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shotokanman70
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Functional Kihon for Beginners

In this video, I run through 5 of 6 kihon sets I use for the 8th kyu test in my syllabus (white testing for yellow). In my humble opinion, "traditional" Shotokan kihon is flawed. It is far too formal and far removed from the mechanics that are actually used in fighting or self defense. Kihon training is typically done for the purpose of rank promotion and consequently, there is a considerable emphasis placed on it. We tend to do kihon to get good at kihon. KIHON IS A TOOL, NOT A GOAL! Our kihon should develop transferable skills. Giving kihon context and fluidity is key to make it meaningful and to avoiding the development of training scars (bad habits). My dojo is registered with the World Combat Association. The kihon and associated pad drills shown in this video are partof my 8th kyu uriculum with the WCA.

I have posted this video on a few Facebook pages. As expected, the response has been mixed ;)

Cheers,

Andy Allen

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Good stuff as always!

shotokanman70 wrote:
I have posted this video on a few Facebook pages. As expected, the response has been mixed ;)

I’ve got it programmed in to be shared via mine. The folks there tend to be a little more openminded and objective :-) I’m sure they’ll love it!

All the best,

Iain

shotokanman70
shotokanman70's picture

Iain,

My FB page tends to attract a similar demographic :)

MichielC
MichielC's picture

Thanks for sharing, Andy. Highly inspiring. I intend to develope this kind of kihon for my students too, somewhere next season. So your footage really sparks creativity here.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi All,

shotokanman70 wrote:
My FB page tends to attract a similar demographic :)

Which is why it's a good page :-) One of the central tenants of de-escalation is “you can’t reason with the unreasonable” … I also think it’s a good principle for internet discussion too :-) I tend to avoid many groups / pages for this reason.

Challenge, critique and dissent are all very important, but when it’s no longer about the validity of any stated position but instead about ego and arguing for its own sake, then it’s pretty much a waste of everyone’s time.

Both “sides” do this too. The 3K types will argue nonsense like 5-step sparring being a functional drill; despite never being able to demonstrate how, so they instead invoke a plethora of logical fallacies and demonstrable falsehoods. Conversely, there is a small sub-section of the practical karate community feels that being an obnoxious contrarian is somehow helpful and productive; when in truth it turns off people who could be reached because they can’t get past the style to the substance (which saves the contrarian from close scrutiny or needing to actually articulate a position in a meaningful way).

This is why I’m selective about where I post and debate. Some people just aren’t interested in actual debate or moving things forward. I therefore avoid talking with such folk whatever “side” they take. In short, I won't try to reason with (oppose or alongside) any one who is unreasonalbe :-)

All the best,

Iain

shotokanman70
shotokanman70's picture

MichielC. Thanks, Here's my 6th kyu kihon if you're interested. I put this together because I had 3 students ready to test. Unfortunately, we were shut down the day before due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There drills are put to the pads as well but aren't shown in this video.

shotokanman70
shotokanman70's picture

Iain, you speak the truth!

Chris R
Chris R's picture

Nice videos. Shotokan is my base too, and the amount of justification I've heard for doing kihon in its classic 3k sense is ridiculous. I personally abandoned that and the term kihon, although I suppose I could say "kihon" to refer to some things I do, like shadowboxing. In this case though, I think by keeping the word kihon it makes your practical version sound more familiar and acceptable for the shotokan crowd. Hopefully that's the case and more people jump on board and follow your example.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Chris,

Chris R wrote:
I personally abandoned that and the term kihon, although I suppose I could say "kihon" to refer to some things I do, like shadowboxing. In this case though, I think by keeping the word kihon it makes your practical version sound more familiar and acceptable for the shotokan crowd.

I think one of the ongoing problems we have in karate is uncommon practises having common labels.

To many, the term “kihon” refers to impractical sequences, done for their own sake, with no demonstrable link to functional skill. However, to others, “kihon” is simply the drilling of fundamental motions, away from external stressors, in order to focus on internal awareness of body motion and hence refine a technique before reintegration with external empirical testing.

To me, kihon is the “isolation part” part of a cycle of insulation and reintegration in order to improve the quality of a given technique or combination. The term “kihon” therefore applies to the kind of practises Andy shows. There are these “double meanings” around a lot of things in karate through.

