Karate’s Grappling Methods

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Introduction

Karate is most commonly thought of as a kicking and punching system. The scientific principles involved in karate’s striking methods make them very powerful. But what are we to do if our opponent gets inside punching range and we begin to grapple, or worse still, end up fighting on the floor? Karate, as it is commonly practised, is at its best when applied at middle to long range. The unfortunate but true fact is that most fights begin close up and almost always include some form of grappling. Are we to assume that a system designed specifically for unarmed civilian self–defence is lacking when it comes to real situations? Of course not, karate possesses a great many close range techniques but they are rarely practised. The main reason for this is that close range techniques will not score points in the competitive environment.

The type of karate sparring that forms the basis of modern day competition was originally designed as a training method to emphasise the importance of quickly disabling an assailant through well-placed strikes to weak points. By fighting in this way the karateka may be able to assure their safety as quickly as possible and hopefully avoid grappling all together. This type of sparring is undoubtedly important, but as time has passed it has evolved into a well-regulated sport. Competitive karate is now specifically a karateka verses karateka affair and the accurate striking of weak points is no longer a requirement due to large scoring areas. That is not to say there is anything wrong with competitive sparring as it requires great skill and many people enjoy it, both as spectators and competitors, but it must be understood that many of its practises run in direct opposition to what is required in a self-defence situation. At present, competitive sparring and its values are over emphasised to the point where few karateka prepare for the very real possibility of strikes failing to stop an opponent and the fight entering close range. Real fights tend to begin at punching range, a few punches are thrown, and if none should stop the fight then it quickly collapses into grappling. The masters of old knew how real fights occurred and this is reflected in the katas they created.

In the book ‘Karate-Do Kyohan’ Gichin Funakoshi (founder of Shotokan) wrote, “…in karate, hitting, thrusting, and kicking are not the only methods, throwing techniques and pressure against joints are included.” A little later he writes, “all these techniques should be studied referring to basic kata.” Karate-Do Kyohan also includes photographs and instructions on a number of karate’s throwing methods. The Bubishi – an ancient and profound text that is often referred to as ‘the bible of karate’ – has an entire chapter devoted to grappling and escapes. The Bubishi also contains forty-eight self-defence diagrams; many of these illustrate grappling techniques. The Bubishi’s grappling techniques can also be found within the katas. Shigeru Egami in his book ‘The Heart of Karate-do’ writes, “There are also throwing techniques in karate… Throwing techniques were practised in my day, and I recommend that you reconsider them.” The grappling techniques that are found within the karate system are derived from of the Chinese art of Chin-na, the Aiki-Jujitsu of the Minamoto Samurai, the Jigen-ryu Bujitsu of the Satsuma Samurai, the indigenous Okinawan grappling methods of Tegumi, and many other fighting systems imported into Okinawa by the martial artists of the day. Karate was developed to be an effective and complete method of empty hand combat. It is simply inconceivable that its founders would totally omit grappling – It is the modern day practitioners who are to blame for this omission in many of today’s dojos. The founders of our art fully understood the need for grappling skills. They practised grappling, taught grappling and recorded their grappling methods in the katas they created. Even if they are not part of regular practise today, we can see that grappling techniques were part of karate practise and that these techniques are recorded within the katas.

The katas are a vast library of close range fighting techniques and if you study the katas deeply enough it is possible to become a competent grappler. Most karateka simply do not spend enough time studying the katas in the belief that training time is best spent sparring (competition style). Sparring has a vital role to play in the development of the karateka, but it should be based upon the principles contained within the kata. Gichin Funakoshi (Karate-Do Kyohan) wrote, “Karate, to the very end should be practised with the kata as the principle method and sparring as a supporting method.” The majority of the techniques and methods used in free sparring today have only came into existence within the last few decades. They are sporting methods and must not be confused with the original karate techniques.

