Yahara Sensei's 8th Dan Test

[44Copperhead]

@payforitandhaveit How do you know he broke his nose?? It's a martial art, not a game of bridge.

[payforitandhaveit]

What an achievement... breaking the ribs of 3 poor fellas who strike and then wait for the counterattack. Or, like at 3:18, breaking the nose of uke for demo purposes. Is that what 8th dan stands for? scotty is right on the spot. And what to say about how at 1:30 he manages to sweep himself and get up on the wrong side pretending he's ready for everything? or the fact that his 8th dan examination is before an audience who applauds? what does it say about his ego? Just questions...

[juntsukiki]

Je trouve lamentable pour un homme de cette renommée d'utiliser un partenaire de démonstration comme un vulgaire sac de frappe et avoir aucun respect pour son intégrité physique. Le déclin de l'homme est souvent dur a vivre. Je pense qu'il a très mal apprécié de se retrouvé les fesses par terre sur le premier assaut d'ou la correction qui s'en suit.

L A M E N T A B L E

[18spk]

why is necesary to hurt the partner?

[aleenet]

un presumido haciendo karate, que no duda en golpear a un compañero que le prestó su cuerpo para que el pueda mostrar su técnica

[sagagossard]

@aleenet Bien dicho! Sólo está demostrando que está acomplejado e inseguro de sí mismo y por eso tiene que lastimar a su compañero.

[BelloBudo007]

Someone answer me this (if you can). Who on that KWF grading panel of admiring Shinhankai members, was about to fail Yahara? I just don't see the point of the entire exercise. I'd prefer he just woke up one day and said "you know what? I feel like I'm an 8th dan".

[TheDogfacedboyuk1]

I think its a pretty lame test for 8th dan to be honest. I love Yahara for his crazy techniques but he showed some disregard for his partners safety on a couple of techniques. Seems a bit odd to do just two kata as well. I would expect an 8th dan test to include ALL advanced kata and demonstrations of EFFECTIVE bunkai from at least two of them. Kumite would be a series of non stop opponents coming at you for a set time. Plus all the theory/thesis written stuff.

[patrickdarcy]

bully

[boiunkown]

you cant say hes missed the point of karate.

Yahara sensei is a legend and the broken ribs showed that 1 strike can deliver that much pain. he still showed spirit and power,

[samos921]

@boiunkown I completely agree. Yahara Sensei follows the principles of ikken hissatsu and he clearly demonstrates that principle in this video and all his training.

[sabonim63]

The sad thing is people will watch this and think they are seeing an 8th dan and then follow him blindly. The kata are recordings of offensive and deffensive techniques against common acts of violence. No common attacker stands 4 feet away and attacks with a straight punch to the mid section. The most common strike from an untrained attacker is a right arcing punch. Resumes dont protect you in a self deffense situation.

[karasublue]

Look up Mikio Yahara's karate resume on the internet. Check out his accomplishments, his history, his kumite on youtube. Do your research, observe, think, and then think again, you complete and utter fuckwits.

[ArtesdeCaballeria]

I'm embarrassed to see this pathetic show wth poor technique and outstanding unnecessary violence

[kriptonian100]

Incredible, an 8th dan at age 59, that is bullsh..he is too young and too inexperienced to be true, not even Gichin Funakoshi, is Yahara better, I doubt it, I have known the nan for about 25 years. I hope he is not hanging this add himself, no I don't think so.

[92gt50]

kwon do dont go by dans

[ShotokanTigress]

Are you quite certain that this is Yahara sensei? I can't see his face properly but I haven't seen his hair so short in any other video. Just trying to make sure.

[karasublue]

@clevelefs Yes, he's the man. Checkout Tsuchiya performing kata sochin.

[KevinTehGreat]

im a 17 year old with a 3rd dan in tkd. im feel awesome :) tkd has helped me so much in my life and i thank a lot to it

[vikzo911]

im 16 yrs old and 10 DAN sry all PWNED

[karasublue]

Yahara's Karate is not pretty to watch, thats because it's real, he maximises body-power to the extreme. He doesn't just move his hips for example, as westerner's do. He uses them. You can't tell whats going on from just a youtube clip. Why don't you martial arts experts get your lazy ass's over to Japan and tell him and the Japanese what they are doing wrong! That's something I'd love to see on youtube!!!

[CLEVELEFS]

@karasublue I agree 100% with you! I see a lot of phoney martial artists and you could call me the "anti-martial artist" martial artist. This guy though is about as real as karate gets! His kumite was considered hard core amongst hard core fighters lol. He has said time and time again that his karate is designed in the manner it in which it was meant to be, "one punch, one kill". He is the number one enemy of the yakuza as a bodyguard for executives so he aint no slouch for real.

