Sparring

 

Sparring is a an essential part of any martial art training. There are different types of sparring most namely semi and full contact sparring. Sparring aids and puts to practise the techniques and moves a martial artist has acquired while training. While sparring a MA can learn about distance, footwork co-ordination, speed, timing, counter attacking and what moves are there forte and where they have weaknesses.

I personally think once you reach a high level of skill and are in the brown belt or black belt category that sparring should not be weaker students but be with tougher and tougher opponents. Personally I found when I sparred my sensai several times over the period of a few months that I would easily handle any student in my gym and would often have to refrain punches and kicks. I would be on a complete different wavelength. Because I was fighting someone far stronger and faster than me I started to get fast, move better and make my moves count. I was no longer sparring lightly I was sparring hard and I was hitting with everything I had. I did get black eyes, a broken nose, sprained toes, heavy bruises and been knocked out about 10 times as well as seeing stars after a uraken chudan (backfist) to the head but I do 10 times over if it lifts my game and gives me that extra edge on the street.

A big thing in sparring is when you strike that you dont strike air or make a half hearted attempt. When you strike it’s strong, fast and hits like a whip and pulls back. Basically saying yo bro if you are trying to hit me your goin take some led doin it and it’s goin hurt. “Explosiveness blinds“- It was Bruce Lee who said this and it’s very true if your opponent is throwing lazy kicks evade one and land three to four rapid hard blows and yell doing them. Not only will you frighten the life out of him but he will seriously be considering what to next as you mean business. Breathing is essential when fighting, you could be the best fighter in the gym but if you get over excited or expend to much in the first couple of minutes sparring you will gas out and you will not be able to do anything worthy of note to your opponent who will pick you apart and knock your ass out.

Relaxation is also key, If yor all tight and rigid and you are trying to land bombs you will feel like you are trying to punch through water! A fighter should be lose and relaxed when not in engaged and when he attacks he attacks full heartedly with power and eyes open and retreats from the offensive manoeuvre with his hands up defending himself.

I think to be the best fighter you can be, it takes hard training, fitness, cardio, honesty, soul, proper breathing techniques, strength, bravery, intelligence and power.

Wado Ryu History

Wado-ryu Karate was developed by professor Hironori Otsuka, a highly talented budoka born in 1892 in Ibaragi near Tokyo.

Initially Otsuka studied Yoshinryu-Jujitsu and showed signs of mastery of the art at an early age. In 1922, upon the advice of a friend, Otsuka attended the dojo of Jigaro Kano (the founder of Judo). There he witnessed a demonstration of Karate by Gichin Funakoshi who informed Ohtsuka that it would normally take a budo expert two years to learn the 15 training forms called kata.

Realising the benefits of Funakoshi’s teaching and how it may improve his own training in Jujitsu, Otsuka began training with Funakoshi and became schooled in the various kata in 18 months.

Funakoshi and Otsuka were invited to demonstrate Okinawan Karate during a budo gala at the imperial palace. Otsuka had previously claimed that particular techniques which existed in the various kata were impractical and inexecutable. In preparation for the demonstration at the imperial palace, Otsuka developed a number of Karate forms for an attacker and defender in accordance with the training models of Jujitsu.

The demonstration was a rousing success and sprouted an enormous interest in Karate. Based on his Jujitsu experience Otsuka sought to introduce free combat in Karate in addition to the already existing kata and kihon. Funakoshi, completely engulfed and loyal to his traditional Karate teachings, didn’t accept Otsuka’s new vision and the two masters went their separate ways.

Otsuka began combining more and more of the various techniques of Jujitsu and Karate and opened his own dojo in Tokyo in 1934. Four years later he gave up his job so as to concentrate on a full-time teaching career. He named his school Wado-Ryu which translates quite simply as ‘way of harmony’. However the true expansion of Wado-Ryu, particularly into the university system, did not take place until after the war.

Wado-Ryu is one of the four major Japanese Karate styles and perhaps the purest form of Karate-do. Steeped in classical Bujutsu from his training in Jujitsu and Shindo Yoshin Ryu, Otsuka applied this outlook and experience to his teachings. Some of the harsher resistance elements of sparring technique, typical of most Karate styles, are absent in Wado-Ryu. Otsuka rejected the hardening of certain body parts, such as the hands, believing such practices were useless as preparation. The aim of Wado-Ryu in Otsuka’s original vision is not perfection of physical technique but the development of a mind that is tranquil yet alive, able to react intuitively and without hesitation to any situation. For Otsuka, Karate was primarily a spiritual discipline. He once stated: “Violent action may be understood as the way of martial arts, but the true meaning of martial arts is to seek and attain the way of peace and harmony.”

In Wado, as skill and knowledge are acquired through training and concentrated effort, the student isexpected to develop inner strength and calmness of character, as well as the virtues of self-control, respect for others, and true humility. Karate-do for Sensei Otsuka was primarily a spiritual discipline.

Basic techniques – punching, kicking, blocking, striking with open hand, joint twisting, and trapping techniques – kata (a sequence of techniques done in certain order against imaginary opponents), and prearranged and free style sparring comprise the training foundation of this style. Equally fundamental to Wado is taisabaki, body shifting to avoid the full brunt of an attack, a technique derived from Japanese swordsmanship. Kumite (sparring) is usually judged on a point system; one referee and four corner judges determine which techniques are given a point. In free sparring, there is no contact allowed to the head, below the waist except for foot sweeps, or to the spine; only light to medium contact is allowed to the torso. Attacks to the head and torso can all score points in a tournament, therefore, Wado karate-ka tend to fight with explosive, close movements with an emphasis on well-controlled techniques.

See our wado ryu karate training machine to practise your attacks and defenses on?
In 1972, Otsuka Sensei was awarded the title Shodai Karate-do meijin Judan (the greatest title possible) from the Imperial Japanese family. This means first generation karate master of the 10th dan; he was the first Japanese (not Okinawan) to make a style of karate in the form of Japanese budo, thus making it a true Japanese martial art. Master Otsuka also received the Shiju Hooshu medal for his outstanding contributions to sport from the government of Japan. He was the only man ever in the history of karate to be so honoured. K

Purpose of Wado Ryo

 

 

When you practice Wado-Ryu as a martial art, it not only means committing

yourself to the way of Wado-Ryu, but also committing yourself to a certain

way of life, which includes “HARD TRAINING” ; overcoming obstacles in life and

finding the way to lead a healthy and meaningful existence in the time you have on this planet.

Karate man kicks ass!