Copyright
© Copyright 2006-2010 blackbeltmama dot com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Black Belt Karate
Chris Thompson attempts to tackle a tough question – "what does one do after black belt?" The two most frequent times for karateka to quit are early on (inside the first year), and right after they get their black belt. What’s missing from schools these days? Why is black belt seen as the end of the road?
Chris Thompson is an 8th degree black belt in the Wado-Ryu system. He is also the Chairman of the British Traditional Karate Association. I’m not entirely sure who he trained under, as his lineage is not readily available. Nevertheless, Thompson Sensei displays a great deal of knowledge regarding modern karate throughout this book.
I’d like to start off by saying that this book was a pleasure to read. Not at all heavy handed, as you might suspect. Thompson Sensei could have easily fallen into the trap of looking down upon readers who haven’t pursued the martial arts properly, but he opts to keep things light and informative.
Here is a peek at the kind of content you’ll receive:
1. Introduction to Karate – history, styles, basics…the standard affair.
2. Fundamentals – etiquette, stretching, waza, makiwara, kata, and drills.
3. Competition – rules, regulations, titles, guidelines.
4. Reference – how to tie your belt, term glossary, other odds and ends.
Each section is presented in very digestible chunks, and could easily be referred back to should a student need a quick reference guide for the topics involved.
I think my favorite part of the book is the sample self defense techniques that are shown. Rather than just showing a frame by frame example of kata, Thompson shows how certain techniques can be utilized in a self defense fashion. These insights are valuable for beginner and black belt alike.
Here is a pet peeve of mine though. Check out this picture from the book:
I have no personal problem with anyone in the picture and I am sure they are all skilled martial artists. But here is the thing – Thompson’s assistants probably have about 10-15 years experience. 20 at the most. Why do their belts have 40 years worth of wear and tear on them? Their belts are even more worn out than their instructors! One of two things could have happened here:
1. They bought a brand of black belt that intentionally skimps on the stitching, therefore making it easier to show wear.
2. They placed these belts in a giant rock tumbler.
Again, I have no problem with these practitioners. But what they have done is committed a faux pas against the concept of sabi. Sabi is an appreciation for that which is old. Objects in our everyday lives exude sabi when they have developed a unique character all their own do to use and age.
Black belts are one of the best examples of the natural growth of sabi. As a belt becomes worn from practice, it becomes more beautiful and valuable in the eyes of traditional martial artists. Having a belt that shows premature sabi sticks out as badly as a tiny man wearing a very oversized coat. Something just isn’t right.
But let’s place my grouchiness aside! The pictures themselves are very well made and serve to illuminate the techniques involved. Thompson found a good balance of using pictures to enhance the content without overpowering it.
my one true concern about this book is its main concept – helping students progress past black belt into the fog beyond. The topics covered in these chapters are all very valuable, but still basic. Technique combinations…tournament rules…historical snippets…these are things that students should be working on UP to black belt. Beyond that, there should be a discussion of mind and spirit alongside physical movements.
Furthermore, there isn’t mention of truly important concepts like distancing, timing, zanshin, and all that other good stuff which separates one black belt from another. Sure, it shows maturity if you know how to behave at a tournament, but in my mind, it doesn’t reach for the high heights that martial arts mastery should shoot for.
Ultimately, I think this book is very useful…but falls far short of its implied goal. Perhaps if this were listed as a guide for intermediates rather than advanced students, I would be on board. But since it seems to get caught in base-level land, I would recommend other books for practitioners really looking to dive deeply into karate.
Ikigai108 gives Chris Thompson’s Black Belt Karate…
If you’d like to purchase a copy, click here.
Fuji Force Camo Uniform
. . .
Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes
I recently had the opportunity to try out an intriguing new piece of sparring technology, the Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes. One quick glance and you’ll notice that these shoes are taking kicking in a whole different direction.
I think we are all pretty accustomed to the standard fair for footgear. The dipped foam with a strip of plastic or two on the bottom and a long elastic strap to keep things together. I don’t have any particular problem with that style – it’s safe, affordable, and easy to replace. The Ringstar shoes made me reconsider the status quo, though.
The first thing that struck me about the SuperMaxx is how similar they are to real shoes. All the normal design characteristics of a shoe (tongue, sole, laces, etc.) are present. The only thing that really stood out design-wise was the insulated lip covering the laces (presumably to stop your sparring partner from getting whipped in the face by them).
After first impressions were over, I started to inspect them a little deeper. I was very impressed by the overall quality. It doesn’t seem as if any corners were cut here. The sole is well crafted and the seams look well stitched. I really liked the thick padding I encountered when I squeezed the tongue and started probing around a little on the inside. I was looking forward to trying these suckers on (and I really hoped they fit right).
I normally wear a size 11 in adidas, so I figured what the heck – might as well go with 11. I was pleasantly surprised when they fit pretty much perfectly. Shoe sizes can be an unpredictable beast, especially with brands you are unfamiliar with. Luckily, all went well here. The padding on the inside was a funny sensation at first because it seems like you are putting on a normal pair of shoes, but you are greeted by billowy foam. Quite comfortable actually. If it weren’t for the big lace strap, I think you could probably get away with wearing these in public, and doing so in comfort and style.
Speaking of style, I was also pleased with the overall appearance. Pretty sleak design. I went with a black shoe + white lettering, but there are other varieties you can check out here.
I did have one serious concern before going into actual sparring with these on – they seemed very firm and unforgiving. The padding on the inside was nice, but the outside seemed quite stiff. Furthermore, the sole seemed similar to a normal shoe. I was worried that hitting with the instep, ball, and heel of the foot would all result in partner-abuse.
