of people were much bigger and included some top practitioners, the artist would be much more inclined to keep perspective.

I'm fortunate in that I have the Heilmans and their four Kyoshi to keep me in check routinely. But this last weekend's IKKF Annual Training served as a reboot for every student present.

At our annual gathering we get a chance to train under premiere instructors like Bill Hayes (Shorin Ryu), Jody Paul (Motobu Udundi), and Miguel Ibarra (Aikijujitsu). But this year we also had the pleasure of hosting some of most senior Okinawa Kenpoka such as George Epps, Larry Isaac, Vic Coffin, and Al Louis (some of whom also brought senior students from their respective dojo). Put that together with the Heilmans and their Kyoshi and what you have is a gigantic soup of experience.

While all the teachers no doubt enjoyed reconnecting and sharing with each other, we (the students) were the lucky ones as we could not turn around without seeing or learning something interesting. I was in attendance for all three days and still couldn't attend a seminar by every instructor.

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If you find yourself training in a vacuum, constantly re-convincing yourself that you know enough and are the keeper of "the truth", I highly recommend making an effort to connect with other respectable martial artists. They can be within your own style, or from something completely different.

The key of course is to use such connections to enhance an already strong foundation. Being a seminar jumper or video collector without a core operating system results in a lot of surface level, superficial understanding. But, when done right, such experiences can help you keep that classical mindset of humility and curiosity.

Is it any wonder that the rumor regarding traditional styles is that they are simply too rigid, too caught up in themselves to be efficient in the modern world?

The last question in our series makes no bones about it - the asker wants to know if the nature of traditional arts (and the abundance of style-blindness) makes traditionalism ineffective, not worth the time and effort of individuals who need something that can be relied upon in a pinch.

Check out my perspective on the matter. Once again, please forgive my brevity on certain matters as this is a big topic and I didn't want people nodding off in front of their monitors.
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In the video I mention trying to dig back to classical styles rather than traditional. This is a symantic matter that I use to distinguish between arts that seem to have evolved out of effectiveness and are more inclined toward rank, showmanship, etc, vs the original arts which were designed for straight life protection. There are plenty of folks who don't use the same symantics as I do, so please don't consider it any sort of textbook definition.

I use karate as my primary example simply because that is my area of study, along with certain Japanese Budo. However I do maintain that the core principles and methods as passed down by classical/traditional styles are, fundamentally, as valuable now as they ever were.

Breaking through the rigidity of practice is a matter of maintaining creativity and patience. However, as I have seen in practitioners far more advanced than myself, it is well worth it even in modern society.

Building an individual completely (character, technique, spirit, fitness, wellness, combat readiness, etc etc) is a monumental task. Classical styles attempt to accomplish just that, which is important to remember when comparing an old method with a modern fight sport (not better or worse, just different goals). Rigidity is a gateway of the self, and true classical sensei can guide you passed that to levels you didn't suspect you were capable of.

To understand what I mean, play the video below and listen closely at the full question as I read it. You'll no doubt recognize it's broad implications. Nevertheless, I feel like I touched upon the most important factors and provided some concrete examples as to why I have drawn certain conclusions.

Hope you enjoy.

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Keep in mind that the examples I cite in the video only hint at the broader spectrum of changes that have occurred. Each style and system has it's own tale to tell.

Check out question 5 - Are Traditional Martial Arts Too Rigid?

• a vertical axis that represents the connection of Heaven and Earth
• a horizontal axis that represents the connection of Yin and Yang
• four arms connected to these axis to represent movement, the Whirling Force created by the interaction of these elements.

The Mind and Spirit of Weapons Use

Every now and then we get a question that inspires me to dive a little deeper into the matter and explore the concept in question. User TheShadow1928 asked a short and sweet one: "What are sai good for anyway?"

At first you might laugh a little...but then you might stop and say: "Yea, what ARE sai good for?"

In this video I dive into the background of the weapon, how it was useful to the Okinawans who created it and how it can still be useful in modern society. Check it out!

