IN THIS ISSUE
1 - Kata, training tool or waste of time?
2 - The Devolution of a Species
3 - Here come the girls!! - Flora Women's Mini Marathon 2009
4 - New Look Website
5 - Kettlebell Instructor Workshop
6 - Recommended Products (genuinely recommended, cos we think they’re great)

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1 – KATA - TRAINING TOOL OR WASTE OF TIME?

Gichin Funakoshi reportedly spent the first 10 years of his karate training practicing nothing but Nianchi (sometimes called Tekki Shodan).

Sanshin (or Sam Chien) appears throughout the southern Chinese martial arts as well as Okinawan and Japanese karate where it is often the first and last thing students practice in their training.

To learn Wing Chun Kung Fu you must spend at least one year mastering each of it’s three forms.

Each of the above examples shows how prevalent Kata is in the martial arts. Yet many today choose to shun their Kata practice saying it is useless and waste of their time. Why is this? If Funakoshi spent 10 years on one Kata, and Wing Chun insists you master one form for an entire year before learning the next, there must be something in it. Are we missing the point? In our wisdom have we lost touch with a valuable, if not vital component of our martial arts?

The problem I find is two fold.

1 – Ring Sports and combat athletics are the popular front of martial arts, spectators don’t want to see a flawless solo performance, they want to see a fight.

2 – Instructors so often haven’t a clue what it is they are teaching, martial arts have suffered in a global game of Chinese whispers with more information lost every generation.

But what are Kata and what are they for?

An individual Kata (or form, Sayaw, pattern, whatever the name…) or indeed a sequence of Kata such as in Wing Chun or Karate’s Pinan (Hein) series, were originally formulated to assist in the training of a fighting system. Each kata/sequence is in itself a complete system of fighting.

Masters would either teach a kata, or on occasion the kata would be formulated by the student, in order for the student to be able to practice solo and to have a reference for his techniques.

The moves within a kata would be taught in detail and applications explored and tested in live sparring. Sections of the kata would be taken and would form the core of an entire training session, a particular posture would be broken down so that it could be trained from the ground up. Is the stance strong, is the bodies structure properly aligned, how can I generate maximal power at the beginning, middle and end of the move. What would be the effects of this on my training partner (and so how would I expect it to work in a real scenario).

No move would have been meaningless. Even the smallest of moves would be seen for it’s striking, locking, throwing or defensive possibility. Each move would have several applications, maybe against a charge it’s an avoidance, against a grab it’s a throw, against a punch it’s a counter attack. Could it be used on the ground? Well they’d find out.

Suddenly the kata is no more just an empty dance, it is a library of real fighting techniques, applicable and useful in a real street encounter.

So who out there does this in their own training? Very few of you I imagine.

While there are a couple of names that have become synonymous with the rebirth of practical kata training (Iain Abernethy being the most prevalent, if you can get hold of his books and dvd’s, I recommend you do so) the majority of instructors just show you the moves, you copy them and then you go on and learn another kata, then another. By the time I was awarded my 1st Dan in Wado Ryu I knew around 12 kata, 10 years later I was up to around 20 or so. Today I only do maybe 5. But I am really getting to know these 5, they are no longer empty sequences.

Take Wado Ryu’s Seisan kata for instance. I started back with this one after injuring my back lifting weights that were too heavy.
The reason I would train Seisan was primarily for the breathing and tension involved in the first section. I’ve written about power breathing before so I’ll not go into it here, but needless to say the Kata assisted in building strength in my midsection which helped the damaged back repair itself more quickly. Because I trained this kata daily, I started to really recognise some of my favourite techniques were contained within it’s moves.
When I’m not teaching, I work in security. One of my favourite “come along” holds is a straight arm barred across my chest, the shape I make when applying the hold is in the first section of Seisan. This is just one of my applications to this movement, I also have others, it’s the in-out parry defence, it’s a goose neck wrist lock, it’s a sweeping parry with counter strike, it’s a take down. You may have completely different ones, dependant on your style of fighting.

