DOWNLOAD EPISODE 011 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

This episode of The Applied Karate Show sees the introduction of a slight revision to the format of our show. Rather than simply jumping straight into the interview portion, I am going to incorporate a brief (generally no more than 5 minutes) “editorial” to the front of the show. After a break, we’ll cut over to the interview, which will remain the basis of each episode.

This week’s editorial provides a brief summary of these changes, and a recommendation to listen to the new episode of The Health and Fitness Show (also on The Podcast Network), which features an interview with Australia’s leading kettlebell instructor, Don Stevenson, and is a good followup to our last episode with Pavel Tsatsouline.

In this episode’s interview, I talk with longtime Shorin Ryu practitioner, Shihan John Hamilton of the Sho-Ha Shorin Ryu school. Hamilton Sensei holds a kudan ranking in Shorin Ryu karate, and also a Shihan ranking in Tenshinryu Kenjutsu. Hamilton Sensei began his studies over 40 years ago, under the tutelage of Sensei Glenn Premru. He has college degrees in engineering and anthropology/sociology, and now teaches Sho-Ha Shorin Ryu Karate and Nito Tenshin Ryu Kenjutsu fulltime, at his dojo in Pittsburgh, which he established over 30 years ago.

Hamilton Sensei provides a deep look at a variety of aspects of his training, including

• Karate training under Glenn Premru Sensei
• Kenjutsu training under Frederick Lovret, Sensei
• The key principles of the Sho-Ha Shorin Ryu school
• Applying an engineer’s analysis of karate mechanics, and an insight into some interesting discoveries he has made in that area
• Developing strength not through muscular contraction, but expansion
• The importance of maintaining a healthy body
• The quest to maintain a traditional dojo

Again, another fascinating discussion that I hope our listeners will enjoy.

Hamilton Sensei can be contacted through his website at www.shorinnotoradojo.com, where you’ll find address and phone number information.

A special thanks to Mark Tankosich, Sensei (guest in Episode 5 of The Applied Karate Show) who kindly arranged this interview, patiently acting as a middleman to set things up. A special feat considering he is in Hiroshima, Japan, Hamilton Sensei is in Pittsburgh and I am in Sydney, Australia.

We love feedback. You can leave an audio message by clicking on the icon above. If you’re in Australia, you could also leave a message on our feedback line at (02) 90189302 (+61-2-90189302 for international callers). I would love to include appropriate audio messages in future shows!

Email can be sent to podcast@appliedkarate.com.

Of course, you can leave a comment below, or alternatively, post over on The Applied Karate Forum.

I’d appreciate it if you could pop over to PocastAlley.com and vote for us, or comment and rate us in iTunes through the music store.

Applied Karate #011 (mp3 - 17MB - 51 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 011 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

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DOWNLOAD EPISODE 010 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

For this episode of The Applied Karate Show, I am pleased to interview a person who is not known as a karateka. Instead, our guest in Episode 10 is a world reknowned expert in stretching, strength and conditioning, and has spear headed the introduction to the west of an ancient tool called the kettlebell.

Pavel Tsatsouline, Master of Sports, is a former physical training instructor for the Soviet Special Forces, currently a subject matter expert to the U.S. Marine Corps, the National Nuclear Security Administration/U.S. Department of Energy, and the US Secret Service. Once a nationally ranked kettlebell lifter in the USSR, today Pavel leads the Russian kettlebell invasion of the US. Power by Pavel, Inc. spreads kettlebell propaganda through print and Tactical Strength, Inc. “explains it manually” in workshops.

Pavel has spent his life immersed in the study and practice of practical strength and muscle training, as it applies in the very hard testing ground of US and Russian special ops, the US Marines, SWAT, professional athletes, martial artists, gymnasts, powerlifters, weightlifters, Olympic champions and numerous others for whom results are everything and failure is simply not an option.

I first became interested in kettlebells because of their reported success in building functional strength and power, without necessarily building bulk. I saw that they had a similarity in design and function to several traditional hojo undo implements used in some forms of karate. I have now being using kettlebells for about 9 months, and have personally achieved some impressive gains in functional strength and conditioning. After having done a couple of kettlebell courses with one of Pavel’s Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) instructors, Sydney-based Don Stevenson, I have become even more convinced of this tools applicability to the martial artist.

