Practical Karate, Again

As Miyagi Sensei said: Sanchin and Naihanchi are the most important kata in Karate. Here he is, alongside Funakoshi, Toyama and Kee (Tang Shou Do): Check my bunkai and let me know what you think: Naihanchi bunkai Whole book here PS: My bad. That is not Miyagi Chojun but Miyagi Tokumasa, a Shorin Ryu practitioner. I just got an email from Omoto Kanunori Shihan, my Kancho, informing me. Thank you! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook josep_cla in Instagram josep_cla@hotmail.com

You maybe got stuck trying to figure out how does a particular move works?  Yes, I've been there... Multiple times... Daily, actually... Maybe you don't have access to a super old Sensei with all the ancient knowledge (not all of us have) but you surely can figure it out if you do some research. Yes, research . Find something, try it, try it under pressure, test it in sparring. If it works, here it is! A bunkai that works. Because if you can not make it happen when you are stressed (or scared, or hurt) then it's useless. It may be as historically correct as possible but if it does not work for you when you need it then it is just History, not Martial Arts. There are many resources out there for us to take draw inspiration from: videos, books, Internet, other Arts... Here is some unusual bunkai exploration by Coach Ramsey Dewey from Shanghai (you can spot me in a couple clips): Is he right? Well... probably NOT. And with this I don...

I have been training my 10th Dan four years old daughter since she was born, but still having difficulties with her technique. She is more of a grappler I guess. Now, imagine teaching a class with 20 of them, different ages, sizes, interests, skills, developments...  Teaching Martial arts to children is a hard job. I used to do it, and it was fun, but not easy if you care about their martial development. Here, with her and my new Cleto Reyes. A bit tight, but great. @practicalkarateagain in Facebook josep_cla in Instagram josep_cla@hotmail.com

It wasn't penalty: it was mikazuki geri . @practicalkarateagain in Facebook Josep_cla in Instagram Josep_cla@hotmail.com

I just discovered the fantastic channel of my former MMA Coach in JX Fight Club in Shanghai, Ramsey Dewey. Fantastic guy, really knowledgeable, great fighter. I want to introduce his Youtube channel to all you by picking up a philosophical video about how to step into a fight if you are scared. Still applies to self-defense. Please, subscribe to his channel and enjoy his technique videos too!! Update (see him fight): @practicalkarateagain in Facebook josep_cla in Instagram josep_cla@hotmail.com

Yes, I got the chance to get interviewed by a Spanish Facebook site about interviewing karateka. Here it is for your evaluation: INTERVIEW Sorry it's in Spanish!!! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

My silk worms are back to life. They came with us from China to Spain and right now they are having their first meal in Spain. Good news they survived the trip! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

I guess I didn't because I got a broken nose yesterday morning. I've been punched on the nose more than once and more than twice and never got anything scarier than one or two months of excruciating pain. Yesterday I got punched ONCE and my nose gave up. Now I look like this: Not a big difference, I know... My career as a model is over, I guess... Well, the bad news is that I will need surgery and I will be out of sparring (but not out of training) for a couple of months, plus. Now, my bloody face after the "incident": Amazingly it did not swell, it does not hurt. I finished the round and then I went to the locker room to take the picture. Priorities... @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Sorry guys, this post was accidentally deleted. I'm posting the original picture and video. Enjoy! Train with me! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook PS: The old one. Doesn't work.

... to survive. @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Guess which one is which: vs @practicalkarateagain in Facebook PS: My Jion bunkai video is been worked by the producer at this time. Let's hope it's ready soon.

I just found (and hung at home) an old poster I did when I started trying to get students for my Karate classes. Well, it didn't work and I had to move on on this one. What a pity; we had a huge venue in a sports center. @ practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Wow, amazing art! It has been gifted to me by my Shenyang old friend, Machenhao, who shared many Kyokushin nights with me. Thank you brother!!! Here he is: Kicking my balls during Sanchin demonstration. Ok, ok. Here he is in a nice picture: The one punching like a beast. Time to get a new tattoo? @practicalkarateagain in Facebook PS: the artwork is actually two meters long!

Today I share with you this bit of Saifa . This bunkai was shared to me by Omoto Kancho, head of Yuzenkai. I had a karateka laying around with the perfect old-school Japanese top-knot, so I used him to illustrate this technique. This part: Apparently, the same technique exists in Shotokan (and Shuri lineage, I guess) kata, so it's time to do some research! Here is the whole kata for you: @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

I just used a friend to shoot a Jion video. Didn't practice much kata "performance" lately, so it shows... Also, the sand makes moving more difficult, which is not an excuse, but a reminder that not all your fights will be in flat terrain. Jion was my tournament kata, and I quite enjoy practicing it. It is so brutal... Well, here's the video: PS: a Jion bunkai video is coming! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

No, it wasn't Him. He just introduced it into Budo . It was devised by this gentleman: Hon'inbo Dosaku (1645-1702) Find the story here. @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Interesting, to say the least. Seen any? @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Hello! I just came across some kata bunkai performed by Kyokushin karateka , who are not (usually) the most interested in this stuff. 黄海 (Huanghai) Shihan, my good friend. Both guys in this pic broke me bones... Here there are some videos I found. Not all have the same interest but maybe you can find something you can use in your adventures: Yansu Seipai Gekisai Sho Pinan Sono Ni Yantsu/Anshan Please, comment, even if you are not a Kyokushin-ka!!! @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Be like her: adapt to change, react to adversity, never keep moving!! Why I say this?  Well, I just watched a (great video) that really captures what I was trying to explain in my book about training your mind for violence in the real world. He explains it sooooo well I am jealous...  The basic idea: if you freeze, you die . Watch it: Lee Morrison, on common grabs: @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

Today, my friends, I was missing my Chinese Karate friends and I decided to upload some pictures of all my years there. Some pics are teaching, some pics are just as a student, all pics are learning. Please, enjoy and comment!      Thank you everyone for sharing your training time with me and make me grow. Deeply appreciated, brothers and sisters. @practicalkarateagain in Facebook

I just finished the last training session of the year and I am really proud of all I did, learnt and sweated the last 365 days. Time to rest? No way! @praticalkarateagain in Facebook

@practicalkarateagain in Facebook