Never the less, Seisan, to me, is a gold mine of information and suits my personal style of martial arts. As a note, you can see me perform Seisan on the wildgeesma YouTube page, the video is entitled “old school core training”. One commenter posted regarding my stance, another saying I was doing karate a disservice to karate. I asked both to expand their comments to get a better idea of their thoughts. Since neither have bothered I can only assume they view kata practice in the typical view points prevalent today and show no understanding of the practice of Kata instead choosing to focus on it’s aesthetic properties. Fighting is not aesthetically pleasing, it is brutal and violent.

Do ring sports use kata? Yes, but they call it by a different name, “shadow boxing”. Is shadow boxing not kata? Of course it is, practicing a sequence of moves with perfect execution, this is kata. While most will shadow box with random strikes, the champions use it as an opportunity to drill their best combinations.

The inspiration for this article actually came about after a conversation with Richie “The Sherriff” Carton. Richie teaches the Tues and Thursday kickboxing at WGMA HQ. Over the years Richie has himself won several titles and has trained many fighter to title wins. His most recent success is Ronan McSweeney who came home from Belfast last December after winning the World Super Welterweight Title as well as a couple of other belts from his opponent.

While chatting with Richie I discovered that he had instructed Ronan in four combinations. It was these four combinations that won the fight. It occurred to me then that the first Kata in the Carton kickboxing system may have just been created.

Think about it, Ronan trains these four combinations over and over until they become ingrained into his personality, he then goes out to fight and without having to consciously think about them, they just come out at the right time, reflexively. This is how kata is and always was meant to work.

If Ronan took the time to put the four combinations into an easy to remember sequence, I’m sure it would soon become the same useless imitation of martial arts that most other katas hae become over time. But right now, at least to Ronan (and to his opponent) this kata is alive.

At the beginning of the article I asked if Kata was a valuable tool or a waste of time. I don’t know if I’ve answered the question for you, but I hope I’ve given you room to think.

If you practice kata, I want you to look at it with fresh eyes. Check what moved you use most in your sparring/tournaments/real world scenarios, see if you can recognise these shapes in any of your kata. The kata that contains the most relevant shapes, that’s the one that represents your style.

Keep training and keep learning.

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2 – DEVOLUTION OF THE SPECIES

Someone once asked me: 

“Why do you bother with all this fitness nonsense?  Everything passes and you're just going to get old and die anyway!” 

I looked at this curmudgeon, bent over as he was and supported by a cane, and I replied: 

“What you say is true:  everything passes and nobody gets out of here alive, but what a wonderful time I'm going to have until that day arrives.  I'm going to squeeze every ounce of performance out of this body that I was given for this is the path I have chosen--it's my art form.  Some people sing, some paint, some make magnificent sculpture; I create through the medium of physical culture.  I express myself through the physical body. “

Steve Maxwell, www.maxwellsc.com

The above quote was passed onto me by a man I find inspirational in many ways and brings to struggle in controlling the flow of the following article. So often has this been rewritten so as not to become a hostile rant about the state of the species, here goes:

Approximately 10 years or so ago, I read a newspaper article, it was about a study that had just recently been done and had thrown up some unexpected results.

The study was of the physical fitness and ability of young people, standard tests such as the 100 meter sprint times, vertical jump and a few strength tests. The subjects were, as always, a cross section of the generation.

What was unusual is that for the first time since the testing began the results came back lower than the previous year. For the first time in recorded history the human race had failed to improve on itself, we had actually gone backwards.
Please remember the results are an average from a group, I’m sure there are people tested that did in fact set new records and took the test to new highs, it is just that they have been drowned out by the rest. I find this heartbreaking.

That was then. Now that exercise has become less and less fashionable, life is ever more convenient, obesity has become an epidemic and fat kids are the norm, I would very much like to see the results now…………….

