A Martial Artist First, A Karate Second. No Idea What Style I Am!

www.iainabernethy.co.uk/ In this video I discuss my personal approach to martial arts. I consider myself a martial artis first and foremost. Karate is my favoured vehicle for exploring the martial arts. I have no idea what “style” of karate I am, and I think that’s a good thing as styles can be very limiting. Agree or disagree, I hope you find my personal approach to be of interest.
All the best,
Iain
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[@makenjikarate]

I'd probably define myself as a food enthusiast first 😂

[@kbanghart]

Amen!! Food and sleep!

[@KarateUnity]

Right on Iain! This echos my sentiments completely. You and I have spoken about this a few times on my podcast. Great talk🙌

[@bowe1728]

I trained in Isshin Ryu for 20 odd years and right no more or less retired. Along the way in my martial arts career I ended up getting bored with the same old same old so I dabbled in some other arts , mostly Kali and wing Chun whith a litt Aikido and Jui Jitsu. What I learned was , other than the ground fighting, stylels are all pretty much the same and/or can be blended together. I learned so much about my base style from "dabbling" and keeping an open mind. I would recomend every TRUE martial artist do the same.

[@NotEbugaming]

I spent 7 years studying shotokan, 20 years of army combatives (heavy jiujistu with some boxing) focus), 10 years of shito ryu, 4 years of other jujutsu and now starting Isshinryu. Some of this stuff was trained concurrently… Cross training different “styles” has made me a better martial artist in general. Definitely agree that there is a ton of commonality until you wind up grappling.

[@dwardo1066]

Pillage and plunger all styles and bring what fits you and your aims home. My vehicle is karate but I study everything and suck the knowledge out of anyone who will teach me theirs. I like Jessies phrase where he said I study other styles not to get good at them but to make my karate better. Love your stuff as always.

[@michaelthomas5897]

Hi Iain, thanks for all your perspectives. Your Martial Map in particular was a real lightbulb moment (which meant I’d spent more than 20-odd years in the gloom!) I train in American Kenpo, one of the ways I’ve heard the sentiment of your video expressed by the people I’ve trained with (including some direct Ed Parker black belts) is this: my art is American Kenpo, but my style is my own, no one else does American Kenpo like me, they haven’t my exact build, or my exact age, or my exact experience in Taekwondo, Karate, Wing Chun etc. No one should try to replicate my style, after all, I made it for me.

[@MartinJutras]

I very much agree with you regarding styles. Like you, when people ask me what style I practice, I say "Karate", or sometimes I just say "martial arts". Most people get pretty much confuse, but for me, it's honestly how I feel, how I think.

[@YoukaiSlayer12]

Totally agree with that assessment. Though I need to finish up what I’ve been learning in tkd, & maybe something like judo or wrestling to go along with my background in shotokan. That way I can check off the martial artist part, since I already got Karateka covered.

[@joco762]

Excellent. This is the way I learned Shorin ryu Matsumura. Learn the principles, learn from experts, learn to express creative mayhem lol. Train/ spar with everybody.

[@DarkPhoenixTSi]

To paraphrase Bruce Lee, as style without a style. I started in TKD (ITF), but have since gained Dan rank in Chung Do Kwan TKD (think Shotokan with more kicks) and Judo, I have the same mindset as you. Now, since I decided to start training on Okinawan Kenpo (Seikichi Odo's Ryukyu Hon Kenpo Shudokan), I appreciate the background that I came from. I happened to luck out and get involved with a dojo that embraces cross training and tries to change how I do things minimally. I am still always known as the Judo guy, regardless of whether I am going karate, TKD, Kali or Savate.

[@warhawksmemories3071]

That's awesome. Just recently starting to watch karate KZbin videos an other Martial arts. Always had the confusion on what to spend time on and what works and enjoy doing. I know MMA is awesome but being older now I appreciate Kata's and bunkai more from different styles Like it's amazing just watching the Kata Naihanchi/Iron horse how different it is. Currently practicing the Zen do Kai one 😂

[@monitor4728]

I really like what you’re saying how would you grade under your system of karate . I reached first kyu in Goju . Thank you 🙏

[@OccamsRazor76]

I totally resonate with this perspective. I started off practicing Uechi-Ryu for several years, and for the last 5 years have trained at a dojo that is primarily Shito-Ryu, but has also incorporated Shotokan kata and principles. And on top of that, our Sensei has trained in some traditional Jiu-Jitsu, so that is part of the instruction as well. When I am asked what style of karate I practice, I basically just say that technically it's Shito-Ryu, but in reality I'm a hybrid practitioner.

