Karate Throws demonstrated by Kase Sensei

To my knowledge (pre 1993) however taught by all the JKA instructors on various Enoeda Crystal Palace courses of which Kase was always present, throwing or groundwork has never been part of any grading I've seen or taken up to 4th Dan. Were they holding back ? :0 

I think its more a case that they were gradually removed from the syllabus.  Looking at any of the editions of Karate Do Kyohan and you'll see a range of unbalancing techniques demonstrated.

Great post! It opens up a whole can of worms for our Arts.  I have to admit, that I get real excited when posts like this are up....actually any posts on real Martial Arts topics for that matter....yeah...i'm a fanatic...always training, discussing, refining etc.

Well, from my years of experience with Karate...i.e., Shorin Ryu Matsubayashi Ryu, in particular, way back circa 1981-2001, for instance, we did study throws, but it was very limited to simple punches.  Rarely, did we get down and execute the throw like the demo clip showed. 

Iain, I fully agree, that with a critical eye, you will see a tremendous display of flawless body mechanics in throw execution.  The timing and delivery is pristine. 

To me, this clip speaks to the fact that throws are effective, however, it's the idea behind it that is important.  Being a school teacher, I stress the importance of fundamental ideas and not so much technique eventually.  To me, if you learn those particular throws just "as is", the only value is the body mechanics behind it.  I think, the whole idea of the throw, and level changes etc., can be drilled in an alive manner, say from the clinch.  So progressively, i'd practice the throws technique by technique...step it through, then i'd play with it.

I'd  have my partners have protective gear on, and we'd basically spar, and at any moment, i'd insert the throw.  Of course, it'll have to be a progression, where initially my partner will co-operate with me to ensure I get the timing down pat....then we'd step it up with more resistance.  However, all throughout each drill or rep....i'd be keeping sensei Kase's throw dynamics in mind.

This more or less is how I train with practically every range I work.  I know it's nothing new....by to me, it makes sense.  My opinion here is purely opinion, and by no means, it is meant as disrespect to any budo-ka out there!

Peace! and Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Chris. 

I agree there was skill in the execution of the throws demonstrated, and my eyes couldn't help 'see' Bunkai but the question is 'where did these techniques come from'?

Im guessing Kase Sensei would have had a strong Judo background?

Even the evidence we have of Funakoshi Sensei in his books around throwing, doesn't awnser if it was his teachers teaching or indeed things he decided to 'just do' following his exposure in Japan, and significantly with the Judo Master Kano Sensei.

I must say I have no issues either way, and innovation isn't 'bad', in fact it can be exceptionally good I just don't do it so much due to my commitment to our Ryu - well I do do actually but that's another story, cross training it isn't............LOL.

For sure many of the kata techniques IMO are grappling centric, and part of grappling is of course throwing but personally I think the 'real' Bunkai in the vast majority of Ryu has simply not been transmitted.

shoshinkanuk wrote:

I agree there was skill in the execution of the throws demonstrated, and my eyes couldn't help 'see' Bunkai but the question is 'where did these techniques come from'?

Im guessing Kase Sensei would have had a strong Judo background?

Even the evidence we have of Funakoshi Sensei in his books around throwing, doesn't awnser if it was his teachers teaching or indeed things he decided to 'just do' following his exposure in Japan, and significantly with the Judo Master Kano Sensei.

Hi

I'll get onto my hobby horse here and post something that I wrote last year towards one of my ongoing projects.  I apologise that the footnotes have come through as end notes.  

Karate is often viewed by both outsiders and practitioners as a striking art, with little or no grappling techniques.  Though this has varied from system to system, and there are many different branches  on the Karate family trees, there are a number that currently have no throwing or locking/joint control or destruction techniques in their core syllabi.[1]  It was not always this way, and fortunately due to the work of a number of instructors, the broader heritage of the techniques contained within karate kata is beginning to be taught once more.

