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ISSUE
68 FEATURES
SENSEI
MASAO KAGAWA 7th Dan. Interview
By John Cheetham.
THE
'SECRETS' OF KARATE-DO. By Mike Clarke.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR.
'TIMING'
and the Application of Karate Technique.
By Avi Rokah. MASTER
MITSUSUKE HARADA. Interview
By Jonathan de'Claire. UKTKF (NISHIYAMA) Windsor Course : Report By C. & G. Harrop. 'A
Question of Control' (Part Two Continued).
By Dave Hooper. KENNETH
FUNAKOSHI. On The Subject of Etiquette.
By Ivan Chapman. |
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Cover
Story
MASAO
KAGAWA
7TH
DAN
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SHOTOKAN
KARATE MAGAZINE
EDITORIAL
As you
will see, we (SKM) invited the famous Masao Kagawa sensei over to England
in May for a weekend training course, which was a tremendous success.
This was a totally 'open' course to all Shotokan karateka from a huge
variety of organisations. Kagawa sensei was the former JKA Kata and Kumite
champion and is now the Chief Technical Director to the newly formed Japan
Karate Shotokai, (Not to be confused with the JKDS Japan Karate-Do
Shotokai mentioned in Harada sensei's interview). The JKS (Kagawa sensei)
hombu dojo is situated in Sugamo, Tokyo, where Kagawa sensei oversees
the JKS instructors training programme and also teaches normal classes
at the hombu dojo. During the day he teaches karate at Teikyo university
where he graduated from before entering the JKA instructors programme.
Teikyo is a noted karate scholarship university where students study karate
and academic subjects, it has been a Shotokan stronghold for many years.
Kagawa sensei is also the coach to the national all styles JKF, (Japan
Karate Federation). You will find his views regarding the new WKF kumite
rules very interesting! Kagawa sensei's interview is a 'goody' with some
great technical points and training methods to absorb. Also, an interesting
point was that he talks about different types of 'kime' and he confirms
what Harada sensei says about Nakayama sensei's (JKA) kime.
Kagawa
sensei is from the last generation of Shotokan, whereas Kenneth Funakoshi
is from the previous (1960's) era and Harada sensei from the earlier,
second generation of Japanese karate practitioners. In Harada sensei's
fine interview, I particularly liked the information he shares regarding
Yoshitaka Funakoshi, also Harada's answer to the question I personally
asked, regarding 'kime'. Many martial arts (especially the softer Chinese
systems) don't adhere to Shotokan's physical interpretation of kime
total muscular contraction at the moment of impact. This is a very debatable
point?
After
a one issue lay-off, Avi Rokah is back with an article, this time, (no
pun intended) dealing with the mind-blowing subject of 'timing' in karate.
This is a 'must read', in subsequent issues Avi will give specific physical
descriptions, technical training drills and methods to develop and improve
one's 'timing'. It's a subject that has sadly been neglected in martial
arts literature. You can have the best technique in the world but if you
don't have 'timing' you can't deliver your technique against a good opponent!
As the great boxer, Sugar Ray Leonard said, "Timing is the secret weapon
of combat."
To set
the record straight, because a 'few' people don't seem to know where I'm
coming from regarding the gyaku zuki back-heel debate I personally
believe that the back heel flat is the 'best' method for close range or
when the attacker is coming in at you. You are then a solid brick wall
to run into, you can stop a train like this! However, to dynamically lunge
forward like a ballistic missile, you simply have to be up off the back
heel, sprinters have proved this fact! Read Kagawa sensei's brilliant
explanation regarding this highly debated topic.
Good health
and good training. Editor.
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CONTACTING
SKM
EDITORIAL
ADDRESS: S.K.M. P.O. Box 53, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 0HH. U.K.
TELEPHONE
& FAX No. + 44 (0) 1925 755047.
E-Mail
"john@skmag.demon.co.uk"
SHOTOKAN
KARATE MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED QUARTERLY, BY SKM PUBLICATIONS. (FEB. MAY.
AUG. NOV.)
All
material whole or part in Shotokan Karate Magazine is subject to Copyright
and must not be reproduced in any form without the consent of the Editor.
S.K.M. reserves the right to refuse to publish certain material, both
Editorial and Advertising. World Copyright ©1984-2001 All rights
reserved.
DISCLAIMER.
The views and opinions of Letter writers and authors of Articles are not
necessarily those of the Editor or SKM. The magazine therefore accepts
no responsibility for any critical statements or sentiments, technical
or medical opinions contained in their editorial.
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