Akihito Isaka - Meikyo - www.theshotokanway.com

[TheKaratekagk]

o.m.G.!!! WHAT IS THIS?))

[brinnonvallere]

please please please post more of this guy...i want to see his katas in action and maybe some kumite please please please!!!!

[maroyaka90]

Hard to watch.

[dbearTO]

This is not to be taken as a standard training and practice of Meikyo. And if anyone thinks that this is what Isaka Sensei does for his actual performance of Meikyo is ignorant. This is supplementary training to generate power, balance and kime. Standard speed of shotokan kata do not allow to for generating these elements beyond a superficial level. This is what you do when you want to perfect your kata

[sczapek]

Es war einmal ein Hase mit einer roten Nase und einem blauen Ohr. Das kommt ganz selten vor. Die Tiere wunderten sich sehr: Wo kam denn dieser Hase her? Er hat im Gras gesessen und still den Klee gefressen. Und als der Fuchs vorbeigerannt, hat er den Hasen nicht anerkannt. Da freute sich der Hase. "Wie schön ist meine Nase und auch mein blaues Ohr, das kommt so selten vor."

[TheSamayael]

dude this guy ! is constipated, common ! i know never judge a master but common this is ridiculous . im a shotokan practitionner and this i cant belive hes 7 dan .

[bhopperj]

I think it's safe to say this is like Shojiro Sugiyama's KI training. An addon they find helpful, not the whole deal.

Deadguy29, youtube doesn't allow me to post a direct link, but search for "isaka kanku" on youtube to see him years ago doing regular forms.

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

To those who comment that this is "resembles Tai Chi"....it really doesn't. If you slow up your martial art's movement, it doesn't make it Tai Chi. I certainly respect this Sensei and see where he is trying to go with this. These kata follow the sequence of the "original" kata that they are named after, but clearly the "flavor" of the particular form is completely different, with great emphasis put on certain aspects, control, balance, leg and core strength, to name a few...very interesting.

[takeDshot]

its not the movements but the principle of internalization that resembles tai chi. If you watch his center closely he is using the exact same method of internal breathing. This was one of the intentions of the demonstration among many.

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

Agreed!...I was just addressing the idea that some have, that just because a martial art may be practiced slowly, it "is like" Tai Chi. "Slowness" is only one of many, many facets of what makes TC, TC and not Long Fist or Judo. As to Sensei Akihito, I only have admiration and great respect for his ability and his clear love of sharing his art.

[takeDshot]

I just got your reply , I appreciate the insight you bring to the "comments" section[xui xui sifu!] [check spelling]

I look forward to viewing your channel

also!

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

Thank you for your kind words. Do you practice Tai Chi as well? Or are you a Karateka? What draws you to Sensei Akihito's practice?

All the best!

[takeDshot]

both actually, but I'm working on becoming a practitioner and teacher of mainly, shotokan. I was drawn to Sensei Akihito's practice because he happen to apply and make visably real what I theoreticized to my self about different components of martial training being wrapped up into shotokan. I was looking for other demonstrations of "kanku dai" when I found his videos. My Tai chi practice for some reason ended up being "Yang long \short styles". Any literature I found over the yrs directed this.

[takeDshot]

chineese martial training is my roots, I started in 5 animal shaolin through sifu "stephen nixon" He claims to have been leagued with chuck noris and others names in various styles of martial arts but heck I was a kid then. In my teens I started shotokan with "Sensei Dwight Holley" although He's one of america's voices for shotokan , his humility and work ethic is what I always associate him with. I don't know alot about whos who but I can @ this point discern real practitioners from swindlers.

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

Good for you! I like that you value humility and work ethic over name and fame. I don't recognize any of your Senseis, as I have been away from Shotokan for many years. I wish you the best of luck in your studies and in your teaching. If I can be of any assistance to you on your Tai Chi path, I would be happy to share what I can.

All my best!

[takeDshot]

Thank you, I can use your guidance as a matter of fact and if you certify teachers is it possible after some time and working with you that you could certify me when you see fit?

[syahbp78]

hello friends... Just to give my two cents here. I think the person here using his imaginative mind while performing this kata. I see many pulling and pushing done slowly but with a lot of energy/tension (discovered from his breathing sound). This is one type of training to control the Qi or Chi flow from the centre (below abdomen) to the desired organs or muscle.