[quanfa88]

Good structure, rooting, & power in the kata. However, no fluidity; the techniques were performed singularly & rigidly. He was as stiff as a board. Additionally, the one-step drills were unrealistic & develop robotic (as opposed to flexible & varied) responses.

[samerkhammash]

He messed up the kiai in Heian Shodan...

[olev456]

i wonder if that last hit into the face was really necessary when guy was allready on the ground.

[stfunoobkty]

however i never liked katas :/

[stfunoobkty]

just imagine your foot was under his when he stomps, what a pain :D

[aoshi3000]

too much critics a real martial artist just watch and and learn ( even if we dont like what we are watching ) in silence

bow

[ShotokanBleach]

this isnt yahara shihan, maybe this is his son

[ShotokanBleach]

1. random order of kata (i.e. bassai dai then heian shodan)

2. he is way to young to be going for a hachidan, my sensei is 35 and has been doing karate since she was 6 and she only has a rokudan

3. this must not be TSKF or SKIF or JKA because in those reputable systems he would be no more than a sandan

[olev456]

@ShotokanBleach after black belt its your own choise what kata u do. He isnt too young for 8th dan. I think he got higher then sandan while being in jka...

[mallardgreen]

Mikio Yahara was JKA before it broke apart following Nakayama's death. He was reevered in JKA circles for both his kata performance and kumite. He was the performer for the kata Unsu on the JKA's own video series, from which Nakayama's "Best Karate" book series was taken. It is considered pretty much the standard for JKA kata performance. He was also featured in "Best Karate" books on kumite.

[herrzyklon]

whats the point in this fake fighting shit?

[ShotokanBleach]

@herrzyklon wow you are terribly ignorant

[jalwardo]

He has a clear lack of control.. the head stomp at 1:45 is unnecessary. This is essentially ippon kumite and should be more controlled.

I don't think there's anything wrong with constructive criticism of senior instructors. All karateists are in a constant state of learning and developing that never ends. I hope junior ranks feel free to point out any flaws in my technique. It's very easy to allow old bad habits to creep back into your training.

[mirrie36]

Today I did Dan 1 YAAAAAY SO HAPPY :D :D

[Ronin6575]

Most shotokan organizations stop testing after 5th Dan though. So I don't quite understand this one. Is this person actually Yahara? I believe Yahara has been 8th Dan for quite some time now. I wonder if anyone actually can explain what is going on here.

[SKIFTIGER]

So many  comments which are not required.Yahara Shihan is a MAster taught by one of the greatest Master(Abe Keigo Shihan 9th DAn).Yahara shihan is no longer with JKA ,so he does not have to follow JKA code.He has a very successful organization of his own.I say simply,Respect his MAstery.

[Chocolate14141]

I'm going to train with him next Saturday I'm Luton. And I'm soooooooooo scared x

[chezlesbelges]

He "fractured three of his opponent's ribs with a single strike": ought, this is a hard partner! Hope not doing strikes back, otherwise it is not what I call "control".

[filmfan555]

@thefudokan, yeah seems that youre right, but at the first moment it looked a bit shocking to me, how he treated his opponent. but watching him doin the kata, let me feel much of respect. and besides he's japanese, if he trains karate, he must be good ;D, osu.

[TheFudokan]

you stupid assholes!!!! who are you do judge!!! all of you EXPERTS on youtube, he has cotrol!!! when he hit his opponent, and in that moment he control his kick!!! it must be very realistic!!! he is training martial art for real!!! not you YOUTUBE EXPERTS, you know just sport and karate with competitions!!!!! Learn what a martial art is!!! okinawan karatekas are training like Yahara!!! and Yahara has most of his time spent on okinawa!!! and bcs of that he is doing his karate like okinawan..!!!

[Ronin6575]

These guys are a far cry from 8th dan...kind of stiff and very sloppy. Like another comment here I must suggest that no one tests for 8th Dan as this is a rank given not for physical skills but for teaching and contributions to the art.

[NewEnglandBudo]

@Ronin6575 There are people that test for such ranks b/c of their own personal honor system, and there are others that may have a physical impairment and the board recommends the rank and it is accepted in humility..speaking of humility, you should learn some. He is anything but sloppy, he is doing things full speed and the spinning back fist if he struck would certainly take the guy's head off!

[Ronin6575]

@NewEnglandBudo I just watched this again and I am not sure where I was coming from if I used the word sloppy. I must have been under the influence or delirious that day. I doubt that this was a test for 8th dan as the caption say's though. Maybe I was commenting on a different video....Duh.

[NewEnglandBudo]

@Ronin6575 Yes, we all have those days! ;-) I think that this is a mere excerpt of his examination.

