Shotokan Karate Blogs » Andre Bertel

NIJUSHIHO

Andre Bertel — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:27:00 +0000

Paul Kallender just wrote an excellent article on my late teacher Tetsuhiko Asai’s tokui-gata, NIJUSHIHO. I was honoured to contribute to this post, especially in relation to Asai Sensei, as I have many special memories of him performing (and “applying”) this Shotokan-ryu kata.

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Rather than ramble on, here is a direct link to the article on Paul’s site: http://yaharakarate.blogspot.com/2010/08/kicking-back-with-nijushiho.html

Kangeiko at Arthur’s Pass

Andre Bertel — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:06:00 +0000

Today I did Kangeiko (Special Winter Training) at Arthur’s Pass in the South Island of New Zealand.

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To break the current training routine and push myself beyond my personal limits I concentrated on high repetitions of gyaku-zuki, mae-geri, koken (kakuto) yokomawashi uchi and four kata (Tekki-sandan, Empi, Wankan and Sensho). For strength training I utilised various plyometric forms of squat thrusts, tobi-keriwwaza (as pictured) and variations of elevated push ups. Needless to say, five minutes into the practice and the coldness was no longer noticeable!

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After completing training amidst the beauty of the South Island scenery, Mizuho and I enjoyed the incredible sights for the remainder of the afternoon. The conclusion is that the South Island of New Zealand is nothing less than breathtaking!

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In addition to the photos kindly taken by Mizuho as I trained, I’ve posted some pictures to showcase Arthur’s Pass a little. I hope you enjoy them. OSU!
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© André Bertel, New Zealand 2010.

New Zealand’s Most Senior Shotokan Karateka visits Christchurch

Andre Bertel — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:21:00 +0000

On Tuesday the 31st of August New Zealand’s most senior Shotokan instructor, Goran Glucina Shihan (7th Dan) very generously taught at the Christchurch Shotokan Karate Club. Goran Shihan has lived, trained and competed for many years in Japan, and is the only graduate in Australasia of the SKIF (Shotokan Karatedo International Federation) Instructors Course! With him, he brought Arisa Iwasaki Sensei (3rd Dan) who is a former JKA (Japan Karate Association) World Champion, and JKS (Japan Karate Shoto Federation) All-Japan Champion.
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After training we went for dinner at Brendan and his wife’s house, and enjoyed a wonderful meal with them, Lyall Sensei, Arisa Sensei and Goran Shihan. Mizuho and I would like to express our thanks to all of you for this time, as it was the first karate social event we’ve had since returning from Japan. It was great spending time with Goran Shihan and Arisa Sensei, and made us feel like we were back in Japan! I also greatly appreciate the advice, anecdotes and encouragement that Goran Shihan gave me… Arigato gozaimashita Shihan! Mizuho and I both look forward to seeing you and Arisa again in the near future.

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I’d like to conclude this post by mentioning the New Zealand karate seminar of the year… Once again Goran Shihan will be hosting his teacher Kancho Hirokazu Kanazawa (10th Dan), and for the first time assisting him here, his son Nobuaki Kanazawa (6th Dan). To get details please click on the following link: http://www.skif.co.nz.

© André Bertel, New Zealand 2010.

Jun-kaiten vs. Gyaku-kaiten

Andre Bertel — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:11:00 +0000

Paul Kallender has just published a new article on his excellent karate blog which is focusing on fundamental koshi no kaiten (hip rotation). It really was a pleasure for me to contribute to this article, however the real treasures are from Paul’s quotes from recent training with Sakae Ibusuki Sensei.

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Click here to check it out: http://yaharakarate.blogspot.com/2010/08/hanmi-or-to-shomen-jun-kaiten-vs-gyaku.html

© André Bertel, New Zealand 2010.

Talking with one’s karate

Andre Bertel — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:13:00 +0000

I decided to title this post “Talking with one’s karate”. Why? Because this outlines my philosophy, and is turned into a reality daily, via predetermined practices (which I engineer in an effort to avoid mediocrity). I hope this finds you well and training hard!

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AUGUST TRAINING REGIME

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Sonoba-Kihon: (a) Migi chudan gyaku zuki; (b) Hidari chudan gyaku zuki; (c) Migi mae jodan hiza geri; (d) Hidari mae jodan hiza geri; (e) Migi chudan mae geri kara migi jodan mae geri soshite hidari jodan mae kekomi; (f) Hidari chudan mae geri kara hidari jodan mae geri soshite migi jodan mae kekomi. {30-50 repetitions of each}.