The evidence for the core use of grappling and throwing in Karate can be found in a number of early Twentieth century texts.   It is unfortunate there are large gaps in the available written records for Karate (if they ever existed) due perhaps to the devastation caused by the battle for Okinawa in the Second World War.  Even before this Gichin Funakoshi commented on the paucity of historical information, observing that “there is virtually no written material on the early history of karate, we do not know who invented and developed it, nor even, for that matter, where it originated and evolved.”[2]  Fortunately, Funakoshi, possibly the most influential figure in the spread of Karate to Japan and thereafter the world, has left us both a written and photographic legacy of some Karate grappling techniques, while the surviving copies of the pre-twentieth century in origin Bubishi  give a tantalizing glimpse of the likely prevalence of such close quarter methods in early Okinawan Karate.

Okinawa’s Bubishi was described by its first English translator and martial arts historian Patrick McCarthy as “an anthology of Chinese gongfu, its history, philosophy, and application.”[3]  While McCarthy explained that the document is enigmatic and not always easy to understand, there are large sections of text and diagrams that provide clear advice and instruction to any martial artist prepared to invest time in their study. 

Other than its importance as a reference guide for martial artists today, the Bubishiis valuable because we know that several significant figures in the  development of nineteenth and early twentieth century Karate had access to copies.  Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate, used part of the Bubishiin Karate Do Kyohan; Chojun Miyagi chose to name his style Goju Ryu after part of it; according to McCarthy Tatsuo Shimabukuro, founder of Isshin Ryu, also used it;[4]  Kenwa Mabuni, the founder of Shito Ryu, said that he had made a copy from a copy that Anko Itosu had created – indicating that Sokon Matsumura also owned the text.[5]   This record of ownership is significant because it adds to our understanding of the information available to these talented Karateka.  The styles and reference books that survive as a legacy of these men  in essence tell us what they taught, but transmission of information is rarely perfect and can often be deliberately selective.  The Bubishitherefore adds to this picture by showing us in addition what these instructors probably knew. 

The Bubishi teaches many lessons to those able to devote time to the study of the text, but one theme that is prevalent through the advice and illustrations within the text is that to be effective striking and grappling are linked like the Yin Yang symbol – the majority of the time each needs the other to achieve maximum effect.  Some of the advice in Article 16 illustrates these basic principles that are the bread and butter of basic karate. Item 2 notes that “By taking away your adversary’s balance, you will have greater opportunities for victory.”  Item 20 advises practitioners to “maintain your balance while and after throwing the adversary”.  There is even reference to ground fighting in item 25 which advises that “if you are taken down, make every attempt to attack the adversary’s genitals.”[6]

The Forty-Eight Self-Defence Diagrams of Article 29 are of great interest to anyone looking for alternative applications of limb positions and postures commonly found within Karate Kata.  The diagrams are quite simplistic, only illustrating a fixed moment in time rather than an entire sequence of movement.  Despite this, by analyzing the arm and leg positions of the diagrams, combined with the brief instructions, it is possible to identify elements of trapping, grabbing, locking, unbalancing and throwing.  Any count is arbitrary, but of the 48 diagrams there are at least 29 that definitely illustrate grappling/throwing and 9 that show an element of limb parrying that might be considered (or progress to) grappling.  A large proportion of these positions have survived within Karate Kata, so the tradition of grappling was definitely there – the next logical question was whether it was taught or trained.

In Karate Do My Way of Life, Gichin Funakoshi described his experience of Okinawan wrestling, tegumi, as a youth.  It is interesting to note the similarities and differences between this and Karate training.  Funakoshi observed that tegumiuses the same written characters as kumite, which are reversed.   One interesting aspect of the sport was that individuals were allowed to compete with multiple opponents simultaneously.   In tegumi leg and foot kicks were banned, as were attacks with the fist, sword hand, elbow, hair grabs and pinches – other than that it seems to have been a free for all with each participant having a second ready to intervene to prevent serious injury or unconsciousness.  Funakoshi noted that “to stop the fight, all that any boy who felt he had had enough needed to do was to pat his opponent’s body.  Some boys, however, were so dauntless that they would go on fighting until they were knocked out.  In such cases, it would be the duty of the referee to try to stop the bout before that happened….and if it sounds like nothing but a children’s game, I can assure you that those of us who engaged in it took it very seriously”[7]

Funakoshi’s reference to the possibility of being knocked out is very significant given the list of prohibited techniques.  It is impossible to be certain how precise his descriptions of these were: distinguishing between leg and foot kicks seems to rule out all the available angles of foot and shin – but does it also rule out the knee? Funakoshi does describe knee strikes to the head in his later books.  Similarly while sword hand, the fist and the elbow are ruled out, palm strikes and forearm strikes are not mentioned.  Alternatively strangles and chokes may have been used to render an opponent unconscious.