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Check out some manipulations that you can use against both long and short range weapons:
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You'll notice in the video that I emphasize the dual functionality of both lethal attacks and non-lethal controls. The length of the weapon would have kept kobudoka (especially peacekeepers) far away from the dangerous hands and weapons of troublemakers while allowing them to increase control and damage according to their need.

Along with combat effectiveness the nunti comes with relatively heavy weight, which means it cannot be spun or swung with the same quickness as a bo. Because of that, the initial action with the nunti is critical.

A short range weapon like a knife can be brutal once the maai (distance) is closed, which is why my first movements in the video either break the hand or at least damage and numb the arm enough to render it momentarily useless. A proper initial movement with skilled control of distance and timing can allow for control in subsequent moves.

I'd like to highlight a few of the events that took place during those times, especially the ones relevant to martial arts. In the coming weeks I will be creating a series of posts inspired by either my trip or my time at the IKKF Annual Training. Hope you dig it!

Hitting the Rockies

Colorado is a state of great beauty and great microbreweries. The GF and I were certain to partake of both throughout our travels. We flew into Denver and visited the nearby town of Boulder (also known as the Republic of Boulder for it's uniquely hippie ways). We then embarked on a multiday mission to check out some of the outstanding mountain towns of Colorado and even venture out into Utah to visit Arches National Park.

Our first stop was in Glenwood Springs, where it just so happened two fans of Ikigai Way lived and taught martial arts. Through the magic of the internet we were able to get together and have a drink. Imagine karateka of different styles (I Okinawa Kenpo and they Shotokan) sitting amicably at the same table!?

My thanks to David Light and his student Jamin for reaching out and helping make my visit to Glenwood all the more special.

Arches was the next stop on our tour after we made our way through the mountains, and the sheer size and intensity of the geography there was more than I had ever seen before in my life. Some of the rock structures defied gravity and explanation.

If you ever find yourself out Utah way, try your best to stop in at Arches. Many of the landmarks can be reached by driving, and there is as much or as little hiking as you want in order to get a sense of the place.

After our all-too-brief time in the desert we moved back into the mountains where the lush pine forests of Steamboat Springs awaited us. Interestingly, as we drove past many ranches, I noticed an unusual gateway at the entrance of each one. They consisted of two rudimentary logs sticking upward out of the ground, connected across the top by a third beam. They came in a wide variety of designs and sizes, but each kept the same basic pattern. It struck me that the same symbol was often used in Japan and Okinawa in the form of the Torii Gate:

Certainly the ranch gates are not used to invoke any Shinto rites or rituals, but passing through the gate is significant in both cultures. They both developed the wooden form independently, and I gained a certain amount of pleasure from seeing such a thing spring up unexpectedly by the side of the road.

When we got to the town of Steamboat we visited the Fish Creek Falls. Sadly I didn't get a chance to do any waterfall meditation as it probably would have killed me.

Ultimately, after our multiday excursion, we came back to Denver and flew home. I had a day's rest before annual training which gave me a small chance to prepare for the painful and valuable "festivities" to come.

Hitting the Mat

IKKF Annual Training is the yearly gathering created by my instructor to bring together a bevy of highly qualified practitioners of various styles to help expose students to different methods of learning and understanding. Individuals such as Chuck Merriman, Patrick McCarthy, Forrest Morgan, Bill Hayes, and Miguel Ibarra (amongst others) have all shared their knowledge over the years, which has always proven valuable and insightful.

The learning this year was excellent and the training intense. Our school (The Heilman Karate Academy) had three students up for testing, two for shodan and one for sandan, all of whom passed with exceptional skill. I was very pleased by their efforts and results.

The 'man of the hour' for the whole event was Jody Paul Sensei, who achieved the rank of 9th Dan in his style of Okinawa Seidokan Motobu Ryu.

Paul Sensei provides a unique glimpse into karate's old ways as he was one of the first westerners ever to be accepted as a direct student by Seikichi Uehara of Motobu Udun Di, the "palace hand" style of karate. Paul Sensei also studied extensively under Seikichi Odo Sensei and Shian Toma Sensei.

His insights and abilities are truly unique, and it has been a pleasure learning from him over the years.