Monthly Archive for May, 2005

Zen Do Kai vs Bushikai

Published on 31 May, 2005 in Karate. 0 Comments

There are more differences between the parts of Bushikai than there is to the whole of Zen Do Kai.

There are more differences between the parts of Zen Do Kai than there is to the whole of Bushikai.

There are very significant overlaps in theory, purpose, technique and structure. While not the same, having trained at some length with instructors and students of each, I believe that we are very much part of a similar family. That said, I believe that parts of each stray away from what I consider to be true martial arts.

I will refer to “the path” below in reference to what I consider to be the true path of Bushikai and of Zen Do Kai.

  • When we train to get a belt, we are not following the path.
  • When we train in a particular way because of tradition rather than because it is the best way we know of, we are not following the path.
  • When we act from ego and delusions of power rather than serving our students and developing ourselves, we are not following the path.

The path for Bushikai and Zen Do Kai – the path of pursuing successively higher standards of excellence or the best of everything progression – is the same.

And whether you are from Nemesis or White Fury or Black Dragon or Brotherhood, to the extent that you are pursuing improved technique and improved techniques of teaching techniques, you are following the path.

The techniques of Zen Do Kai have changed in focus radically. Recall in the Goju Rebels days, leg kicks were not permitted, blocks were traditional and blood flowed freely. Many changes were made to bring Zen Do Kai to where it was when I started training in the early 1990s.

Bushikai’s grading syllabus, while published online in only basic form, is more extensive and transparent than what is available from Zen Do Kai. Furthermore, they have the most recently published kata video.

It was the diversity that made Zen Do Kai strong. It was that same diversity that made it difficult to control.

Indeed, a well known Bushikai Master has been known to say that ZDK/ABK is really just Goju… it’s just that most people don’t realise it.

In my opinion, Bushikai is both the latest manifestation of Zen Do Kai, and an entirely new concept just as Zen Do Kai was to Goju in the 1960s.

Post-grading review session

Published on 31 May, 2005 in Karate. 0 Comments

This morning, we shared an interesting session, and I am grateful for having had the opportunity to share the time with you. We talked of many things:

  • Reviewing the grading; comparing our techniques and strategies with others. We must always remember to focus on our own skills, our own development and our own progress; while comparing ourselves to others provides some sort of benchmark, we must remember that everybody has their own lessons to learn through training, and that the best student is the one who makes the best of themselves, rather than he or she who is strongest or fastest.
  • Deadweight and dropping your bodyweight, to boost your striking power, to break your opponent’s balance and to regain your own.
  • The power of presence: Taking your space and commanding authority.
  • What does a grading mean? What does a Bushido cross mean?
  • Techniques: Hooks… uppercuts… taking the centre with a changeover mae geri (front kick)… prop front kicks…
  • What are we doing? Where are we going? What is the future of the martial arts, especially the freestyle martial arts, in Queensland, and how can they serve our training purposes?
  • Paul’s black belt grading…

I will be looking to do some video recording over the next few weeks to clarify and expand upon some of our ideas and training techniques… let me know what you would like to know.

What is your outcome?

Published on 24 May, 2005 in Creativity and genius and Self-awareness. 0 Comments

Do great minds have extra degrees or, instead, are they voracious learners about all topics, revelling in the underlying patterns… Take a sabatical to reconnect with what you really love.
Would you rather have an entry in the Who’s Who, or win a Nobel Prize, or change the world anonymously?
Different endpoints require different trajectories and different preparations…
How can you fund your experience?
Eminence requires you to go beyond what is required for excellence by finding a new way to look at what was there.
… Study another field (related or unrelated), Honours? Travel, privately read, listen and think?
What are you passionate about?

Thanks for the school reunion… I can hardly believe it’s been 10 years!

Published on 22 May, 2005 in Cool friends and ideas. 0 Comments

A few of the business cards that I walked away with included Carl Harris, Dawn Tran, Greg Bland, Dan Cronan, Angie Draper, James Kennedy, and my old mate from primary school (!!!) Wes Austin… amazing stuff that 10 years can bring!

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