It is important to stress that tegumiwas a widely practiced Okinawan past-time completely separate from karate.  While it is entirely possible that elements of tegumitechniques may have been combined with Chinese martial arts techniques to form Karate, the Bubishi clearly illustrates that the imported systems were not without grappling movements of their own.  What Funakoshi makes clear is that grappling was a fairly significant part of every Okinawan boy’s heritage, the few Karate students in Okinawa (before its introduction into schools) were therefore unlikely to fail to recognize and understand grappling movements contained within the movements of Kata. 

This raises the question therefore as to whether grappling actually needed to be taught or practiced as part of regular Karate training in Okinawa?  The Kata showed the students the possibilities for grappling movements combined with striking techniques, and indicated possible set ups or follow-throughs, but Karateka in Okinawa were able to gain the essential experience of the grappling itself through tegumi.  We should also consider that when Anko Itosu proposed the introduction and teaching of Karate into schools, he did so primarily as a form of exercise for health, with self defence being a secondary factor: there was thus no requirement to teach explanations behind the movements in depth.  As Karate spread beyond Okinawa to Japan, this small cultural difference may partly explain why the drilling and transmission of this knowledge received less emphasis than the elements of Karate that were banned from tegumi(and thus probably focused on in slightly greater detail by Okinawan Karate teachers in their lessons) such as fist strikes, bladed hand strikes, elbow strikes and kicks.

In 1922 Funakoshi’s first book, Ryukyu Kenpo Karate, was published.  Unfortunately the plates for this were destroyed by an earthquake in 1923, and demand necessitated a new edition in  1925 entitled Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu.  Although the line drawings of the original work were  replaced with photographs of Funakoshi himself demonstrating techniques, the two texts were almost identical.  In this work Funakoshi described a number of hand and leg techniques: what is of interest is how his descriptions indicate that so far as its combative use is concerned, Karate is so much more than merely striking an opponent.  In his explanations of hand techniques Funakoshi refers to grabbing and pulling, twisting an arm as you pull, striking at the same time as pulling and destroying an opponent’s balance,  In his explanations of leg techniques, he refers to striking the inner thigh with the knee, using the knee against the outer thigh to destroy balance and posture, and stepping onto an opponent’s thigh.[8]  What is important in these descriptions is that they clearly show how close range Funakoshi envisioned Karate being used if were to be used for self defence. 

Funakoshi’s brief introduction to throwing techniques is particularly interesting.  He noted that “In contrast to Ju Jitsu, karate might be considered a “hard’ art, and throwing or taking down an opponent are not fundamental aims.  However “hard” exists only because soft exists, and so a combination of the two is certainly advantageous.  The instinctive blending of hard and soft when forced to adjust to an opponent’s physical strength can produce amazing results.  Even a single throwing technique can have three or even four different modes of execution, but rather than saying much about that here, I will leave the point up to the reader’s own experimentation and research.”[9]

Photographs with brief descriptions then illustrated six unbalancing techniques.  Although this is a limited number, they demonstrate limb control, joint manipulation and throwing, and importantly although each is only illustrated by one photograph, the author has stressed that each has more than one mode of execution. 