…………………….now that obesity has become an epidemic, now that we have invented a new condition known as childhood obesity.
How is it possible in any civilised society for a child to be obese? Children, or at least when I was a child, run and play at a pace that would leave the fittest Olympian gasping for breath. What has happened that these kids now don’t burn off every calorie they eat by growing, developing and playing?

I remember my own childhood, nearly everyday would involve some kind of physical activity, never would we sit still for long. We’d be running too and from school, playing games in the schoolyard, racing our bikes at the weekend, climbing (and falling out of) trees and kicking whatever would pass for a ball. Even when the weather was too bad to go outside, we would be in our rooms jumping about. Scraped knees, bangs and bruises were the norm, we wore them with pride, bragging about how we fell out of that tree or how big our smash was when we fell off our bikes. Scores on a computer game, who cares about them when you just got chased by the neighbours dog only escaping by jumping the fence in the style of your favourite hero on the telly?

How has life changed for the worse that kids are now unable to do these things and instead are sitting around getting fat?

But in order to save this article descending into a rant I will instead provide a list of do’s and don’ts, that if followed may just halt this slide backwards and instead may just bring the human race back to the heights it once occupied and richly deserves.

1-      Move more – We’ve never had it so easy, and this is the main factor in our demise, we have become lazier as life became more convenient.

Entertainment is pumped into our centrally heated abode 24hours a day via the television. While sat watching the mindless drivel on the TV our metabolism can slow to near sleep levels, we burn less calories while watching TV than if we spent the equivalent time sat reading a book. Along with the TV is the playbox megastation xdrive that has every sporting game imaginable on it with internet connections to play anyone around the world. In other words you no longer have a kick about with your neighbours because you’re too busy playing against some bloke in another continent, from your sofa.

The car is now a “must have” whereas when I was little, it was a luxury. How many people walk into town, or even cycle? Ok if you live in the country, but most of us live in the town/city maybe a mile from the shops, leave the car at home and walk, hey if you over do the shopping a little, get the bus home.

2-      Eat fresh – There are whole bunch of man made diseases, most of these are largely self inflicted and therefore avoidable. By eating fresh food, cooking the stuff your Granny would cook, avoiding anything that comes in a packet, you could cut out most of these diseases. Chemical additives, sugar, salt, e-numbers, all these do untold harm to our bodies. Since the rise of convenience food, there has been a rise in cancer, diabetes and obesity. Get a couple of good cookbooks, get to the fresh food isles of the supermarkets, you just might save your own life as well as the lives of your family.

3-      Drink Water – We’ve all heard of the 8 glass rule. It’s more of a guideline than a rule but it works. We are made up of 80% water, every single chemical process in our body requires water. Without it our skin dries and wrinkles, our hair looks dull, our gums turn pale, these are merely the visible signs, but if this is happening on the outside of the body, just think what is happening inside?! Bottled or tap? That’s up to you, personally I buy a bottle and then re-fill it from the tap. And no, coffee and fizzy drinks don’t count.

4-      Join a Club/group – Social support is a big thing. Most of us just can’t function without it, people are after all a herd animal. Yet in this modern age of city living, who really knows their neighbours? If you are trying to loose weight/get fit/change your life style, then join a group of like minded people. People who share your goals, whatever they are, and can encourage you, offer advice and support. According to some sources, a support network can increase your chances of success by up to 80%

5-      Encourage your kids – Childhood obesity is not only an epidemic, but it’s criminal. Get your kids outside, get them into some kind of physical activity, serve them good, nutritious food, limit TV (that includes computer games) time. If you are a parent, try not to eat “kid” food yourself, lead by example and have real food with generous portions of fruit and veg. Kids do pick up on this, and with a little guidance don’t have to live on a diet of chicken nuggets and chips.

6-      Throw out the bathroom scales – Yes, I mean it! A better measure of your physical well being is a tape measure and a note book. Being obsessed with your weight can lead to unhealthy eating habits. Your better off measuring your curves with a tape and keeping track that way.

