October 2019

Posture Advice from Aiko San

This was one of the great pieces of advice I received from Aiko San. It was during one of the national championships, and she pulled me aside, saying: “Try to imagine your head as a ball resting delicately on your shoulders. If your head leans to either direction, it will fall that way; if it is to fall, it should fall between your legs.” Then she made me do yori ashi with Gyaku Zuki, first slowly and then at full speed. At kime, I had to check if my head was falling to either side or between my legs. To […]

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Posture, Precise Timing of Body Segments Make Effective Technique and a Healthier Musculoskeletal System

Avi Rokah

In karate classes for adults, we strive to achieve todome (finish technique) while also seeking longevity in training. Both effectiveness and longevity are achieved by using precise movement of specific segments out of optimal static and dynamic postures and alignment within total body movement. Maintaining or restoring precise movement of specific segments and the relationships between segments is also the key to correcting or preventing musculoskeletal pain. The biomechanics of human movement is similar to the mechanics of machines, in that the longevity of components and efficiency of performance require precise movements of the rotating segments. In contrast to machines,

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Kime – Total Breath, Total Energy Pass Through The Target

Avi Rokah

There are many details to effective kime, which obviously have to come together to the point that you just have the intention of finishing the technique, and all the details will happen by themselves. At this point, your body knows how to make kime. But no matter at what level we are in karate classes for adults, we always have to revisit and reflect if we apply all aspects of kime optimally; we can always get better. Sensei Nishiyama was never tired or bored of repeating the principles and details of kime, and there was always something subtle and new

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The Art of Magic and Karate is in the Small Details Which are Derived from Principles

Avi Rokah

There are many teachers who can teach techniques, but only a few who can teach The Art of Magic in karate. In karate classes for kids, instructors focus not just on moves, but on helping students understand and digest the underlying principles. Use the form as a vehicle to internalize these principles. The details derived from the principles make the magic of karate, making techniques effective, effortless, and applicable to any circumstance. Whether in karate classes for kids or karate classes for adults, following the form alone will limit your growth. By digesting the small details and making them your

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“Keep Trying”

Avi Rokah

I love this quotation by Thomas Edison: “Our greatest weakness is giving up. The most certain way to success is to try one more time.” Many times, when a student in karate classes for kids asked Sensei Nishiyama a question about technique or expressed difficulty in getting something to work, the answer was always: “keep trying.” Sensei Nishiyama was a man of few words (when it came to karate, he loved to talk when socializing). He said just enough to give you direction but wanted you to discover through training, whether in karate classes for adults or for children. We

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Rapid Rate of Contraction and Relaxation in Punch or Kick

Avi Rokah

The skillful karate fighter is not only strong, but in order to initiate a punch or a kick, they must contract muscles with great velocity and also relax rapidly. The rate of relaxation is very fast. In karate classes for adults, experts learn to start power generation in the legs through the hips, and as the hips explode, the core contracts quickly to transmit the force to the upper body. The initial pulse starts with a quick contraction, then the core relaxes as the punch or kick increases in velocity until impact, followed by a second contraction to avoid energy

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Give Up Power to Better Your Technique and Better Yourself and Society

Avi Rokah

In my seminar in Israel, I had a little talk with Tzachi, Moshe’s student and Israeli team member. Tzachi is wise beyond his years, and I learned a great lesson. The background to this talk was my emphasis the following lesson from previous training: In kime, we make pressure to the floor with the breath, and the reaction of this pressure is absorbed through the body and delivered to the line of technique. No power in the technique arm is needed, rather, any undue tension in the arm will nullify the effect of the pressure to floor; it will block

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Ho Shin – Give Your Mind Away. Also, Learn to Use Your Full Muscles Potential

Avi Rokah

Once a decision is made, there is no mind in the technique, no hesitation; win or lose, one must give everything. In karate classes for adults, we focus on applying this concept fully so the mind is clear, allowing us to become more sensitive, intuitive, and aware when we try less. Very few of us use the full potential of our musculoskeletal system. In adult karate classes, we train to overcome fear, past trauma, and joint protection, while developing the mental ability not to hold back—applying ourselves fully to one purpose. Take Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world:

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Toddle, Mai and Footwork. Components That Make Karate Most Effective as Self-Defense

Avi Rokah

Todome It is reasonable to say that if 120 lb of mass hits the biggest, strongest man, as one connected, dense mass, with sufficient speed it will be a knock down or make big damage. Well, this is Todome, in karate classes for adults, we study through generations the details and means of how to connect the whole body, increase energy, by using ground reaction, sequencing body segments from the ground up to increase maximal speed and force, and hit the opponent as one connected mass, delivering full force in the shortest instant, by being as dense and inelastic as

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Fighting From The Inside

Avi Rokah

At a high level, when two people are facing each other in karate classes for adults, there is no random movement; everything is purposeful. Not only are there no random techniques, but there is also no unnecessary movement in the interaction. As practitioners advance, techniques become stronger, allowing one to produce more force with less action, while also becoming more sensitive to the opponent’s movement and intention. Our ki energy can be projected to the opponent, requiring less physical movement to give threat and break their rhythm. This same ki energy acts as an antenna, perceiving the opponent’s energy. At

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