[@doughboyink]

Great perspective Iain! Wondering what your thoughts are about applying karate katas for ground fighting situations? Typically this area is seen as only the realm of jujitsu or wrestling. Do you feel katas could be used as ground techniques or mainly just to get back to your feet again?Thanks again for all the incredible videos you’ve shared.

[@NYKgjl10]

I agree with your approach. I'm the same way, martial artist first than karate, plus other arts that I like to explore and learn which I'm happy which I'm doing right at a local boxing gym learning from a former Olympian since last Summer. Being the best version of you is key for happiness.

[@Priestbokmei1]

Spot on, Sensei! Total common sense. I’ve been following this philosophy for years. It’s good to hear someone with status also support this view! Still…long live Goju-Ryu! Lol😂

[@brianhanlon3527]

Ian Ryu 🤣 magical sir! Just magical! You know someone is gonna run with that. Lovely commentary though totally agree 👍🏻

[@wermuc]

Excellent video as usually 👌🏽

[@ruiseartalcorn]

I totally agree!

[@LeinonenHannu]

I am starting to like your approach. In a way I`ve been getting back to being a karateka, but cannot take any style manouvers. Best approaches have been kick boxing and Crazy Monkey defence. I also like to take the fight to ground (judo/wrestling). I started with karate so it’s my way of moving and punching too. Maybe I should pull my gi out of closet and atleast show up wearing it time to time at a gym. (Not in a karate class - but messing around with training partners)

[@MarshOakDojoTimPruitt]

thanks Iain

[@maxventura7015]

Shihan Nakayama, right arm of Funakoshi Soke, used to follow his master's steps by saying there is no such a thing as Shotokan style, quoting other masters like Mabuni, when adding there are no styles in karate. Karate is just karate studied and trained from different perspectives, what now they call styles.

[@miketurley3296]

I am Turley's style Peacemaker Aikido Karate & barbell Gym

[@MattRichardsEsq]

What you say about style is exactly the approach Bruce Lee took. Had he been alive today, he'd probably be regretful over the Jeet Kune Do name. He asked people not to fuss over the name, but they do, so much so that it's broken into separate factions. Lee had the same idea as you: my JKD is not the same as your JKD. But there are so many people out there trying to copy exactly how Lee did things and call it JKD. He must be turning in his grave! Your choice not to label what you do is exactly what Bruce Lee should have done.

[@jasonbudd4696]

I've practised Judo for years but I'd be a fool not to incorporate elements from elsewhere i.e. Muay Thai, Karate, Krav Maga.

[@vedanthngowda4678]

Guys help me out I used to use first two knuckles but now I want to use other 3 knuckle but I have moved my middle finger nerve towards left by punching wall and now I can't use 3 knuckle

[@freelancerblitz2579]

I wanna learn Iain-Ryu so I can make Will-Ryu better lol

[@sassuki]

For me, the style is just to fit into a grading system. And the grading is really just about some Kihon and Kata. The word "Jiyu" in Jiyu-Kumite is there for a reason, you fight like the hell you want, so I see no brakes there! But I see where you are coming from. There are many senseis that are religious about the execution of some techniques, which can be deleterious to the development of the karateka that is getting examinated, as some styles have some suboptimal ways to execute some techniques (Mawashi in some Shotokan organizations, or Blocks in Taekwondo/Korean Karate for example). Apart from that, I really do define as a karateka. I don't see myself doing any other martial art apart from what is similar to Karate (taekwondo, kungfu, and the like). I hate ground fighting, I don't think it is useful. I also don't think I need to learn more throws than what is present in karate, even if a few months in a judo dojo would probably not hurt to refine them a little bit :D