7-      Set goals and challenges – Well summer is on it’s way, how about setting a goal to have a bikini body for your August trip to the south of France (or wherever) that gives you 6 months, easy! Maybe you have a simpler challenge, the women’s mini marathon is coming up (see below), there are always martial arts tournaments on, find something, put a date on it and work to achieve it.

I know we get told that we live longer now than ever before, but how much of this is due to pharmaceutical advances. While our bodies have gone into decline, the drug companies have found ways to keep you ticking over, just as long as you buy their products. Well put two fingers up to them and instead get out and get moving, cut out the junk from the diet and see how you start to get healthier, more energetic and slimmer in a matter of weeks.
Like Steve Maxwell in the quote above, I have no intention of stopping, I will not give up or use my age as an excuse. If I look after my mind and body, my mind and body will look after me. I aim to be fit and strong enough that when the ol’ grim reaper comes knocking, I’ll be able to kick his bony arse back where he came from.

Who’s with me?

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3 - HERE COME THE GIRLS!!

Flora Women's Mini Marathon 2009 – From Kate Ryan, Rehab Group

Hi,

Preparations are well under way for the 2009 Flora Women's Mini Marathon which will take place on June 1st.  We at Rehab Group are looking for volunteers to run to help raise funds and be part of Team Rehab.

This year our focus for the Marathon will be to raise funds for our HeadsUp Suicide Prevention Programme aimed at young people between 15 and 24 years old.  The programme consists of a number of strands which include life-skills programmes for young people, a web and text based service that provides information on where to seek help as well as delivering courses aimed at those who interact with young people in their local communities.   As you know, sadly suicide is growing in Ireland with 460 registered deaths in 2007 up from 409 in 2006.  Over a quarter of the deaths are in the 15-24 year age category with a significant proportion being young men.  If you would like to find out more about the programme please log on to www.headsup.ie where there is more detail.  The HeadsUp project provides valuable support in this area.  This year alone we need to raise €200,000 for this service so you will see it is a very worthy cause that we hope you will support by participating in the marathon.  We'd love to have you on board as part of our team.

The 2009 Flora Women's Mini Marathon is a great fun day out providing an opportunity to get fit while raising money for this great cause and supporting those in need in your local area.  If you would like to run or know of anyone else that would like to run, please register for Rehab on www.florawomensminimarathon.ie  or pass this e-mail on to your friends.

If you would like to set up your own fundraising page so your friends can easily sponsor you it's easy to do.  Just log on to http://www.mycharity.ie/create.php where you can create your own fundraising page and keep your supporters up to date on your progress! 

Let us know you're registering for Rehab and we'll send you on a pack, which contains an information sheet, t-shirt and  a sponsorship card.

I look forward to hearing from you and having you as part of our team. 

Many thanks,

Kate

Kate Ryan
Administration Assistant - Marketing & Fundraising
Rehab Group
Roslyn Park, Beach Road
Sandymount, Dublin 4
P. +353 (0)1 205 7231     M. +353 (0)87 980 5057     F. +353 (0)1 205 7219
E. kate.ryan@rehab.ie
www.rehab.ie

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4 - NEW LOOK WEBSITE

A new www.wildgeesema.com is almost upon us, keep an eye open for a dramatic and much needed makeover.
It has been kindly built for us by Sharkey, the man who will be helping market the club taking it from a backstreet venue to a professional studio for Martial Artists and fitness enthusiasts of all ilk’s.

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5 - KETTLEBELL INSTRUCTOR WORKSHOP

Dear Cadets of the Metal,  

You are invited to attend an I.U.K.L. Club Instructor Level 1 workshop.  