Terms like “kihon”, “kata”, “bunkai”, “kumite”, and even “karate” itself cover a variety of practises which are sometimes radically different despite the common label. There’s the “3K definition” and then there’s the “practical karate definition”. I don’t believe the “3K definition” is the one we should take as the default one. I think a sound case can be made it is they who are applying the labels incorrectly to their revised practises.

So, it’s not so much us keeping the terms in order to have terminology that is familiar and acceptable to our 3K counterparts, but instead it is us using OUR terminology and refusing to have others determine the definition for us.

I can understand how people have abandoned the terminology because they feel it is “tainted” by 3K definitions. However, the alternate position is to clean off the “3K dirt” and use our terminology based on our definitions.

All the best,

Iain

Chris R
Chris R's picture

Hi Iain,

Initially I did move away from that term to distance myself from 3K methods, as that was the only type of "kihon" around. Another reason was the lack of a satisfactory definition - I ended up using other names for various things that fell under that umbrella term, and never looked back as this worked well for me. But I do appreciate the usefulness of the term kihon when the definition is well thought out, and fits effectively with the bigger picture of how you train. 

Terminology is an interesting part of karate. I think having a widespread set of terminology that everyone can communicate with is useful, as it means having a universal language. So while I try to keep up with knowing the definitions for that purpose, in my training I am outcome focussed and use the terms that work best for me whether traditional or not. The result is that I use some of the Japanese terminology, but there's also quite a lot I don't use. It just depends on whether I find it more useful than other alternatives.

Cheers,

Chris

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Chris,

Chris R wrote:
I think having a widespread set of terminology that everyone can communicate with is useful, as it means having a universal language.

Very true but, as we’ve been discussing, it’s not without complications. Unambiguous terms like “mawashi geri” are useful for karateka the world over – no matter what their native tongue – and they give us a universal language. However, some terms are more ambiguous. For example, by “bunkai” do we mean the applications of the kata in real situations, or do we mean the medal winning flamboyant and choreographed displays in team kata finals?

Other ambiguous terms are “kata”, “kumite”, “kihon” and even “karate”. We often see suffixes and prefixes added to help clarify i.e. “practical bunkai”, “applied karate”, “competition kata”, “sport kumite” and, as Andy did, “functional kihon”.

Chris R wrote:
So while I try to keep up with knowing the definitions for that purpose, in my training I am outcome focussed and use the terms that work best for me whether traditional or not.

The result is that I use some of the Japanese terminology, but there's also quite a lot I don't use. It just depends on whether I find it more useful than other alternatives.

I think that’s wise. We should always measure by the results being achieved. I have a very similar position. The definitions of the terminology we use will be determined by us though. I won’t have those who practise dysfunctional "kihon" laying universal claim to the term. Similarly, I’ve lost count of the number of dogmatic 3K karateka who have told me I don’t do karate because they want me to accept their definition of “karate” as being the only true one. Karate is my art. I am a karateka to the core. I therefore won’t have anyone push their definitions onto me.

Back to the central point: it’s for these reasons that I don’t see myself as “keeping” the term “kihon”, but instead I’m not having others take the term away from me by seeking to universally redefine it based on their personal practise. I know what “kihon” refers to for my group, and we find it a useful term. It's ours. We are keeping it, even if 3K types don't want us to :-)

All the best,

Iain

Bob Davis
Bob Davis's picture

Conversely, there is a small sub-section of the practical karate community feels that being an obnoxious contrarian is somehow helpful and productive

You are welcome wink  

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Bob Davis wrote:
You are welcome

Not sure I follow Bob? By "contrarian" I’m referring to those who don’t actually make a meaningful argument, or add anything of value to the community, but instead take personal pleasure in simply opposing everything the dogmatic 3K guys do, which makes them pretty much the same as each other.

They both ignore evidence and are holding a position from an unthinking dogmatic position. It’s about the ego of proudly proclaiming yourself “right” without being willing or able to articulate why; or being prepared to have your views objectively challenged. Such people enjoy the disagreement from an egocentric perspective. They are not contributing anything. It’s does not apply to anyone who has reached a conclusion based on careful consideration; and who encorages others to do the same. You don't strike me as a contrarian (or obnoxious :-) Your contributions always strike me was well considered and articulate.

All the best,

Iain

Bob Davis
Bob Davis's picture

Sorry Iain, just an attempt of a bit of flippant humour. Serious point though, I do occasionally take a contrary position ( even contrary to what I actually believe sometimes) if I feel a point needs more thought, or just clarification, from those involved. That is not always seen as endearing :-)