[IEKUKATAKA]

I have doubts that this is a test. I have no knowledge that a hachidan is even tested. I am a past student of Nishiyama, when he was made kyudan he was called. The JKA testing manual goes to godan only. For godan the requirements are: One kata and a ten minute presentation fo a research paper.

[ratchadapalazzo]

the spinning backfist was bad. footwork simply off. he should have kept it simple and direct minus the showmanship.

[Vein76]

I feel sorry for his partner in the kumite.

[filmfan555]

oh sorry i didnt read the other comments, sum of my questions are already answered ^^

[filmfan555]

he looks very respectful and so on but...i dont understand...all things that i train - control. correctness of hands, feet, stance bla bla....he does not realize anyway oO. why he opens his hands when making an oi tsuki? or shuto uke? thse are mistakes of a 9th kyu, i mean sry but maybe this can happen but it looks so uncontrolled. and the second point is - why he hits his partner so hard?? with his feet on his head and such things what the hell??

[TheFudokan]

@filmfan555 You think he has no control!!!! he has, but he must kick his opponent just it look like real...but he controled his kicks just when he hit his opponent!! sorry for my bad english.....I hope u understand what was I talking about... OSU!

[UnbridledF00L]

Yahara has come to like the backfist with no pullback. More like tetsui - but he strikes with the back of a closed fist, and combines it with a strong twist of the body with his legs not moving. If you are unlucky he comes back the other way and repeats it. Winds up and the bang - hit is very hard. watched him knock over and hurt some big people with that. Trained with him and saw he was very much for real.

[grichie87]

Dont think this is his best work, kiai in the wrong place in heian shodan, fell over in one step, looks like he is trying to hard. But still one on the JKA's best. Easy to sit and be a keyboard warrior, respect at 69 years. Should be done in private.

[ratchadapalazzo]

@LochlanachViking maybe that's why not many are left. hehe

[dcracing1]

Pretty sweet and crisp.. I'm not sure why he keeps unclenching his fists during the kata part. Nervous energy?

[ClydeRowing]

@dcracing1 When I trained I noticed some of the higher grades doing that - their idea was that loose fists let the arm relax (ie move quickly), with the fist only clenched at the last moment when the strike lands. However without that level of experience, doing that will probably mean ending up hitting with an unformed fist = injury!

[dcracing1]

@ClydeRowing No, I totally get the loose fist intention, but I just never saw it done during a Kata. Maybe they let it go because it was a demonstration and it was a 8th dan or something.

[ClydeRowing]

@dcracing1 Fair enough, thinking back I can't remember that during a kata. Although some might say kata should be as close to fighting as possible....? Anyway, I am not exactly going to argue technique with someone who currently trains (ie you) or an 8th dan with half a century experience! I doubt I could even do Kihon Kata nowadays!

[dcracing1]

@LochlanachViking As with any boxer, karate, muay thai and/or other martial arts, it truly depends on the person and the situation/art. You can find a "Bruce Lee" in any art or style with unbelievable power and style...

[GERASIMOS1]

everyone here talks shit karate is a way dont compare systems cause if you are talking about boxing punches of cource they are stronger but karate has legs and open hand techniks you ''infront ofthe pc ecpxerts''  karate has open hand techniks tell a boxer to avoid a finger in the eye you shit heads boxing karate kung fu all are ways you just choose and walk

[Mr23748]

Does anyone knowwho he was testing in front of? Who was aministrating the the exam?

[Yamtendo]

1:38 He moves impossibly fast. If you blinked you'd miss those spinning backfists. 8|

[tommotomt]

@LochlanachViking if this was true they would all be dead my friend!

[scottyronaldo]

He should have been demoted to a green belt and told to get a grip of himself. That's nothing short of shocking. On the KWF website they're actually boasting about cracking the other guys ribs. Why are they boasting about breaking someone who isn't even defending themselves ribs. The bloke has totally missed the point of Karate!

[payforitandhaveit]

@scottyronaldo HAHA YOU'RE RIGHT ! AND GREAT AUTO SWEEP AT 1:30 !

[mmacritics]

One of the best katas i have seen. But i do agree with several others, there seems to be a bit lack of control, not of technique but of temperament.

//mmacritic

[putty2812]

@mmacritics i think it was a bit more of a lack of self control with his partner, he seemed to be hitting him because he was getting angry and for that reason i would have failed him if i were taking his grading

[mmacritics]

@putty2812 Wans't that what i just said? :)

//mmacritic

[ratchadapalazzo]

his spinning urakens are getting too predictable. he also has a control issue. sorry no offence but just an observer from an outsider.

[aiko4321]

Where this test was taken place and who were the examiners? I have a huge respect to Yahara Sensei. But, in this video, he seems bit lack of control. But, of course he is one of the greatest karateka ever produced by the Shotokan. Respect..

[4c00h]

Why do the attackers only do one attack then stay there waiting to get hit? When do we get to see him fight someone that's actually attacking him?