So I was very pleased when Pavel accepted my invitation to be a guest on the show. Please listen in as we discuss:

• Background and history of the kettlebell
• An interesting aside that Bruce Lee was an advocate of the kettlebell exercise called the swing
• Why a karateka should consider incorporating kettlebell training into their own regime
• Pavel’s contention that strength is a skill, and that the kettlebell swing is perfect for building relaxed tension akin to a karate technique
• Key kettlebell drills, including the swing and the Turkish getup (TGU)
• How a karateka can go about introducing kettlebell practice
• Pavel’s background in martial arts, including his study of a style called Applied Karate (!!) in the Russian military
• Breathing techniques to increase power generation, and a reference to work by Dr Stuart McGill’s work into breathing, back fitness and power.
• The Grease the Groove concept, and how it can be used to develop your technique
• The RKC system
• Pavel’s recommended books/DVDs for the karateka - particularly The Naked Warrior (about developing power through bodyweight exercises) and Enter the Kettlebell (which focuses on getting started in kettlebell training).

I highly recommend Pavel’s work, and suggest all karateka get these two books, and consider whether some of his concepts or even programs may be adapted into your own training. Kettlebells are rarely found in retail stores. In the US, you can order kettlebells through Dragon Door, and in Australia through Australian Kettlebells.

We love feedback. You can leave an audio message by clicking on the icon above. If you’re in Australia, you could also leave a message on our feedback line at (02) 90189302 (+61-2-90189302 for international callers). I would love to include appropriate audio messages in future shows!

Email can be sent to podcast@appliedkarate.com.

Of course, you can leave a comment below, or alternatively, post over on The Applied Karate Forum.

I’d appreciate it if you could pop over to PocastAlley.com and vote for us, or comment and rate us in iTunes through the music store.

Applied Karate #010 (mp3 - 11MB - 31 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 010 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

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Sensei Iain Abernethy has been involved in the martial arts since childhood. Iain holds the rank of 5th Dan with both the British Combat Association (one of the world’s leading groups for close-quarter combat, self-protection and practical martial arts) and Karate England (the official governing body for Karate in England). Iain regularly writes for the UK’s leading martial arts magazines and he is a member of the “Combat Hall of Fame”.

One of the UK’s leading exponents of applied karate, Iain has written a number of critically acclaimed books on the practical application of traditional martial arts and is well known for his work on the pragmatic use of the techniques and concepts recorded in the traditional kata. Iain’s seminars, books, DVDs and articles have proved to be very popular with those groups and individuals who wish to practise their arts as the pragmatic systems they were originally intended to be.

This was a wide ranging and fascinating conversation that covered topics such as:

• Iain’s early days of training in Wadoryu karate, under the guidance of Sensei Doug James, 7th Dan
• Exploration and importance of the study of kata bunkai in understanding the pragmatic nature of karate
• Kata being a practice that allows you to emotionally commit fully
• How to approach a study of kata bunkai
• Kata based sparring as an approach to gaining an understanding the pragmatic nature of kata
• How Iain came to write a book, and ultimately become a fulltime write and martial artist
• The three martial artist that Iain finds most inspiring - Doug James, Geoff Thompson and Peter Consterdine - and what it is Iain admires in them
• Weight lifting and structuring a program for a martial artist
• Iain’s latest book: Mental Strength
• What Iain is working on now

We love feedback. You can leave an audio message by clicking on the icon above. If you’re in Australia, you could also leave a message on our feedback line at (02) 90189302 (+61-2-90189302 for international callers). I would love to include appropriate audio messages in future shows! Email can be sent to des@appliedkarate.com.

Of course, you can leave a comment below, or alternatively, post over on The Applied Karate Forum.

I’d appreciate it if you could pop over to PocastAlley.com and vote for us, or comment and rate us in iTunes through the music store.

