TOM HILLS DOJO - GOJU RYU - KUMITE (SPARRING - CONTROLLED FIGHTING)

[senseikayne]

Why does this have so many dislikes? This is functional kumite from some very capable practitioners. It might not have the speed and flash of sport karate, but it's an excellent display nonetheless. Any young punk who tries to mess with one of these guys is going to get beaten down.

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@senseikayne Hi, Wish I knew, these guys have fought all types of styles and systems in the past and are a hard fight - I've tried them all. But thanks for your comments regards tom

[joh331]

An elegant demonstration of Goju free-sparring. Congratulations. Everyone involved were spirited, determined and decisive yet neatly controlled with the impact. Very impressive indeed.

[eddiegonaz]

does this sparring make you street ready?

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@eddiegonaz The only thing that makes you 'street ready' is 'street fighting'. All other practice is just that - practice. Wrestling on the floor and contest fighting of all types have 'reality' issues. I think this is as good as any of the other types. The lads can do what they want while sparring in terms of techniques - just using control. We train security staff, Policemen and Soldiers who have been at the sharp end and feel this is as good as any system. Regards Tom

[eddiegonaz]

@TOMHILLSVISION Thanks a lot for your response. What I admire the most is the CONTROL involved, because many Senseis allow their students to fight freely and most of the times injuries are the result. Congratulationes on training those who promote law and order. Keep it going. Regards.

[muaythaigenius28]

very entertaining to watch.

[nandino77]

@tomhilvision fantastic display of good quality goju kumite. It captures nicely the goju spirit: 'ju' moves delivering a 'go' strike, concept so often misunderstood. Hard doesn't mean strong and soft doesn't mean weak!

My respect to these fantastic 'mature' karatekas. Karate gets better as we get older as you can't rely just on physical endurance and stamina so you need to be better at reading and feeling the 'fight'.

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@nandino77 Hi, Thanks for that intellegent and interesting comment, much appreciated. Regards tom

[giinhhakha]

I love watching this. Great combination of efficient movement and intelligent counter-attacks. Strength and style. As someone returning to martial arts (and new to karate) after a 15 year lay off. It gives me something to aspire to.

[zlowtek]

Awesome display!! I've seen guys half their age who couldn't keep up with these warriors

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@zlowtek Hi thanks for that, people often forget or ignore these guys age. Ralph is in his 50's as is Alan, Shelly is also in his 50's while Stevie is almost 40. From my experience of 35 years running a club they do indeed give guys half thier age a real hard time in the club. Regards tom

[jagz87]

I guess I cant comment too much and I dont want to be disrespectful to a senior grade. But is it me or no take downs? Great to see ya training hard though! :)

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@jagz87 Hi Thanks for your interest, we usually do plenty of takedowns and wrestling on the floor but this is a second dan grading and its not a great idea to get floored for either opponent. regards tom

[shredicon86]

That guy is really good. Some of what I saw looked a little like wing chun, in terms of the blocks and counters. Its not often you see sparring in karate thats potentially on par with Kyokushin.

[zlowtek]

@shredicon86

Goju-Ryu actually does employ a few techniques from Chinese origin. And the Cat Stance used in Goju Ryu is a modified wing chun stance used when we used to practice pok sau in Jun Fan Kung Fu up here in Seattle.

[password644]

they dont move enough and there footwork is all wrong, there gaurd is down half the time. Against a younger opponent they would be routed. just some advice no offense intended

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@password644 They are in thier late 40's but we have a club with age ranges from 20's up. Against a younger opponent they do rather well and few would want to take them on. We have boxers, MMA and Jujitsu practitioners. In 25 years of training Ralph with 100,s of opponents few have bested him at any age with any amount of We drop guard to bring on an attack. No offense taken. Regards tom

[MetalJassim]

@TOMHILLSVISION: Hi Tom, thanks for posting this. Seems that you have an excellent dojo with courageous fighters. Folks, this is everyday people doing a very good demonstration of their skills. Not everybody is Mas Oyama, Gogen Yamaguchi or Gichin Funakoshi, and for a guy being in his late 40s, this is a more than respectable performance, especially after already having enduring 2 hours of examination. OSU! from a Goju-Ryu Shodan from Germany.

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@MetalJassim Hi, A sensible and well thought out comment. As for the Masters you mention few have the scrutiny of utube to face. Perhaps they would appear more human and less of a legend if we had the opportunity to see them spar or even to watch them perform Kata? Interestingly there is a video of Gogen Yamaguchi performing Pechurin (Superenpi) and it looks nothing like modern versions. It would have been interesting to see them spar. Thanks for that OSU! Regards Tom.