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Ido-Kihon: (1) Chudan oi zuki; (2) Jodan age uke karate chudan gyaku zuki; (3) Chudan soto uke kara chudan gyaku zuki; (4) Chudan shuto uke kara shihon nukite; (5) Chudan uchi uke kara chudan gyaku zuki; (6) Tenshin gyaku zuki (7) Jodan mae geri; (8) Jodan mawashi geri; (9) Jodan ushiro geri; (10) Jodan yoko keage; (11) Jodan yoko kekomi; (12) Henka-waza involving several variations of shuto uchi & kaiten uraken uchi. {Only 10-30 repetitions of each}.

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Key focal points within my current kihon practice include: 1.0/ Correct and optimal use of the jiku-ashi; 1.1/ The “shisei-unsoku connection”; 1.2/ Legs first, hips second & limb third; & 1.3/ Target penetration (applied in my corresponding daily makiwara training).

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Kata: Keeping in mind the previously mentioned focal points, my kata practice at present strongly reflect these, but with a more direct `flow’ into kumite (especially in regards to smooth and effective transitions). To achieve these comprehensive refinements I’ve employed the following kata in my routine: Heian-shodan, Heian-nidan and Heian-sandan, Junro-shodan, Jion, Empi & Shinobiyoru-hayabusa. I am also blasting out Fudoken-sho and Gojushiho-dai purely to shock my body. {Typically I do each kata three times each or just one, or two of the kata, multiple times in succession}.

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Kumite: I’ve been stressing correct shisei in my attacks and counterattacks. In fundamental terms this effectively permits a properly connected/co-ordinated johanshin and kahanshin to get the business done. To achieve these targets I’ve been using limited jiyu-kumite and a relatively varied mix of yakusoku-kumite drills.

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OSU, André.

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© André Bertel, New Zealand 2010.

Fake 8th Dan from the Netherlands

Andre Bertel — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:48:00 +0000

Probably the most common BS title in karate is `Grandmaster’, and most recently, I was sarcastically given this several times, from a Dutchman, who ironically is a self-graded 8th Dan (8th Degree Black Belt). His grading comes from HIS OWN ORGANISATION. Beyond giving himself 8th Dan, “via the signature of his pals”, this megalomaniacs organisation has`Japan’ in the name. This is an attempt to falsely legitimise himself, and his buddies (by fooling naive people that he and his group have some official connection to an authentic karate organisation in Japan). What’s more, he claims to now be training for 9th Dan!!! A rank which in Japan there is no test for, but reflects a level of skill and knowledge only held by the very best of the best… I.e – legends such as Nakayama Sensei, Asai Sensei, Enoeda Sensei etc. Anyone claiming to have, or to be training for this rank, is living somewhere on cloud nine, unless their karate is literally phenomenal. Actually `phenomenal’ really is an understatement.

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Just “coincidentally” this individual was recently kicked out of Mrs. Asai’s I.J.K.A (International Japan Karatedokai Asai-ryu) and just before that, he was kicked out Keigo Abe Sensei’s J.S.K.A (Japan Shotokan Karate Association). These are just the last two groups this 60 year old clown was kicked out of, and yes, there are others.
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You’ll never see this 8th Dan upload his kata online because he is too good to show his technique, especially now he is so great with his own self-graded/buddie appointed 8th degree black belt! Instead you will see his same photos (just the few that he has) with Asai Sensei showing up again and again. And all just social and standing around… Funny that isn’t it!!! I wonder where are the photos he has with Asai Sensei being privately taught kata, or doing kumite or demonstrations with him? Where are they??? Seriously… WHERE ARE THEY??? Hmmm…

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Oh, I know… They are secret! Maybe that is why he calls me a grandmaster? Because I have lots of videos and photos in public directly learning from Asai Sensei… Also because he can see my kihon, kata, kumite and teaching/seminars on youtube and he feels inferior. NO, OF COURSE NOT!!! I look forward to seeing some present videos or even some technical photos of this self-graded ninny who everyone in Japan kicks out because he is a big mouth and can’t back what he says, via his actual karate skills.

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There are many great styles, organisations and instructors in the karate world, but clearly one must be careful to avoid people, and groups, such as those discussed in this post. Thankfully nowadays via technology, it is much easier to expose individuals who are charlatans. I sincerely hope that this article helps you to better analyse karate organisations and the qualifications of instructors.

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Asai Sensei Memorial Practice: Christchurch, New Zealand.