Applied Karate #009 (mp3 - 25MB - 72 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 009 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

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Shihan Dan Hayes is the chief instructor of the Island Budokan dojo and the Regional President of the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha Karate Federation, as well as the Vice President of the International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai. Shihan Hayes holds a 6th Dan grading from the Shorinjiryu Kenyukai Watanabe-Ha Federation, and a 7th Dan from the Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai. Shihan Hayes also holds instructor qualifications in Kendo and Yagyu Shinkage Ryu Heiho.
Having commenced a study of Shorinjiryu Karate in 1973, Hayes Sensei has been fortunate to train with many of the first generation Japanese instructors who setup in the NE of the US in the 60’s and 70’s. His first teacher was Shihan Minoru Morita, and his long time mentor continues to be Kaicho Shunji Watanabe. He has also trained with Shihan Hisanobu Yamazaki, Hanshi Masayuki Hisataka, Sensei Fujio Monjiyama and Sensei Shigeru Ishino.

In this discussion, Hayes Sensei talks about his early experiences and recollections with these gentlemen and others, and elaborates on the similarities and differences between them. In addition we discuss:

• The role of yakusoku kumite in Shorinjiryu karate
• The use of bogu style protective equipment in training and competition
• The practice of buki-ho (weapons), both within Shorinjiryu and also within his pursuits of Yagyu Shinkage Ryu and Kendo
• The role of kata - what Hayes Sensei refers to as the “brain” of karate, while kumite is the heart.
• Changes in Shorinjiryu Karate over the years

This was another fascinating discussion for me. I hope our listeners don’t mind there being 2 interviews in a row from the practitioners of the style I practice, but the opportunity was there, and I found both to be very different, yet both inspiring and educative in their own way. I sincerely appreciate Hayes Shihan’s time and his having shared so much.

We love feedback. You can leave an audio message by clicking on the icon above. If you’re in Australia, you could also leave a message on my feedback line at (02) 90189302 (+61-2-90189302 for international callers). I would love to include appropriate audio messages in future shows! Email can be sent to des@appliedkarate.com.

Of course, you can leave a comment below, or alternatively, post over on The Applied Karate Forum.

I’d appreciate it if you could pop over to PocastAlley.com and vote for us, or comment and rate us in iTunes through the music store.

Applied Karate #007 (mp3 - 20MB - 57 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 008 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

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Shihan Jeffrey Henderson is the founder and Chief Technical Director of the International Budo Institute, as well as being head of his own school, Bubishido. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, Shihan Henderson now makes his home in Vancouver. Shihan Henderson holds a 6th Dan in Bubishido, and is a member of the International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai.
Having studied Shorinjiryu Karate since 1982, Shihan Henderson is passionate about gaining a balance of the technical understanding, academic learning and spiritual development that is the hallmark of a budoka.

Listen in as we discuss

• Shihan Henderson’s beginnings in budo
• Early experiences with his teacher, Shihan Wayne Donivan of the Shorinjiryu Kentokukan school
• The role of the student
• The role of the teacher - recognising that everyone is an individual, and that individuals are different.
• The role of spirituality in karate
• The challenge of making a pilgrimage - Shihan Henderson participated in the Camino de Santiago carrying a bo.
• Motivations for training - doing it to please your Sensei, parents or peers is generally the wrong reason. You should train for yourself.

We love feedback. You can leave an audio message by clicking on the icon above. If you’re in Australia, you could also leave a message on my feedback line at (02) 90189302 (+61-2-90189302 for international callers). I would love to include appropriate audio messages in future shows! Email can be sent to des@appliedkarate.com.

Of course, you can leave a comment below, or alternatively, post over on The Applied Karate Forum.

I’d appreciate it if you could pop over to PocastAlley.com and vote for us, or comment and rate us in iTunes through the music store.

Applied Karate #007 (mp3 - 21MB - 60 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 007 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

DOWNLOAD EPISODE 006 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

Major William Hayes, USMC (Ret.) was born in New York City, and has been practicing karate since the age of 15. Hayes Sensei enlisted in the USMC in 1964, and retired at the rank of major in 1990 - the then highest rank possible in his area of specialisation. Major Hayes had three tours of duty in Okinawa, two in Japan and two voluntary tours in Vietnam.
A practitioner of the Shobayashiryu school of Shorinryu karate, Hayes Sensei is a direct student of Grandmaster Eizo Shimabukuro, the youngest man to be graded to 10th Dan. Major Hayes has received all his teaching and rank certifications directly from Shimabukuro Sensei, along with his red-and-white belt.

