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More Articles by Iain Abernethy

Karate: A Complete Fighting System? (The first article I ever wrote)

Introduction:

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Mental Strength

In his book 'Wado-Ryu' karate, Hironori Otsuka tells us that there are three kinds of strength - Physical Strength, Technical Strength and Mental Strength - and if any of those is deficient it will be " the downfall of the individual ". It's a common misconception throughout the martial arts that 'technique' is the key; if we have good technique then we will be effective in combat.

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Kata: a Lock or a Key?

In this article I'd like to briefly discuss some of the ways in which we can view kata, and how, if we adopt a restrictive view, this can severely limit our progress in the martial arts.

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Kata: Closing the Skill Gap

Karate is most commonly practised as a mid- to long-range kicking and punching system. And whilst karate practitioners tend to be very skilled at impacting at this range, they are often found wanting should the fight go to close-range. This is because most modern dojos do not include close-range striking and fundamental grappling skills in their training. A chain is only ever as strong as its weakest link and it is this lack of close-range skills that could be the karateka's undoing in a live situation.

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Kicking: Below the Belt?

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Kushanku / Kanku / Kosokun

Kushanku kata (also known as ‘Kanku-Dai’ and ‘Kosokun’) is one of the most popular forms in modern karate. It is a physically demanding and visually impressive form (when performed correctly) and it is one of the most popular kata in modern competition. As well as being a popular form with kata competitors, it also has a great deal to offer the practically minded karateka.

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The Four Stages of Kata Practise

Practically all karateka practise kata; however, most only practise the initial stage and therefore they do not develop a rounded and more complete understanding of what kata has to offer. In this article we shall discuss all four stages of kata practise.

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The Function of Stances

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The 'Cross-Buttocks' Throw: A forgotten throw of Karate, Boxing & Taekwondo

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Interview with Iain Abernethy by Geoff Thompson (October 2000)

Geoff Thompson: What made you want to write a book, and specifically about kata?

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