[MetalJassim]

@TOMHILLSVISION Actually, what pisses me off (pardon the French! ;-) ) is that when watching a youtube video, everybody suddenly becmoes a sensei and feels the need to post senseless comments. I am 39 now, and of course my Karate is not what it used to be. If I were to take on my 19 year old self, I'd be dead within 10 secs. So what? If in doubt, seek out this dude and take him on when he is still fresh and has a good day. I can't wait to see this video. It's about Do, folks, not being the best!

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@MetalJassim Amen to that!

[FastEddieVersion1]

Our style is based on goju ryu techniques and to me, this is very impressive. Watching this is alot easier than being there and I can relate to how much effort they have put into being there. Thanks for sharing your world with us. Auckland, NZ.

[micirv20]

Great stamina, especially at the end of a 2 hour grading session. Obviously a tough guy too, his exponents weren't taking it easy on him!

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@kyokushin100 I can remember when Kyokushinkai students where taught manners and ettiquette and self control as well as how to fight. Shame you did not pick up on the most important teaching.

[MSAlex23]

@TOMHILLSVISION im sorry, i am a Kyokushinkai karateka and manners and etiquette are there. Some are stupids, there's a lot of stupid people every where, shotokan, kyokushin, goju ryu shito ryu etc. So don't say that Kyokushinkai karateka dont have manners please (sorry for my english, im from Quebec) Osu

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@MSAlex23 I did not say that, I said 'I could remember when' ! Your english is obviously not comeing across well - best you don't leave comments that may easliy be mis-interpreted as bad manners. I accept your appology. Lets leave it at that.

[MSAlex23]

@TOMHILLSVISION Osu

[wemolaski]

i feel like boxing is a good additional skill to add to goju for alot of reasons.this is one of them in boxing if you learn to love it just like goju youll realize theres right ways of doing moves for example in boxing theres the right hook to the body.your supposed to dip your hips and twist it forward then the hook follows to the body you whip the body power to your opponents ribs.this move could of ended this sparring session at 1:48 of the clip.i dont think im bad but i want ya to learn.

[netmasterflex]

@wemolaski yeah I was gonna say somehing like that, A 45 yr old guy who was like a 4th degree black belt in trad jiu jitsu, used to come down to a ABC club I used to go to and used to take blows but was very game. Really admire people who are so brave to step outside their comfort zone like that. Trad martial arts and the full contact sparring arts have so much to learn from each other imo

[samyws]

ossuu!! very good jiyu kumite

[ernestobrennecke]

Thank you for posting your videos, I definitely learned a few things from your bunkai applications. I do regret that you seem resistant to the possibility that your slugger could be improved, & defeated with a different strategy other than idiotically standing toe to toe with him. FYI - "Slugger" only describes one of 9 fighting styles, against which there are 5 different fighting strategies to be considered - as described by the Joe Lewis Fighting Systems.

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@ernestobrennecke Hi - anyone can be improved. No need for regret, we accept reasonable critisism and although Joe Lewis was a great fighter, the books not always handy when you are in combat. Ralph has been doing this for over 25 years and the three guys a similar amounts of time. We are all aware of various fighting strategies and have all fought various styles and exponents. Rocky Marciano was certainly a 'slugger' and one of the greatest fighters ever. Regards tom

[ernestobrennecke]

Good pressure from Ralph but he could use some footwork training so he doesn't imbalance himself by moving so much at the waist. The others need to learn how to fight bigger, stronger, but slower punchers who have no kicking flexibility - fakes, deception, jab and jab kicks, setups and angular attacks.

[TOMHILLSVISION]

@ernestobrennecke

hi - thanks for your interest - but its all very well talking intil your in there with him! Its easy to be a poltron. regards tom

[philster65]

Wonder stuff!!!! This is the art form I was brought up on. Its great to see it. Ooss from a GOJU guy in Melbourne.

[anhkhoinguyen]

that old mans aggressively good! i like this.

[netmasterflex]

Bet it hurt, Ive spared without boxing gloves on its hard, good practice for the street.

[billysue2]

@netmasterflex its useless practice for the street, you need head contact to prepare for the street and can only do that with boxing gloves on .I know the gloves protect your hands but bareknuckle full force shots arent acceptable to regular people.

[netmasterflex]

@billysue2 Id say ideally you should do both. I done boxing/thai boxing which is good because it teaches you to be aggresive and take shots. Ive done other stuff like krav maga and when you try and hit pads without a boxing glove in a boxing style you pretty well end up busting your hand.

[nalanageek]

Excellent video. A tough grading for Ralph and for the three individuals he was sparring against. Ralph is deceptive in that he makes all his techniques look so simple all his strikes and kicks look inoffensive - Believe me this is NOT the case. Try being on the receiving end for a few minutes!

I have the bruises to prove it.