Hayes Sensei has written a book called My Journey with The Grandmaster, which earned him the Writer’s Digest Certificate of Merit. He publishes a quarterly international newsletter, and has been featured on the cover of, or in feature articles in, various high profile martial arts publications.

I was fascinated in this discussion to hear some of Hayes Sensei’s insights into the practice of kata and Ti Chi Ki. Hayes Sensei also has strong views about the importance of health to the karateka. In this endeavour, he now is involved in the distribution of the Pharmanex range of nutritional products.

I trust you’ll find this episode as interesting as I did.

Applied Karate #006 (mp3 - 21MB - 60 mins)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 006 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 005 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

In this latest episode of The Applied Karate Show, I had the good fortune to have an in depth discussion with my good friend and fellow karateka, Sensei Mark Tankosich. Mark lives in Hiroshima, Japan, and is a long time practitioner of Shorinryu Karate, fluent in written and spoken Japanese, a lecturer at a Japanese university who is able to spend time researching into the history and traditions of Japanese budo….. Mark is also a practitioner of Jodo.

Having grown up in Pittsburgh, Pensylvania, Mark has spent 13 years living in Japan. He continues to train in Sho-Ha Shorinryu karate, under the guidance of his American instructor, John Hamilton Sensei.

Please join us as we discuss some topics that I found really interesting. In particular:

• Mark’s background in karate
• The Sho-Ha Shorinryu school
• Experiences with studying from afar
• Experiences with foriegners coming to Japan with wide eyes, looking for “the answers”
• Life in Japan and in a Japanese dojo
• Jodo practice
• Meeting the Emperor of Japan (and the foriegn minister, prime minister and former US President Jimmy Carter)
• The maxim karate ni sente nashi. Commonly translated as “there is no first strike in karate”, Mark has conducted research into this maxim, and the opinions of masters like Mabuni Kenwa, Motobu Choki and Miyagi Chojun into this core tenet.

This last topic in particular was of great interest to me, and I enjoyed Mark’s view that the phrase really reminds us that a karateka should not initiate aggression, but this doesn’t mean they should not take the initiative when aggression is certain.

You can find a copy of Mark’s paper on Karate ni Sente Nashi at Charles Goodin Sensei’s website for the Hawai’i Karatedo Seinenkai. Mark has also been a guest writer on Charles’ excellent Karate Thoughts blog, which I highly encourage people to subscribe to.
If you have comments or questions, please leave them on the comments section below. Alternatively you can leave me a voice message, which I may utilise in an upcoming show.

Please consider voting for the Applied Karate Show over on Podcast Alley.

The Applied Karate Show Episode 005 - Sensei Mark Tankosich
Applied Karate #005 (mp3 - 22MB - 64 min)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 005 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 004 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

Kyoshi Mike Clarke is the Australian representative of the Okinawan Gojuryu Jundokan Dojo, based at his Shinseidokan Dojo in Launceston, Tasmania. Originally hailing from Manchester in the UK, Mike is one of the most prolific writers in the karate world today, having had three books and over 200 articles published. Two more books are currently in the pipeline.

Originally a practitioner of Tani-Ha Shitoryu Karate in the Shukokai organisation, Mike has practiced Okinawan Gojuryu since the early 80’s, after having met the enigmatic powerhouse of Okinawan Goju, Higaonna Morio sensei. In the 90’s, Mike entered the Jundokan Dojo, becoming a student of Miyazato Eiichi sensei, the successor to the founder of Gojuryu, Miyagi Chojun sensei.

In this conversation, Mike discusses his formative years, and the various circumstances and encounters that brough him into the karate world. If you haven’t read about Mike’s life before, I strongly suggest you listen to this part of the discussion with interest - his is a story about how a discovery of karate can truly lead to a change in life.

As interesting in this discussion, Mike discusses some of the various senior masters he has met and trained with, including those above, as well as Tani Chojiro, Kimura Shigeru, Tomiyama and more.

This is another great discussion, and I look forward to feedback on the show.