Excepting his later ‘autobiography’, Karate Do My Way of Life, Funakoshi wrote two further texts; Karate Do Kyohan: The Master Text, published in 1931 and Karate Do Nyumon: The Master Introductory Text, published in 1943.  The later work predominantly concentrated on stories concerning Funakoshi’s instructors, Karate in the past, and the importance of Karate as a means of self development rather than a fighting system.  Illustrations in this text are few and far between.  Karate Do Kyohan: The Master Text was by contrast, far more concerned with the specifics of techniques and filled with photographs.  This book was published in two editions, the more commonly read edition being the posthumous 1958 edition, which is considerably different from the original edition.[10]

Although there are differences between the two editions of Karate Do Kyohan (most immediately notable in the illustrations with Funakoshi not demonstrating the techniques and the photographs showing the adoption of deeper stances), there are areas of commonality.  In both Funakoshi stressed that karate incorporated various throwing techniques, but primarily consisted of striking, kicking, thrusting and back-hand techniques.  Similarly both editions stress the importance of unbalancing through the pulling and twisting action of Hikite, though this concept is reinforced by a description of Daki-te (hugging hand) in the original edition that has been omitted from the later work.  

There is  a notable  difference between Funakoshi’s later and earlier work in the sections on leg and foot techniques.  The later edition of Kyohan closely resembles the modern Shotokan syllabus in content, focusing on (and demonstrating) kicks as a means of attacking the torso or head.  Hiza tsuki(knee strike) is referred to as a strike that could be used against the head or testicles in grappling, but the reference made to striking the thigh in the earlier edition has been removed.  It is not the only omission.  In the 1935 edition Funakoshi refers to Keri-Komi, the trample kick:

"Throwing one leg to kick at the opponent is the same in this technique as in keri-hanshi (snap kick).  The difference is that you do not withdraw the kicking leg, but instead you aim at the opponent’s inner thigh or knee joint to trample with your foot, “thwack!”  In keri-komi it is more effective if you grasp the opponent’s arm, pulling him closer as you execute the technique.  If you go directly into trampling without kicking first, it is called fumi-komi or trample step (step and smash).”[11]

Here Funakoshi is clearly advocating targeting the leg and unbalancing by grabbing and pulling at the same time.  Techniques such as Fumi-Komi  that attack the legs have survived (and many Karateka who specialize in close quarter combat will use Fumi-komiin the manner Keri-komiis described above), but while both texts advocate their use against the legs (in particular the knee and shin)  to break posture, it seems more common today to see this technique applied as a stamp against a prone opponent.

One of the most interesting sets of  demonstrations in both editions of Karate-Do Kyohan, are the Iai– sitting together.  In the original edition Funakoshi demonstrates six exercises from the seizaposition.  What is noticeable in these exercises is the combination of limb manipulation, grabbing, unbalancing and striking.   Although these close quarter engagements are performed in the ground, there is no reason why the same principles could not be applied while standing.  Far from forbidding such experimentation and development, Funakoshi stressed that

“These are simply examples of the many applications of basic kata.  Thus, once you have become proficient in these, you can apply the basic kata and kumi-te kata that you have already learned using your own inventiveness.”[12]

Both editions of Karate Do Kyohancontain instruction in throwing techniques, with photographic demonstration.    Both editions show nine throws, and tellingly in the earliest edition  Funakoshi states

“Just like with kumi-te and Iai-te, which I have explained in the previous chapters, there are many different ways and variations for executing throwing and saka-te techniques.  The point is that how you perform a throwing technique should change depending upon your opponent.  I am going to leave this with each learner.  For the sake of beginners I am going to show some throwing techniques with explanations and pictures to serve as a reference.  Using this as the woof and basic Kata as the warp, like in weaving fabric, with an accumulation of study and practice,  one will come to the point in which he can block, throw, and topple without making a conscious effort.”[13]

It is obvious therefore that far from being an innovation in response to the popularity of the events such as the Ultimate Fighter Championship and the spread of Mixed Martial Arts, grappling and throwing have always been at the core of Karate.  Although Funakoshi only demonstrated a small number of grappling and throwing techniques in his books, his  references to the application of various striking techniques as “when you are grappling”, and his exhortation to his readers to study further themselves, clearly indicate that he regarded this as an important part of understanding Karate.

[1]By which I mean techniques examined up to the basic level of Shodan.

[2]G Funakoshi, Karate D My Way of Life, (Kodansha International, 1975), page 29.