DETAILS 

INSTRUCTORS:

Head Instructor: Vasilijs Ginko- IUKL Master of Sports and 7 Time World Champion

Assistant Instructor: Jason Kelly- AIKLF International Coach  

DATE:
25th of April 2009

DURATION:
9 hours of tuition under the direct guidance of a Master Sportsman of Girevoy Sports (timings to be confirmed)

PRICE:
250 EUROS*
*An additional fee of 50 EUROS is applicable for those wishing to be registered with the IUKL

LOCATION:
Northern Ireland (venue to be confirmed)

For those of you who attended last year's Girevoy Sports National Instructors Seminar with Vasilijs, held in Dublin, there will be an opportunity to receive an official IUKL Certification. Cadets are welcome to undergo a physical conditioning and competence assessment test and those who are successful will receive an official IUKL certification signed by Vasilijs. The cost of the assessment and official certification is 75 EUROS. Should you be interested in taking part, please let us know by reply.

 More information to follow. In the meantime, please visit our website www.aiklf.org

 or contact
Jason Kelly
+44 (0) 77 8946 5700 

Best Regards
Jason

Also, bookings are being taken for the first of the monthly beginner Kettlebell workshops. Places are limited to ensure quality, so book early (booking@wildgeesema.com)
The aim of the workshop is for beginners to learn how to train safely and efficiently with the kettlebell, and for more seasoned individuals to have their technique honed. If you are interested in attending the upcoming Vasily Ginko workshop in April, I strongly suggest you come to a couple of my sessions to get up to speed on the sport.
I was also contacted by a Kettlebell Collegue in Scotland, he and I may be collaborating to bring Steve Cotter over later in the year. Steve Cotter is a former full contact fighter and now is one of the worlds most prolific coaches teaching Kettlebells, Bodyweight and mobility to housewives and hardmen around the world.

Regular Kettlebell classes are held every Monday and Thursday, although you must pre-book your place on the Thursday class as it is often oversubscribed.
Regards, Dave

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6 - RECOMMENDED LINKS & PRODUCTS                                                   

www.liftstrong.com

All Proceeds go to the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Society

This CD contains articles from the leading fitness specialists of our day including:

Adam Campbell; Alan Aragon; Bill Hartman; Bob Youngs; Brian Grasso; Chad Waterbury; Charles Staley; Chris Mohr; Chris Shugart; Craig Ballantyne; Dan John; Dave Tate; Dax Moy; The Doorman; Eric Cressey; Gray Cook; Brett Jones; Harry Selkow; Jack Reape; James Smith; Jason C Brown; Jim "Smitty" Smith; Jason Ferruggia; Jimmy Smith; Joe DeFranco; Joe Dowdell; Joe Stankowski; John Alvino; John Berardi; Julia Ladewski; Keith Scott; Lee Taft; Lori Incledon; Lou Schuler; Lyle McDonald; Mark Philippi; Michael Stare; Mike Boyle; Mike Mahler; Mike Mejia; Mike Robertson; Mike Rousell; Nick Grantham; Pat Beith; Pavel Tsatsouline; Rachel Cosgrove; Robert Dos Remedios; Ryan Lee; Steve Shafley; Susan Hill; TC Luoma; Todd Hamer; Tony Gentilcore; Tony Reynolds and Zach Even-Esh

We originally intended to publish this collection as a book. However - at over 800 pages - costs were prohibitive and we went with the CD option to maximize our contribution.

Minimalist Strength Training without bulk or fancy equipment

Power To The People, Russian Strength Training Secrets for Every American

A pretentious title but a truly fantastic book. Goes into great detail on how to perform the Deadlift safely and how to progress to massive amounts of strength without bulking up or wasting hours in the gym. I personally put 20kg’s onto my deadlift in only a few months of using the programme.

Check it out for your self Here: http://tinyurl.com/deadlift

All the best

The Wild Geese

Doce Pares Ireland / Kenpo Karate / Self Protection / Security Training

www.wildgeesema.com / wildgeesema.blogspot.com

info@wildgeesema.com

+353 87 672 6090