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The Meaning of Pinan

On 29 Aug, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

This latest podcast calls into question the accepted translation of “Pinan” as “Peaceful Mind”. I’m currently preparing a book on the combative application of the Pinan (Heian) series and, as a result of some of the new research for that book, I’m now convinced that the karate world has got the translation wrong and that this alternative translation has ramifications for how we should view those forms. You can see the characters used for writing “Pinan” (Heian) as part of this blog entry and their meaning will be explained in the podcast.

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The Most Important Part of Practical Karate

On 07 Aug, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

This month’s podcast is entitled “The most important part of practical karate training” and, as its name suggests, it covers the most important part of karate training! The podcast is just over 17 minutes long and should be of interest to all those who believe karate training should address the needs of self-protection. Please see the foot of this blog entry to download the podcast or listen to it on-line.

 

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support of these podcasts and for enthusiastically spreading the word. I’m delighted with the feedback we are getting and that so many people are listening to them. Thank you very much!

 

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Kata: Why Bother?

On 02 Jul, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

Welcome to the latest Iain Abernethy.com podcast! This month’s podcast is called “Kata: Why Bother?” and it discusses the nature and value of kata from a practical viewpoint. It also asks if there is a place of kata in modern training or if it is increasingly becoming an archaic waste of training time?

The podcast is around 18 minutes long and is based on an article I wrote a number of years ago. The podcast also looks why kata were created in the first place and suggests how we need to approach kata if it is to have value as a record of combative techniques and as a training method.

I hope that you enjoy the podcast and as always any feedback will be gratefully received (iain@iainabernethy.com)

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Bag Workout!

On 30 May, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

This month’s podcast and video lesson have been combined to provide a guided workout on the bag! I figured it was time we did something practical in addition to all the theory we have been discussing. 

What you first need to do is watch the video clip below. It will briefly explain and demonstrate all the various drills included in the workout. You then should download the podcast (right click on “download”) and burn it to a CD or put it on your MP3 player. 

If you listen to the podcast whilst working out on the bag it will guide you through the drills and tell you when to stop and start. The whole workout lasts around 20 minutes and can be put at the start or end of your training sessions. Done correctly, the workout will develop aerobic and anaerobic fitness, explosiveness, muscular endurance, technique, power and the correct combative mindset. 

The workout is structured as follows: 

Hands only (1 min – moderate pace)

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The Pinan / Heian Series

On 30 Mar, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

 Hi All,

Please find below the latest podcast! You can listen to this podcast online using this blog’s built in player, or you can download it to listen to later.

In this latest podcast I cover the combative application of the Pinan / Heian series of kata. These kata are sadly often considered to be little more than a form of physical exercise for children or beginners. However, it is my view that the Pinan / Heian series do in fact represent a coherent, complete and highly effective civilian combat system. Some of the reasons for why I hold that view are covered in this podcast.

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The Benefits of Strength Training

On 19 Feb, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

Hi All, 

Please find below the latest Podcast! We’ve had a lot of feedback from the podcasts and plenty of you have been writing to let me know what subjects you’d like me to cover. One topic that kept coming up was weight training for the martial artist. As you may know, I am also a qualified weight training coach and a keen weight lifter.

In this podcast, I discuss some of the fundamentals you need to be aware of if you are to make weight training an effective supplement to your martial arts training. This podcast also covers how I personally train with the weights and the methods I’ve found the most effective. I hope that you enjoy this podcast and find it useful. As always, all feedback will be gratefully received. 

All the best,

Iain

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How to set your goals for 2007

On 06 Jan, 2007 By Iain Abernethy

Traditionally this is the time where many of us set our goals and resolutions for the coming year. I’ve therefore prepared a short and timely podcast on the basics of goal setting for this blog.

It’s important to have goals, but if these goals are poorly defined they do little to help us. By following the method outlined in the podcast, your goals will have meaning, will help guide your actions, will give you a measure of your progress, will motivate you and will help you achieve the things you want in 2007; both inside and outside of the dojo.

When most people come to set their new-year resolutions they are often about all the negative things they want to stop doing. In addition to getting rid of a few bad habits, I’d also encourage you to set some positive goals for 2007. There must be loads of thing you want to achieve and accomplish in 2007 and the simple goal setting methods discussed in the podcast is certain to help you.

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The Keys to Understanding Kata

On 18 Dec, 2006 By Iain Abernethy

At the foot of this post you’ll find the latest Iain Abernethy.com podcast! This podcast is just over 18 minutes long and covers the fundamental keys needed to understanding how kata should be applied. It is knowledge of these keys that will enable the karateka to understand the “language of kata” and hence understand what the physical moments of the various kata represent.

The podcast can be listened to online using this blog’s built in player (just click “Play Now” or the grey play icon). You can also download the podcast to listen to later on your computer or MP3 player by right clicking “Download”, then click “Save as”, and then choose the location you’d like to save the podcast to.

I hope you enjoy the podcast and find it useful.

All the best,

Iain

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The Benefits of Fear

On 21 Nov, 2006 By Iain Abernethy

“The Benefits of Fear” and is around 15 minutes long. The podcast discusses the three main ways in which fear is good for us; both from a martial perspective and from the view point for helping us achieve all the things we want from life. This podcast also covers some of the issues discussed in more depth in my new Mental Strength DVD

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Kata-Based-Sparring

On 21 Nov, 2006 By Iain Abernethy

“Kata-Based-Sparring” and is also around 15 minutes long. On this podcast I discuss the four stages of kata training, the need to take the techniques and methods of the kata into live training (solo kata and compliant drills are not enough), what kata-based-sparring is, and some of the basics of how to structure it.

It’s an area of my approach to kata that is of great interest to people and I hope the podcast will add something to your understanding of it (details of the associated DVD can be found HERE).

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