[3]P McCarthy, The Bible of Karate: Bubishi, (Charles E Tuttle, 4th Ed. 1997), page 27.

[4]As above, page 23.

[5]As I have noted in Heian Flow System: Effective Karate Kata Bunkai, Itosu’s other teacher Toudi Sakugawa seems to have concentrated on Karate as a form of physical exercise rather than a form of self defence.  As a result it is likely that it was Matsumura from whom Itosu copied the Bubishi.

[6]P McCarthy, The Bible of Karate: Bubishi, (Charles E Tuttle, 4th Ed. 1997), pages 161 - 162.

[7]G Funakoshi, Karate Do My Way of Life, (Kodansha International, 1975), pages 123 - 124).

[8]G Funakoshi, Karate Jutsu, trans.  J Teramoto, (Kodansha International, 2001), pages 46 – 53.

[9]As above, page 53.

[10]I am extremely grateful to Karate historian Iain Abernethy for drawing my attention to the publication of a new translation of the original 1935 edition published by Neptune Publications. 

[11]G Funakoshi, trans. H Suzuki-Johnston, Karate Do Kyohan: The Master Text, (Nepture Publications, 2005), page27.

[12]See above, page 185.

[13]As above, page 192. 

Hi John,

Awesome post! Thanks so much for that great contribution!

As regards karate grappling in a wider sense, please find a link to an article and related podcast I did which fits in with John’s post quite nicely:

Article: http://www.iainabernethy.co.uk/article/karate-grappling-did-it-really-exist

Podcast: http://iainabernethy.co.uk/content/karate-grappling-did-it-really-exist

All the best,

Iain

great post John - thank you.

Wow I just realized I haven't posted here since November.  Damn school and all...

I didn't seen any other place to post something related to karate throws, so I thought I'd share this video with you here.  I managed to find this video of throws, sweeps, and joint manipulations from karate, as well as good old-fashioned head stomps and groin kicks as finishing moves.  I could, however, go without the "give white belt student who's probably in early teens a hard punch to the face" part though ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGdrkiAXpOE

After seeing a lot over the years I still hate to see that.

Smacking low grades around is nothing short of bullying.

It's ironic that the ex-military instructors I've been lucky enough to train with that had used their skills for real were sensible enough to realise busting up students wasn't required.  But some high grades like to put on a show ...

So much for perfection of character.

Gary

Some nice techniques the clip linked by hawaiianbrian, but….

Gary Chamberlain wrote:

After seeing a lot over the years I still hate to see that.

Smacking low grades around is nothing short of bullying.

Totally agree. What’s even more worrying is that the punches in the face and kick in the groin were deliberate and not edited out. Presumably the gent demonstrating thought they helped make him look good?

When I have been filming I’ve occasionally misjudged something and hurt on one my partners. So I offer my apologies, they take the p##s out of me and my control, we film it again or edit it out. I don’t deliberately hurt them, nor would I leave it in the film if I had! A little worrying that someone would deliberately hurt their students and then share it.

Gary Chamberlain wrote:

So much for perfection of character.

I’ve never been convinced by that. I know good martial artists who are great guys, and some who are total d#cks. Martial arts can be a way to face up to your failings, and they can also be a way to indulge them.

All the best,

Iain

The guys the chap is hitting on clearly are happy to be hit - and they are proberly not new, as they are all in white belts maybe the group does the white- black belt thing.

Granted it's not my way but people do have a part in this type of stuff, put up with it or do something about it, move on etc etc.

I have to say we had alot of contact when I was training as a youngster, if my parents only knew! It toughened me up and I wouldnt change anything about that aspect of it.

I saw that a fair bit in (Kyokushin) honbu in Japan, where the students meekly accepted it and actually - I forget the Japanese term used - mumbled a 'thank you for teaching me' afterwards.

It's not for me.  Heavy contact in sparring is fair enough, but standing still?  Nah!