Mike’s books can be ordered through his website (www.shinseidokan.com) or by clicking the links below

• Roaring Silence
• Budo Masters: Paths to a Far Mountain
• Small Steps Forward

The Applied Karate Show Episode 004 - Kyoshi Mike Clarke
Applied Karate #004 (mp3 - 24MB - 68 min)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 004 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 002 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

In Episode 003 of The Applied Karate Show, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with Sensei Kris Wilder of West Seattle Karate. Apart from being an accomplished practitioner of Goju Karate, in which Kris holds the rank of 4th Dan, Kris is also a skilled practitioner of Judo (1st Dan) and Taekwondo (2nd Dan). He is also the host of the Martial Secrets podcast, author and a really personable guy.

As an author, Kris has written 2 books - the excellent The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering Martial Applications (along with Lawrence Kane) and the inspiring Lessons from the Dojo Floor. I highly recommend both of these books.

Join us as Kris tells us about his background in karate, his experiences with various instructors in various systems in the US, Okinawa and Japan. I was personally fascinated by some of his stories of training with Sensei Hiroo Ito in Seattle, and Sensei Yamashiro in Okinawa.

Listen out for Kris’ great definition of a martial artist - I found this to be quite poignant.

Applied Karate #003 (mp3 - 16MB - 47 min)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 002 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 002 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

Yesterday I had the chance to chat with Kyoshi Myron Lubitsch, founder and chief instructor of the Shorinjiryu Kenryukan school in New York city, and President of the International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai - an umbrella association of various schools of Shorinjiryu karate.

Kyoshi Myron discusses his early days of Shorinjiryu training in the late 60’s, experiences of karate in New York, and the current state and future of the Shorinjiryu style.

I believe that this interview will be of interest to anyone interested in gaining a little insight into the development of karate in North America, especially those interested in the Shorinjiryu style.

Disclosure: as a practitioner of Shorinjiryu under the Australian Shorinjiryu Karatedo Association, I am affiliated to the International Shorinjiryu Shinzen Kyokai, and consider Kyoshi Myron to be a mentor.

Applied Karate #002 (mp3 - 17MB - 49min)

LISTEN HERE TO EPISODE 002 OF THE APPLIED KARATE SHOW

LISTEN HERE TO APPLIED KARATE

Welcome to the launch episode of the Applied Karate Show on The Podcast Network.

On this first episode, I give a brief introduction to the show, and to myself. In this show, I hope to talk to interesting and inspiring martial artists about their takes on the world of classical karate - including its history, philosophy, techniques, technologies, applications and personalities. I’d really appreciate any feedback, especially in terms of possible guests and/or topics. Leave a comment on this blog, or shoot an email to me at des@kengokai.com.

After the introduction, I launch the first interview - a discussion with Hanshi Patrick McCarthy. Hanshi McCarthy is a longtime karateka, originally from Canada. Having realised theres got to be a lot more to karate than the sporting based phenomenon that it has become, he travelled to Japan where he lived for many years (and where I first met him in the early ’90’s). With Japan as a base, Hanshi McCarthy conducted primary research into karate and various Japanese budo, visited many dojos and training centres in Japan, Okinawa, China and SE Asia and met with many masters of karate and other arts.

In the process, Hanshi McCarthy made a comparative analysis of the various fighting traditions, and has reconstructed an interpretation of karate that he feels is closer to that originally intended.

Now residing in Brisbane, Australia, Hanshi McCarthy is the pioneer of his own system of karate, Koryu Uchinadi as well as being the founder of the International Ryukyu Karatejutsu Research Society. A popular seminar presenter, Hanshi McCarthy has spent the last 10 years travelling the world and introducing people to his interpretations of karate kata and their application principles and his unique set of 2 person “flow drills”.

Hanshi McCarthy is truly a pioneer in understanding karate, and I believe we are lucky to have had him as our first guest.

Hanshi McCarthy’s website is at www.koryu-uchinadi.com.

Remember, I’d love your feedback, so please leave a comment below, or shoot an email to me at des@kengokai.com.

Applied Karate #001 (mp3 - 17MB - 50min)

LISTEN HERE TO APPLIED KARATE