Épisodes

  • Ikken Hissatsu: How a Swordsman's Doctrine Influenced Karate's Kihon and Kata

    Ikken Hissatsu: How a Swordsman's Doctrine Influenced Karate's Kihon and Kata
    Nov 25 2025
    🥋 Can a single punch truly end a fight? We're diving deep into the powerful and pervasive concept of One Hit, One Kill, or Ikken Hissatsu. This doctrine had a huge influence on modern karate's development, but where did it come from?Most likely source: the fierce Japanese swordsmanship school, Jigen-ryu, whose philosophy is to kill with a single, decisive stroke. We trace how this singular focus shaped modern kihon , competition scoring , and the methods of pioneers like Gichin Funakoshi.We debate the value of Ikken Hissatsu as a principle of total commitment versus its misapplication to the continuous, positioning-focused methods of the antique kata.Tune in to learn where Ikken Hissatsu belongs in your training - and where it doesn't.
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    38 min
  • The Great Sparring Myth: Why Kata and Kumite Don't Mix

    The Great Sparring Myth: Why Kata and Kumite Don't Mix
    Nov 14 2025
    Is sparring the key to unlocking your karate, or the very thing that ruins it? 🥋💥On this episode of "Great Karate Myths," we challenge one of the biggest assumptions in modern training: the idea that free sparring is the ultimate test of classical kata. We argue that not only are they incompatible, but the obsession with sparring has "ruined" the original function of these antique forms.We explore:
    • Why you fundamentally can't "spar" with antique weapons like the Bo or Sai.
    • How modern attempts to spar with weapons become a limited, point-based sport (like Kendo), completely disconnected from the weapon's real function.
    • The core conflict: Antique forms are often built on preemption ("go first, go fast") , while sparring is an exchange. Once you're exchanging blows, you've already lost the original intent.
    • The immense frustration practitioners felt trying to force kata techniques into a "rough and tumble" sparring match.
    • What "Kumite" (meeting hands) really means, and how it got misunderstood and conflated with the modern Western idea of sparring.
    We make the case that sparring isn't bad—it's just a completely different art from classical kata. One is an athletic pursuit for the young; the other is a classical practice for a lifetime.
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    43 min
  • Jutsu vs. Do: The Modern Myth of 'True' Karate

    Jutsu vs. Do: The Modern Myth of 'True' Karate
    Oct 29 2025
    Was the creation of Karate-do a necessary evolution or a politically motivated rebranding? 🤔 This week on Great Karate Myths, we unravel the historical truth behind the dichotomy of Jutsu (technique/skill) and Do (way/path).We look at Gichin Funakoshi's ambition to transform Okinawan karate into a Japanese budo , following the lead of Kano Jigoro's Judo. Learn how the end of the samurai and the Meiji Restoration fundamentally redefined martial arts, shifting them away from combative skill and toward personal development and nation-building.🚨 Myth Alert! We argue that the idea of a historical "golden age" of deadly Karate-jutsu is a modern invention, largely created to sell the art to the West. We also contrast the physical culture focus of Miyagi Chojun's Goju-ryu with the samurai-influenced "one blow" ethic of Shotokan.Don't miss the final point on why the antique kata are more closely related to Kung Fu and weapons applications than to modern ideas of unarmed combat! 🤯Key Highlights:
    • Funakoshi's political reasons for changing 'China Hand' to 'Empty Hand'
    • Why jutsu and do don't historically apply to the antique kata
    • The late-eighties pressure point fighting craze
    • Funakoshi borrowing from Japanese arts like Jigen-ryu and Jiu-jitsu

    🎧 Tune in and subscribe to our podcast for more myth-busting!
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    44 min
  • Ten No Kata: The Blueprint That Created Modern Karate

    Ten No Kata: The Blueprint That Created Modern Karate
    Oct 15 2025
    In this episode of "Great Karate Myths," we challenge the idea of tradition by diving into Ten No Kata 🥋, a form created by Gichin Funakoshi Sensei between 1925 and 1935. It was a deliberate, non-traditional creation designed to establish a systematic set of basics (kihon) for beginners. We discuss why its very existence suggests that a cohesive set of fundamentals was "woefully absent" from existing kata and how it became the fundamental blueprint for modern karate practice globally—influencing Shotokan's kumite and the basic drills of Taekwondo. We explore how Ten No Kata is a physical representation of the shift from karate jutsu (technique) to karatedo (the way) and why it's argued to be the first "pure empty-hand" form. Funakoshi Sensei’s brilliant, progressive thinking is on full display in this pivotal kata.Relevant Links/Resources
    • Karate-Do Kyohan (Funakoshi Sensei)
    • Karate-Do Nyumon (Funakoshi Sensei)
    • Henning Wittwer’s translation and analysis of Karatedo Nyumon