Gary

shoshinkanuk wrote:

The guys the chap is hitting on clearly are happy to be hit

I have to say that when they are on their knees holding their faces and groins that they don’t look particularly happy to me.

shoshinkanuk wrote:

I have to say we had a lot of contact when I was training as a youngster, if my parents only knew! It toughened me up and I wouldn’t change anything about that aspect of it.

It was not the contact in the clip that I found disconcerting, but the fact that that contact was delivered to students who were playing along with a set piece. People engaging in heavy contact sparring is fine because both people have consented to it, the recipient has a chance to protect themselves, and both people stand a chance of getting whacked.

Striking someone in the face in a set piece demo is very different as presumably the recipient has not consented to it (and if they have, they have some serious self-esteem issues to address), the recipient is not able to protect themselves and there is no chance of the instructor getting hit.

As I see it one is an honourable exchange; one is bullying / abuse from a position of authority.

All the best,

Iain

100% agree.

(And that's something I very rarely say - except to my wife of course ...)

Gary

Iain and Gary - Absolutely. That was pretty poor - pretty much all of the demos shown there had very compliant uke's waiting around to be locked, twisted, dumped or just plain smacked. Perhaps it's a cultural thing, I don't know, but I doubt that that would be acceptable in any reputable western dojo and, I would hope, in reputable Japanese ones too.

As for throws, well, I imagine thta pretty much everyone on this forum has some level of throwing, ground and locking work in their syllabuses (syllabi?) if their main system is a striking one. There are certainly plenty of throws in the shoto/wado versions of the katas.

Iain Abernethy wrote:

'one is bullying / abuse from a position of authority.'

LOL, yes indeed that would describe my early training well - I wouldn't change it as the positives outweighed the negatives IME.

Granted I wouldn't teach that way myself, I just don't roll like that. I also don't teach children martial arts as I simply cannot work how to do so safely whilst maintaining the integrity of what we do, but that's a side issue.

My comments about them being happy to be there, is more to do with if the instructor dishing it out, does so regulary they choose to turn up and keep going back.

If they have self-esteem issues, well them and 90% of the world karateka seems to, so they are not alone! (I certainly did as a boy and young man) But your point is valid and of course correct.

Personally I would simply smack him back and see how that went down!

shoshinkanuk wrote:

Personally I would simply smack him back and see how that went down!

We're on the same page.  The last 'Shihan' who demonstrated a full contact low kick on me got a curious expression (trying not to show pain)  followed by, "Ahhhh, I see.  Like THIS!"

He wasn't best pleased by hey, live by the sword and all that.

My attitude is simple:  Never give so much respect to others that you forget to keep some for yourself.

Gary

Speaking of karate abuse and throws I used to know this one instructor who, though a fairly decent karate-ka, liked to abuse his students while working self-defense. He was noted for his wrist-locking techniques, something that drew a lot of people to his class.  Anyway, this friend of mine who was a really good judoka visited the instrucotors class and since my friend had just begun karate he wore a white belt. Well, somewhere during the process the instructor decided to use my friend as an example. "Come on show me what you've got" the instructor said assuming my friend was a white belt. Well, about two minutes later after the instructor had been thrown numerous ways and put in numerous locks my friend looked at him and said, "Had enough?" 

So yes karate does have throws in it and no it's not wise to abuse students.

Mike

Gary Chamberlain wrote:

My attitude is simple:  Never give so much respect to others that you forget to keep some for yourself.

I like that lots!

I totally agree that bullying in martial arts shouldn't be allowed or condoned,

Going back to the topic, I've started to read "Throws for Strikers" by a certain author, lol. This highlights many things discussed here and a good intrlude to "Karate's Grappling Methods"

I think as students we expect to get knocks in class.

What we don't expect is either pain or injury given to 'put us in our place', as punishment, or to make the instructor 'look good'.  To do so is bullying and an abuse of position.

There are some techniques that, properly applied, cause pain (yes I realise that's rather obvious in martial arts study).  The majority of these, applied fully, will cause injury.  While the experience of pain may be beneficial in developing a fighting mindset, and may be necessary in learning the control of some techniques, no one should experience pain without consent in a martial arts class - or without a learning objective.  Injury should only occur by accident.