When it came time to do a little sparring, I was excited to get rolling. It was a different feel being on the dojo floor with any kind of "shoe" on. One benefit I noticed right away was that this felt a lot like being "on the street." When we spar normally we don’t have any shoes on, but it’s actually rare for people (men especially) to be without sneaker-style shoes. In the constant pursuit of realistic training, these fit the bill. I was also pleased with the rotation I was able to get on my pivot foot. The sole allowed for easy spinning and sliding and was not overly grippy.
Unfortunately, some of my concerns about contact were validated. When I struck my partners in the padding they noticed a significant difference between the SuperMaxx shoes and regular shoes, the impact being harsher with the SuperMaxx. Also, when I came into contact with their skin, it was indeed abrasive and a bit unpleasant. Since the goal of sparring gear is to allow solid shots without injury, the firm, shoe-like qualities of the SuperMaxx were a bit of a hindrance.
That being said, the SuperMaxx are approved by a wide variety of tournament circuits, and I can definitely see the benefit of wearing them to one of those events. Have you ever walked around on a gym floor all day in your bare feet? It gets rough and stiffens up the body. If I attend more tournaments in the future, I will take the SuperMaxx with me without question.
Overall, I think the Ringstar SuperMaxx All-Purpose Sparring Shoes are great in a lot of situations, but not all. Therefore, Ikigai108 gives them…
American Samurai
This movie was bought for me as a gift. I really appreciated the sentiment – the gift giver knew I liked Samurai and Period-Piece movies, and this one had "Samurai" written right in the title.
I appreciated the thought…but that’s essentially where the good feelings end.
This movie is pretty terrible…but you probably guessed that with a name like "American Samurai," right? Created in 1992, American Samurai arrived on the heels of a large ninja craze. But when ninjas were being phased out after their 80s boom, there was a need for other crappy martial arts inspired movies. Hence American Samurai.
To fill you in quickly on the plot – two half brothers are raised by a kenjutsu (sword) master. Their family sword gets stolen and this causes a rift in the family, forcing the brothers to go separate ways. Eventually they meet back up in an underground turkish fighting ring. Combat ensues tournament style.
Flashback a few years to 1988 when Bloodsport hit the scenes. Initially it had a lukewarm reception, but has grown into a cult classic. I personally love that movie, even with all of its bad acting and thin plot. Bloodsport is one of those rare movies that is bad…yet so good. American Samurai seemed to notice this unusual achievement and thought "hey, we can do that! Let’s throw some swords into it and we’ve struck gold!"
I suppose we have to give them a little credit for trying, but they fell short of the mark. The acting is unpleasant and the story is like a thinner version of Bloodsport. It feels like they gathered up as many martial art cliches (the outsider prodigy, the feuding brothers, the underground tournament…etc etc) and mixed them all up into script soup.
I did try to keep an open mind and recognize the movie for its decent qualities. The actual combat is choreographed well. I was expecting some pretty rough stuff, but was pleasantly surprised. You get to see a variety of weapons spun around, which is always fun.
Overall, I would say pass on this movie. There are many intolerable martial arts movies out there and this one does a good enough job with the action to stay out of the dregs. But between the completely unoriginal plot, the not-so-awesome acting, and the overall insulting nature to historical Samurai and Budo…
Ikigai108 gives this movie –
Japan’s War – In Colour
Japan’s War – In Colour is a documentary created in 2005, narrated by Brian Cox. This video offers a realistic glimpse into the mind and spirit of the Japanese people approaching, during, and after World War II.
WWII is an extraordinarily gruesome yet fascinating time in human history. Each culture involved had such a passionate determination to fight and iron will to succeed. A video such as this one, which offers insight into the Japanese side of things, could only be possible now, after time has healed certain global wounds. Even still, this is a subject that must be handled with the utmost care and balance.
The first thing that stood out to me about this documentary is the rare footage the creator’s obtained. Throughout the 90+ minute run time, astounding and uncensored footage of battles can be witnessed. Pearl Harbor, Midway, Okinawa, Hiroshima, etc. are all represented by short bits of film gathered meticulously by the film crew; and, as the title indicates, everything is in color.
A lot of the footage shown in Japan’s War has never before been aired, and some of it was thought not to exist. Since no color footage of Japan prior to 1945 had been seen, the short snippets from these battlefield cameras is a rare thing indeed.
One important note about this film is that it is not for the weak of heart. There is no censorship when it comes to shootings, bombings, or injuries. The view of WWII presented here is untampered…which brings me to my next important point – the presentation of political and philosophical beliefs is very well handled. This is a film that could have easily swayed toward showing Japan as a hapless victim of western tyranny, or on the other hand, pandered itself out as pro-American propaganda. Japan’s War manages to escape both of these traps and offers frank discussion of the Emperor’s ambitions, the militaristic nature of Japan, and the role American troops played as they entered the war.
One of my favorite things about this documentary, besides the footage, is the insight into the Japanese psyche presented by way of journals. Diaries and thoughts from Japanese soldiers, sergeants, and civilians are read throughout the film and give us a chance to put our finger on the pulse of Japan as the war was occurring.
If you are a person who studies martial arts and history seriously, especially that of the Japanese Islands, this documentary is certainly worth your consideration.
Ikigai108 gives Japan’s War – In Colour…
Getting Rave Reviews
BlogHer Review
Go Shopping
Macho Warrior Sparring Gear Set
$69.99And see the rest of our Sparring Gear
at MartialArtsSupplies.com
Martial Arts Pagoda