[unag]

@4c00h There are plenty of videos of Yahara in JKA and International competition where the other side is attacking with full speed and focus. See for example his fights against Mori & Kagawa.

[Gwisss]

The problem I have here is that the "opponent" or second person in this demonstration was limited it seemed to doing purely "Sport Karate" attacks. Honestly, whats with the ridiculous stomach level punch? Then Mikio Yahara responded with a barrage of "chaotic" and "haphazard" techniques which led to him falling on the ground.

Either keep Karate SPORT or don't. Do not do half(sport) and half(practical)... Firstly, because it is simply dishonest to others and secondly it is unfair to the study.

[buri2zaemon]

what the hell? why do we got so many sensei even shihan in this post comment,

[TheUkitake13]

im a 8th dan in taekwondo im sorry if i made u made by saying my rank cuz other people do it so.

[buri2zaemon]

@TheUkitake13

you are 8th dan in Tkd? you ust be 60 YEARS OLD.. oh mann...

with 8th dan you must be a head of TAEKWONDO FEDERATION IN AMERICA OR ELSE WHERE

stop typing boy, start learning, don't be a keyboard fighter

[circacheese]

@buri2zaemon well considering the easyness they give dans with in TKD it could be. At my dojan (dojo) ther was was a 3rd dan TKD teacher; when my master got his 3rd dan in soo bak the TKD guy was a yellow belt.. now my master is still studying for the 4th while the other has reached his 3rd degree already. And it's not because he learns fast, the difference in ability is extremely evident. This easy dan rule sadly is not limited to TKD federations.

[buri2zaemon]

@circacheese

yes, it can be happened in some organization

[sinaquanon]

why is he considered controversial?

[genious4real]

@sinaquanon the great yahara is considered to be controversial because he belives karate techniques are to destroy your opponent. Certainly yahara has competed in tournaments that had to have control, but he thinks, as I do that sport karate misses the essence of the art.

[karatefella]

Not very impressed.

He looks very scuffy in his technique.

This looks more like a Shodan or Nidan grading.

[shikeyboy]

@karatefella You don't understand Karate by the sound of it. This is his interpretation of the Kata's, it is well known that he aproaches every move with the intention of a knock out effect, and not for showoff style or absolute precition, to the original kata. He has adapted it through years of training, to what works for him, but keeping as close to the original moves as possible.

[karatefella]

@shikeyboy

I don't understand Karate ?

I have been training in Shotokan Karate since October 1980.

That's almost thirty years.

My grade is 4th Dan.

How about you ?

I know about Yahara Sensei's Ichigekki Hisatsu

[shikeyboy]

@karatefella You don't understand Karate by the sound of it. This is his interpretation of the Kata's, it is well known that he aproaches every move with the intention of a knock out effect, and not for showoff style or absolute precition, to the original kata. He has adapted it through years of training, to what works for him, but keeping as close to the original moves as possible.

[shikeyboy]

@karatefella You don't understand Karate by the sound of it. This is his interpretation of the Kata's, it is well known that he aproaches every move with the intention of a knock out effect, and not for showoff style or absolute precition, to the original kata. He has adapted it through years of training, to what works for him, but keeping as close to the original moves as possible.

[shikeyboy]

@karatefella You don't understand Karate by the sound of it. This is his interpretation of the Kata's, it is well known that he aproaches every move with the intention of a knock out effect, and not for showoff style or absolute precition, to the original kata. He has adapted it through years of training, to what works for him, but keeping as close to the original moves as possible.

[genious4real]

@shikeyboy I do not often see comments from people who know what they are talking about (the reason why I will soon be putting videos on the tube), but you do! My instructor once said my kata is much like I am fighting but I would be appreciated

by the old times because of the passion I bring to them. I like Elwyn Hall and Yahara see kata as a means to an end which is hard, sharp, stunning fighting. great comment my freind.

[deadguy29]

His power and speed are very impressive for a 59 years old guy, but he's putting too much stress in his shoulders and arms and his balance is sometimes off. Also, he was trying to take the head off from his opponent in the kumite, if it is a 8th dan test you'd think control would be a big part of the grading...

[gabdragon]

@deadguy29

Well said fella

[Brentfsj]

I am only a green belt, but I wonder if he was extremely nervous, he was off balance an embarrasing amount. Im sure he is better normally, did he pass this test?

[fischerrrrrr]

Of course he passed. Yahara Sensei is the most dangerous karateka that the JKA Honbu ever produced

[igorzankuro]

what sun dome?

[igorzankuro]

very bad.. he is drunk?

[kishorekumarbairi]

@tiborzkarate

why do you think so?

[howardthecpa]

Why are parts of the kata removed from the video?  Is it because his back will be facing the camera?