Andre Bertel — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:56:00 +0000

The 4th Tetsuhiko Asai Sensei Memorial Training was held at the Christchurch Shotokan Karate club. The session was not a big class, but nevertheless had ample spirit and was a great tribute to Sensei.

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The training included exclusive practice of Asai Sensei’s kihon (fundamentals) and his tokuiwaza (favourite/specialised techniques), specifically focused on drills he taught at the JKA Honbu Dojo in the early 1990′s. We also practiced the kata Junro-shodan, and some very special kumite points from it, which are directly applicable for self-defense. The session concluded with a demonstration of advanced Asai-ryu kata and several points emphasised by Asai Sensei in jiyu-kumite (with both errors and correct methods modeled). In addition to this class, a black belt session was held focusing on refined kata and bunkai/oyo-jutsu. The kata and corresponding kumite covered were Kibaken, Junro, and the Asai-ha Shotokan-ryu versions of Gankaku, Nijushiho & Tekki-nidan.

Four years since Asai Sensei passed away

Andre Bertel — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 11:06:00 +0000

Today marks four years since the passing of my late karate teacher, Asai Tetsuhiko.

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This post in has been made in remembrance of Sensei whom I miss dearly. There will be an official Asai Sensei Memorial Training this week at the dojo. This evening I did a special self-practice of some of the more obscure Asai-ryuha kata.

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Osu, André

WHAT IS KARATE?

Andre Bertel — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 23:08:00 +0000

Rather than giving my own definition of karate-do I thought it would be most appropriate quote Nakayama Sensei. But before I do so, I’ll explain why, by extracting a section from an article I wrote for my dojo newsletter in 1993.
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“My karate teacher and Japan Karate Association Chief Instructor Tetsuhiko Asai was taught by none other than the late master Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei. Nakayama Sensei was a genius insofar as coaching is concerned, and this was manifested by the quality of students he produced. Besides Asai Sensei, barrages of other living legends come to mind such as Hirokazu Kanazawa, Keinosuke Enoeda, Masahiko Tanaka, Yoshiharu Osaka, Mikio Yahara, Keigo Abe and so on. What I am trying to adamantly convey here is that Nakayama Sensei was greatest and most influential karate instructor ever.” (Bertel, A. JKA Christchurch Karate Club Newsletter, March 1993. `The Golden Era of JKA Shotokan’).
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Masatoshi Nakayama Sensei’s definition of Karate – The Way of the Empty Hand.

“Deciding who is the winner and who is the loser is not the ultimate objective. Karate-do is a martial for the development of character through training, so that the karateka can surmount any obstacle, tangible or intangible. Karate-do is an empty-handed art of self-defence in which the arms and legs are systemically trained and an enemy attacking by surprise can be controlled by a demonstration of strength like that of using actual weapons. Karate-do is exercise, through which the karateka masters all body movements by learning to move limbs and torso backward, forward, left and right, up and down, freely and uniformly. The techniques of karate-do are well controlled according to the karateka’s willpower and are directed at the target accurately and spontaneously. The essence of karate techniques is kime. The meaning of kime is an explosive attack to the target using the appropriate technique and maximum power in the shortest time possible… Training transforms parts of the body into weapons to be used freely and effectively. The quality necessary to accomplish this is self-control. To become a victor, one must first overcome his own self.” (Nakayama, M. Japan 1987. `Best Karate Volume 11’. Kodansha International Ltd.).

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Some more footage on Youtube

Andre Bertel — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 02:41:00 +0000

In this video I am self-training in Japan, however it features nothing particularly impressive, just regular practice, hence I wasn’t going to make it public. I actually uploaded it last year, along with many other films, kindly given to me from senior JKS (Japan Karate Shotorenmei) instructors, who sometimes asked to film my self-practice sessions. All of these shihan who supported me, were long time senior students of Asai Sensei, and wanted me to privately coach at their respective karate clubs thanks to Sensei’s recommendation. Needless to say, that was and is a huge honor for a foreign instructor!Anyway, I’ve decided to make some of these videos public as the scenery is very nice, and waza is reflective of socho-geiko with my late karate teacher Tetsuhiko Asai. For example most relevant in this clip, is the choku-zuki, which is 100% Asai Sensei’s version. So if you wish to study Asai-ha Shotokan-ryu, this footage alone is probably quite useful for you. In addition to this, the clips of the kata featured have been labelled in both English and kanji.

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If nothing else I hope you enjoy watching the video and that it perhaps gives you some ideas for your own training. Osu!