Sorry if i'm mistake, i still have lot to learn. Peace :)

[masserby]

I hear you. Peace and good training friend.

[deadguy29]

It amazes me how some people try so hard to justify this kind of nonsense just because this guy is Japanese. This is not a ground-breaking way of practicing kata, this is a huge pile of crap...let's see a video of this pseudo-sensei performing one single kata (hell, it can be Heian shodan) the right way once and for all...oh wait, there are none...how could that be?

[masserby]

I find this pretty strange too. But aren't you dismissing it a little fast? He's got amazing muscular and breath control, and you can see links to Kung Fu (posture); Goju (breathing); and Tai Chi (slowness). Ok it's not traditional shotokan, but surely the meaning of his way of moving is worth exploring? You can also see from the jump his "normal" karate is good, and his record in that is pretty unimpeachable.

[deadguy29]

I'm sorry if I sound too radical and disrespectful...I just found out that this is the same guy that performed Kanku Dai in the JKA videos and my own sensei told me that he was very good...but what I'm seein now has nothing to do with proper training. For some reason some old senseis (and this I've seen many, many times) once they are past certain age they come up with weird stuff like this instead of concentrating in what really matters: basic, hard training.

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

Respectfully...What I believe happens when "Senseis get old and come up with weird stuff" is that they expand into other, non-traditional realms of training and thinking, they experiment. To traditionalists (and I am certainly not being disrespectful here), it may seem weird, but I believe that this was probably what was first thought of most styles, or training methods, when they first evolved out of their original arts. I believe that this is very healthy, both for the Sensei and for the arts.

[deadguy29]

I understand the need to adjust your training as you grow older, it's only natural to do so...the problem is when you start teaching young people to train like that. Proper technique and body mechanics are neccessary to deliver strong punches and kicks, and I have yet to see one single video of Isaka perfoming a regular, simple technique without adding this weird movements.

[JinJiaTaiChiChuan]

Excellent points! I don't know enough about Sensei Akihito to speak to his philosophy of training less experienced Karateka. I only have seen the videos on YouTube, the majority of these are clearly BB level training classes and special seminars. I agree that one should definitely be well grounded in any system or style before working with some of the concepts and methods that Sensei is displaying here. Couldn't agree more with your comment re: proper body mechanics and structure.

All the best!

[takeDshot]

if a person develops proper internalization and breathing, the following moves will be most efective and the process of forming technique becomes much easier. unfortunately alot of practitioners fail to realize this factor until they get older in years and training. Teachering the young to train in this internal matter is actually a gift.Keep in mind , Senseis who have this knowledge are very aware to give proper practical application to the young as well.

[takeDshot]

I don't think that Sensei Akihito is posting these himself but someone who admires his demonstrations.When we are young and knowlegdable about our craft we become very critical but keep in mind the display of technique in these videos were to show one how to use the elements learned from shotokan to train internally and excercise your core containing Qi,Ki, or chi. look up the discoveries made in shotokan on the web about expanding and ccontracting ki over the years.

[takeDshot]

in all of the martial arts as the masters advance in years they begin to realize that practicing proper internalization is the key to retaining youth and perfecting their art. When we are young like me and you are at this point we see the importance of strong technique and proper form but the truth my friend is the excitement and vigor from external practice that builds our muscles and response impulses is the same process that destroys our muscles and posture over a period of years.

[takeDshot]

picture what it would add to your training buy having the same effectiveness while exhorting half the effort. This is only a glimpse of what internal traing can do for you. Also the train Sensei Akihito is demonstrating rebuilds the muscles and posture that was damage through the earlier more vigorous training in youth.

[takeDshot]

oops! i meant training both times [lol]

[aiko4321]

hunchback of notre dame

[goraisan]

Hahaha!! I tought the same!! Lollll

[karatefella]

Why is Sensei performing Meikyo in this way ??

Very strange

[deek77]

My guess is he's doing it this way for strengthening/isometric purposes. Notice the exaggerated stances and tensed movements and deep breathing. Looks like he has his abs tensed through the whole kata, which explains why his back is not straight. Much like Sanchin kata in Okinawan styles. The form itself takes about 40 seconds if you do it moderate speed, but Sanchin done with intensity and deep breathing can last up to 2 min. Meikyo can be done in like 1 min, but Isaka Sensei takes 7 min.

[royksk]

Garbage