Breathing Life into Karate Kata Practice

“Kata is born from sparring, and sparring arises from combat…” These words belong to Masayoshi Tokuguchi, the grandmaster of Okinawan Gouju-ryu Karate.

To understand the offensive and defensive aspects of kata through relative practice and to develop foundational skills for practical combat techniques, Tokuguchi devised the “Eight Decomposed Kumite Techniques.”

These invaluable training methods, further refined by Tokuguchi’s senior disciple, Kyo Kura, are meticulously explained across two volumes by Tetsuji Sato of Gouryukan.

Volume 1: Fundamentals

In this DVD, the foundational aspects are covered through the explanation of four decomposed kumite techniques alongside their practical applications.

Contents:

Introduction to Decomposed Kumite

• Crushing Method 1
  • Demonstration of Kata
  • Demonstration of Decomposed Kumite
  • Key Points of Decomposed Kumite
    • Defending and attacking across upper, middle, and lower levels (training as a three-stage exchange, reading opponent’s breathing)
    • Handling of the rear foot
    • Lower-level defense with the rear hand (entangling the kicking foot)
    • Timing of spirited effort
    • Alternating the application of techniques
  • Solo Demonstration – Offense
  • Solo Demonstration – Defense
  • Key Points of Solo Demonstration
    • Consideration of striking position
    • Adjustments to the line of demonstration
  • Development towards Practical Application
    • Substitution of body maneuvers
    • Reversal of the kicking foot
    • Double-handed thrust
• Crushing Method 2
  • Demonstration of Kata
  • Demonstration of Decomposed Kumite
  • Key Points of Decomposed Kumite
    • Differences between clenched fist and open hand
    • Twisting reception
  • Solo Demonstration – Offense
  • Solo Demonstration – Defense
  • Key Points of Solo Demonstration (completion with the right foot forward)
  • Development towards Practical Application
    • Body maneuvering for middle-level reception
    • Hand-edge strike from a harvesting foot
    • Twisting reception
• Cipher – Original Version
  • Demonstration of Kata
  • Demonstration of Decomposed Kumite
  • Key Points of Decomposed Kumite
    • Diagonal foot maneuvering
    • Sensing movement
  • Solo Demonstration – Offense
  • Solo Demonstration – Defense
  • Key Points of Solo Demonstration
    • Learning the power of a grip (Tuidi)
    • Complex foot maneuvering
  • Development towards Practical Application
    • Basics of grip 1 (grabbing the wrist from the outside 1)
    • Basics of grip 2 (grabbing the wrist from the outside 2)
    • Basics of grip 3 (grabbing the wrist from the inside 1)
    • Basics of grip 4 (grabbing the wrist from the inside 2)
• Cipher – Grip Version
  • Demonstration of Decomposed Kumite
  • Key Points of Decomposed Kumite
    • Gradual dismantling
    • Complex grip 1
    • Complex grip 2
  • Solo Demonstration – Offense
  • Solo Demonstration – Defense
  • Key Points of Solo Demonstration
    • Stylization of movement
    • Interpretation of fist hammer strikes
  • Development towards Practical Application
    • Finger grip techniques
    • Practical methods of scooping reception
    • Double-handed flat punch

Instructor & Supervisor: Tetsuji Sato
Born in 1971. Shizuoka Prefecture Branch Chief of the Okinawan Karate-do Kenpo Kai. Gouryukan Dojo Director. Instructor of Gouju-ryu Kenpo. After studying mainland karate, he trained under Kyo Kura and Takahiro Shinjo, masters of the ancient Gouju-ryu Kenpo of Okinawa. Author of books such as “The Mystery of Karate” and “Super Close Combat Techniques of Okinawan Karate,” and DVDs like “Training Methods to Utilize Kata” and “Solving with Gouju-ryu! Shurite and Hakutei’s Naihanchi”.

Language: Japanese

Run Time: 53 min.

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