    Keywords/TagsTen No Kata, Gichin Funakoshi, Karate History, Shotokan, Karatedo, Kihon, Martial Arts Philosophy, First Pure Kata, Karate Jutsu, Sente Nashi
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    1 h et 2 min
  • What’s NOT in the Kata (And Why It Matters)

    What’s NOT in the Kata (And Why It Matters)
    Sep 23 2025
    In this episode of Great Karate Myths, we dive into the aspects of martial arts that are intentionally left out of the traditional kata. We challenge the common misconceptions that kata are a "complete" system of unarmed combat or a choreographed fight against multiple opponents. We discuss why foundational elements like spitting, headbutting, and ground grappling are omitted and explore the idea that kata are meant to be a simple framework for developing spontaneous and creative skills. Using analogies from music and writing, we argue that the purpose of kata is to provide a limited, fundamental skill set that allows for improvisation, rather than a rigid set of pre-determined responses to every situation.Key Takeaways/Highlights
    • Kata are not a "complete" system of unarmed fighting, as such a concept is impossible to define or record.
    • Kata are not choreographed fights against multiple opponents, a major misconception promoted by organizations like the Japan Karate Association in the 20th century.
    • Kata deliberately leave out certain violent techniques and skills, such as spitting, headbutting, eye gouging, and grappling.
    • The movements in kata are intended to be simple, foundational techniques that can be committed to muscle memory, allowing for creativity and improvisation in real-world situations.
    • Skills like closing the distance to an opponent are not included in kata because they must be developed through practical, real-world experience, not a pre-scripted form.
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    40 min
  • Ground Grappling in Karate: The Myth of the Complete Martial Artist

    Ground Grappling in Karate: The Myth of the Complete Martial Artist
    Aug 22 2025
    On this episode of “Great Karate Myths,” we unravel the truth behind classical karate kata. 🥋 We’re asking a controversial question: why is there no ground grappling in the antique forms? 🧐 We'll explore the life-or-death context of policing and weapon defense, and why staying upright was the only option. Discover how the modern idea of a "complete martial artist" is a far cry from the original purpose of these ancient forms. ⚔️ Get ready to challenge everything you thought you knew about martial arts history!
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    40 min
  • Kyusho & Kata: The Art of Not Striking

    Kyusho & Kata: The Art of Not Striking
    Aug 12 2025
    In this episode of Great Karate Myths, we challenge the popular belief that antique kata were designed to map out deadly vital point strikes, also known as kyusho. 🥋 We delve into historical research and explore the evidence suggesting that forms like Naihanchi and Seisan were actually developed to avoid causing serious, permanent damage. 🛡️ Instead, their purpose was likely for civil arrest and policing, focusing on techniques for disarming and incapacitating without lethal intent. 🚨 We also discuss how modern interpretations of kata, influenced by other martial arts traditions, have led to a misunderstanding of their original function. Join us as we uncover a more ethical and restrained side to the ancient practice of karate. 🙏
    Relevant Links/Resources
    • Andreas Quast's Patreon page (for the article "How Karate Adopted Jūjutsu Vital Points Without Knowing it")
    Keywords/TagsKarate, Kyusho, Kata, Martial Arts, Bunkai, History, Debunking Myths, Okinawa, Antique Forms, Vital Points
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    38 min
  • Question Time - July'25 | Unlocking the Real Context and Origins of Karate Kata

    Question Time - July'25 | Unlocking the Real Context and Origins of Karate Kata
    Aug 5 2025
    In this Q&A episode, we tackle the big question: "What is the real context for karate kata?" We explore why these forms are the most credible evidence we have for understanding karate's history, and why relying solely on written historical documents is a dead end. We also delve into the surprising and diverse origins of kata, which may have included roles such as policing, bodyguarding, palace security, and even religious rituals. We discuss why specific versions of kata, particularly those in Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu, are considered the best-preserved and most reliable for research. Finally, we address questions about the timeline of Sanchin and other forms, speculating on their possible Ming dynasty origins.
    Key Takeaways/Highlights
    • Kata as Primary Sources: The kata themselves are the most reliable historical documents for understanding their original function and context, as written records are scarce.
    • Diverse Original Contexts: The purpose of kata was not limited to unarmed self-defense. Their original functions likely included policing, bodyguarding, militia training, theater, and religious rituals.
    • The Problem of Modern Kata: Many modern versions of kata, such as those in Shotokan and Wado-Ryu, have evolved and changed over time, obscuring their original meaning and making them problematic for historical research.
    • Preserved Forms: For accurate research, it is necessary to study the best-preserved versions of kata, which are found in traditional styles like Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu and Uechi-Ryu.

    Relevant Links/Resources
    • Bo: Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan Fighting Traditions
    Keywords/TagsKarate, Kata, Martial Arts History, Okinawa, Shuri, Naha, Goju-Ryu, Shotokan, Matsubayashi Shorin-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, Sanchin, Ming Dynasty, Kung Fu, Bunkai.
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    31 min