The kata are often undervalued, in particular the application of the kata’s movements are rarely practised, and when they are it tends to be in a fashion that bears no resemblance to actual combat. The katas and their applications must be practised so that they can be used in real situations. Gichin Funakoshi in his book ‘Karate- Do Kyohan’ tells us, “Once a form has been learned, it must be practised repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a form in karate is useless.” The katas contain a vast variety of techniques that when correctly understood and applied can make the karateka effective at all ranges, including grappling and ground fighting.

Not only will the katas give you the techniques for use at close range, but more importantly they will also give you the principles behind the techniques. It is vital that you get a good grasp of the principles or you will be a very limited fighter. What if the fight does not unfold in exactly the same way as specified within the kata? If you just understand the specific techniques you will be unable to apply them if anything should alter. If you have a good understanding of the principles involved, you will be able to adapt the technique, in line with the principles behind it, for use in many other situations. This is reflected in Gichin Funakoshi’s eighteenth principle of karate-do, “In spite of actual fighting always being different, the principles of kata never vary.” This application of the kata’s principles is behind the statement that it is only necessary to master one kata in order to be able to defend ourselves adequately. The old masters would know very few katas, but they would fully understand the principles that the katas contained. It is this deep understanding that made the founders of karate so formidable.

At first you practise the kata’s techniques, from practise of the techniques you can gain an understanding of the principles upon which they rest, you can then practise applying those same principles in different ways and even in sparring & live grappling to further enhance your understanding and skill. You should adapt and experiment with the kata’s techniques, not rigidly stick to the exact way they are performed within the kata. When viewed in this way the katas can open the door to a vast range of differing methods. Hironori Otsuka (founder of Wado-ryu) encourages this approach to kata in his book ‘Wado-Ryu Karate.’ Otsuka tells us, “It is obvious that these kata must be trained and practised sufficiently, but one must not be ‘stuck’ in them. One must withdraw from the kata to produce forms with no limits or else it becomes useless. It is important to alter the form of the trained kata without hesitation to produce countless other forms of training.” In the same book Otsuka also writes, “Kata must be correct, unlimited and most of all alive. Martial arts progress from kata to kumite, kumite to combat and so on. Kata is a fundamental aspect of martial arts and hence is unyieldingly important.” This is a profound statement on the importance and nature of kata. Otsuka (like Funakoshi) wished for us to be able to apply the knowledge contained within the katas – just knowing how to perform the katas is not enough. The Katas should not be a dead archaic ritual but be alive, unlimited and pragmatic.

The following guidelines are offered to help you approach your katas in this way:

1, Practise and continually improve your performance of the katas.
2, Gain an understanding of the applications. All applications should be practised with real fighting in mind and not as choreographed karateka Vs karateka battles.
3, Practise the applications with a partner, who will become less and less co-operative as your skill increases.
4, Look behind the techniques for the principles, e.g. arm bars – forcing the opponent’s joint outside its range of motion using your own body in a way that creates maximum leverage.
5, Experiment by applying those same principles in differing situations, e.g. with the opponent in a different position, on the floor, on partners with differing physical builds etc. Be sure to look at how other martial arts apply the same principles and adopt those methods into your training if appropriate.
6, Spar using techniques that follow those principles in order to enhance understanding and skill in application.

Throughout this book I will give examples from the kata and show how they can be applied, adapted and developed in line with the principles the katas contain. Hopefully, this will help you to look at your own katas and extract further techniques and principles. The kata should remain the reference point with all other techniques merely being extracted from them. This will mean that every time the kata is performed, your understanding of its applications and principles will be further advanced and hence so will your fighting skill. I hope to show you just how useful kata can be in preparing you to fight efficiently, regardless of the distance or situation.

Cost: £18.49 including UK Postage and Packing
(ROI & Europe + £1.50, Rest of World + £3.00)

Note: US Dollar prices are displayed in the shopping section of this website (click on "order"). Also see "terms & conditions".

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