| ISSUE
66 FEATURES
Editorial. JULIE NICHOLSON. KUGB KATA CHAMPION. Interview By Jill Nicholson. 'REACTION' IN KARATE. By Avi Rokah. Letters to the editor. SENSEI KAWASOE XMAS COURSE. Report By John Cheetham. KARATE-DO SHOTOKAI SUMMER SCHOOL. Report By Marcin Urbanski. CONCEPTUAL BIOMECHANICS IN GYAKU ZUKI. By Dr. Guillermo A. Laich. THE OLYMPICS AND OTHER COMPETITIONS. By Dave Hooper. HIDEKI OKAMOTO 8th Dan. PROFILE OF A MASTER: By I. El Marhomy. |
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SHOTOKAN
KARATE MAGAZINE EDITORIAL
Welcome to the first issue of 2001
and I'm sure many readers will be pleased to see Dave Hooper back in print
with another fine article, this time describing his views on competition
within traditional karate and the JKA approach to this part of karate training.
We have an interesting interview
with Julie Nicholson - a world class competitor and many times Ladies Kata
Champion with the KUGB, (Karate Union of Great Britain) one of the most
prestigious and highly respected Shotokan groups in the world. Interestingly,
although competition is Julie's main focus, she states several times that
it's the 'training' that is most important for her and not just the 'competing'
which is a very traditional way of looking at this subject. There are some
very good training 'tips' for all karateka (not just competitors) in Julie's
interview, this is a very experienced and 'serious' karateka speaking and
her structured training program is worth noting!
Just to clear up a little 'blip'
(mistake) in the last issue... the photo caption on page 29 of Murakami
sensei should have read, 'practicing Sochin kata' and not Nijushiho, (I
do know the difference after 28 years of Shotokan training!!). What happened
was, that we were originally going to use a photo of Murakami performing
Nijushiho and at the very last moment just days before printing we changed
it to a photo of him performing a move from Sochin - but we forgot to change
the photo caption!! WHOOPS!!
With such an amazing response to
my article in issue 64, 'Two Ways for Gyaku Zuki' I decided to ask an expert,
Dr Bill Laich, to explain in-depth about the role of the back-heel/foot
in the delivery of gyaku zuki and its advantages. The overall conclusion
judging by Bill Laich's article is that the back heel flat in gyaku zuki
is biomechanically most effective but 'not' the most 'natural' method. However,
read what he says in the last paragraph of his 'letter'! Dr. Laich's article
needs reading very carefully, over and over to really absorb the brilliant
scientific information directly related to traditional Shotokan karate.
You certainly get the picture that what we are trying to achieve (technically)
is not easy and I found his statement that, "Traditional karate focuses
on teaching unique and complex motor skills," to be almost reassuring! Karate
is so difficult that anyone with an ego is doing something wrong! It reminded
me of a question I asked Stan Schmidt in an interview (SKM issue number
13)...
Sensei, do you believe that Shotokan
karate is a 'complete' system or are there pit-falls?
S.S. There is no complete person
nor is there any complete system. I chose Shotokan because of its classical
nature. For example, classical guitar is harder to master than folk guitar.
But in the long run, although a more painful road, the classical approach
gives the artist a more complete understanding of his instrument and its
wide potential. The instrument with which we are 'playing', in the art of
karate, is none other than ourselves. Thus, why not do it thoroughly, even
though it may take longer.
Wise words indeed from Stan which
fit 'philosophically', in context with Dr. Laich's superb 'technical' analysis.
Good health, enjoy training, Editor.
CONTACTING
SKM
EDITORIAL
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SHOTOKAN
KARATE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY, BY SKM PUBLICATIONS. (FEB. MAY. AUG.
NOV.)
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