The recent “Passai page” seems to have been quite popular, so here are all the Kushanku / Kanku / Kong San Koon YouTube videos, to date, on a single page! For a full look at the kata, please check out Bunkai-Jutsu volume 3 (available HERE as a DVD or Downloads).
Message from John: I’m opening a new Shotokan Karate club at Sprinters Leisure Centre and Gym in Prestwood Buckinghamshire. This is a good venue with a mirrored studio, large car park and changing facilities.
I’ve been adding quite a few videos on Passai / Bassai-Dai recently. So I thought I’d post the entirety of our YouTube Passai / Bassai-Dai videos (so far!) on this webpage. Just under half an hour of totally free bunkai! Hopefully, people will find this a useful resource.
The weekend saw my first Introductory Instructors course for 5 years! The course consisted of a mix of the theoretical, technical and practical with an exam at the end. The photo shows some of the action from the kata-based-sparring and the more sedate written exam The following people are now qualified as Introductory Instructors in my approach to kata bunkai and practical karate. Well done all!
There’s a new 25 minute video interview with myself on the Chicago Taichi website! In the interview I discuss my transition to being a full-time, professional martial artist, my books, what is “practical karate” and why I emphasise that aspect, the difference between sport and self-defence, the common combative principles across the martial arts, and training considerations for the older martial artist. We hope you enjoy it!
As you may have noticed, we are currently making some updates to the website. That has and will involve the some disruption, as well as a few features going missing for a time.
I was recently interviewed by the Karate by Jesse website! It’s a superb website and I’m honoured to be included. It was fun chat with the likeminded and very personable Jesse and I hope you find our discussion on kata bunkai of interest:
"You see, when it comes to applying the techniques of Karate’s kata (bunkai), few people have the same passion, grit and experience as Iain Abernethy – UK’s leading proponent of practical Karate.
Here is a little something that may be of interest the hardcore members of the website. For my own use, I set up a twitter feed that picks up the RRS feeds from this website via hootsuite. I then set up twitter to send me a text message when anything is put on that twitter feed.
I’ve just set up the “Practical Karate Weekly”! This online “newspaper” is a weekly Summary of all that is happening in the practical karate world. Check it out!
Over the last few months I’ve added a few videos to this website on applications for Wanshu / Enpi. There is just under eighteen minutes of footage in all and I've put them all on this webpage for ease of viewing. I hope you find them intresting!
Congratulations to Tony and all at Karate Asylum (I love that name!) for achieving WCA Syllabus recognition! There syllabus is a great blend of the best of traditional karate combined with a holistic approach to the needs of modern self-protection. Tony can be contacted via: tonym@karateasylum.com
Since last month’s newsletter 30 minutes of new online bunkai videos have been added to the website and my “Practical Kata Bunkai” YouTube channel. The videos cover a number of karate throws, an arm-lock flow drill, and some bunkai from Wanshu / Enpi kata. To make them as easy as possible to find for newsletter subscribers, I have put all the videos on this webpage.
This weekend Nicolas Hofele (also WCA 4th dan / instructor) reached full instructor status in my approach to kata bunkai. This makes him the first person in Germany to do so and the third person from outside of the UK! Well done Nick! I hope to run some more introductory instructor courses soon, so please keep an eye on the newsletters if you are interested.
As most will know a year or two ago Peter Consterdine 9th dan and myself set up the World Combat Association to be an international body for martial artists like us. You can find full explanations of the thinking behind the WCA on these web pages:
I've just finished editing together an hour long video which I hope to add to the World Combat Association (WCA) members area tomorrow. The video gives a detailed look at the strikes, cranks, locks, throws, takedowns, grips, counters and drills associated with Pinan / Heian Godan. Only WCA members and instructors will be able to view this new video. More details to follow: http://worldcombatassociation.com/?page_id=230
Please find below all the new videos since the last newsletter. The new one will be out in a couple of days. I thought I would put the new videos all on this webpage for ease of viewing. If you are not a newsletter subscriber, please follow the link below to join:
It is now possible to book your place on the first Iain Abernethy Introductory Instructors Course in Germany!
Message from John: I’m opening a new Shotokan Karate club at Sprinters Leisure Centre and Gym in Prestwood Buckinghamshire. This is a good venue with a mirrored studio, large car park and changing facilities.
I’ve just set up the “Practical Karate Weekly”! This online “newspaper” is a weekly Summary of all that is happening in the practical karate world. Check it out!