Akihito Isaka - Heian Godan - www.theshotokanway.com

[@urdaneta422]

I agree with you, but i got to tell you that Akihito Isaka is a former leading JKA instructor and leading kumite and kata competitor from the late 1960s all the way to the 1990s, right now he is in the Karatenomichi World Federation (KWF) isaka sensei is demostrates a sequence of slowmotion exercise for heian godan,this is used to teach awareness of the body's center of gravity, stretching and reinforcing the muscles and tendons, as well as the inner muscles of the back.

[@BooLee01]

I was a student at the JKA honbu dojo in the 1990's when the dojo was in Ebisu; this was before the big split. Isaka Sensei was one of my favorite instructors and I remember him always being into dynamic tension type exercises. I also remember his ability to move toward you either very fast or very slow and, whichever way he did it, you wouldn't know he was moving until it was too late.

[@Legend1990x]

i've seen this video for the first time and was as confused as everyone else. but why dont you read the text on the right and look for information about this man on the website of this magazine?... now i would love to train under him and to experience a different training...

[@calibansfury]

Thanks for the great feedback, I had no idea. I checked out the website as well--shotokanway. That gave me more background on him as well. Gotta love an innovator!

[@1000MOSHT_Fudoshin]

The SHOTOKAN Way???!!! I've known Shotokan for 30 years (obviously the wrong way)! This is unfamiliar to me, (although the name of the Sensei rings a bell). It is in contrast to my understanding of Shotokan Karate (rest&Explosion and KIME, etc).Many thanx

[@karatefella]

Sensei Isaka also demonstrates Meikyo Kata in this strange way. I don't get it (I have been practicing Shotokan Karate for 28 years now - I'm 4th Dan). I've never seen the Kata done like this.

[@1000MOSHT_Fudoshin]

I have read the previous comments with interest. It seems to me it would be easier to give this style a new name. Can anyone tell me why an 8th Dan instructor isn't wearing the proper "Do Gi"? I am sure there's logical reason behind it. I am seeking enlightenment. Many thanx

[@brinnonvallere]

he is burning the movement into muscle memory by his actions.......

[@KenpoKid77]

"Damnant quod non intelligunt" - Latin phrase, meaning, "They condemn what they do not understand." In term of kinesiology, this makes perfect sense. All he did is take a basic kata sequence and modified the movements to focus on isometric concentration, breathing, and working internal strength. The reason why so many people are confused is because they don't understand, and sadly we humans tend to dismiss what we don't understand. One can train 60 years and still have new things to learn.

[@didyvox1984]

who can tell me the style of this sensei, this is my first time to see this kind of doing Heian Godan

[@yudansa]

brilliant! and no, i'm not part of kwf. sure this is not 'heian godan' in the literal sense, but keeping in mind that kata were designed to propagate strategic, philosophical and biomechanical insights of the creators as a 'packaged' reference for students, it is very much in the spirit of kata to use it for greater understanding of our bodies. as for the people with 'many years' experience - open your minds! mr. isaka is graduated the jka instructors' programme, which should tell you enough!

[@aiko4321]

Why does he wear a belt, while not wearing a proper dogi? Belt is to close the jacket as I know :(

[@aiko4321]

I agree. He' strying to do something. But, doubt he's on the correct path or doing correct thing and what the students will get at last. But, I watched some clips of him, really intersting. There's something new always, even I agree or not for wht he s doing. Respect to him

[@TA_Tactics]

@brinnonvallere Good point, most people don't seem to understand this however :(

[@KenpoKid77]

@brinnonvallere I agree, good approach on traditional training...or perhaps this was traditionally taught all along, can't say.

[@TA_Tactics]

@DrSanchez666 Ever heard the expression "Jack of all trades, Master of none", perhaps you should contemplate this for a while.

[@brinnonvallere]

@deek77 this guy is brilliant in his training

[@brinnonvallere]

@ttlyADDICTED2BASS this guy is brilliant, i had incorporated some of this into my training but he brings it to a whole nother level.............he is also tripping the muscle relaxation response for sweet fluid speed.

[@AdrianVisan]

HE MOVES LIKE A DRAGON! What you people don't understand is that he added A LOT of hard movements in the kata... what I don't understand... why is he breaving like that? Is it just me or does it sound a little artificial.

[@royksk]

On the understanding that there is no accompanying explanation of this extremely odd rendition of Heian Godan, that was an abysmal performance even if it was meant as some form of tension training. I have trained and taught Shotokan for over 40 years and was chief kata judge to SKIGB for over 20 years (retiring for health reasons). Amazing what some people can get away with. There is no need to bastardise a kata in order to teachbody awareness, centre of gravity etc.

[@cam9bell]

Hmmm very in-ter-est-ing! strange but i have seen stranger stuff in movies you get free with DVD players! But they dont claim to be a Shotokan Karateka Oss ! ? ! ? ! ?

[@MrMikeod]

deadguy, please post your video so that we can compare, put up or shut up. then we will see what you have learnt from all the styles and instructors you claim-if you are that good.

[@deadguy29]

Legend, sorry man, but this is not about confusion or anything like that. It's because of these videos that many people make fun of karate. I've trained with many instructors from different nationalities, ages, styles, and I have yet to see something like this...not because this pseudo-training is ground-breaking, it's because it's a load of BS, plain and simple.

[@deadmike2]

@enta3omry293 dude you have no idea what martial art is...

[@calibansfury]

This man is an 8th Dan through which organization? It appears he's performing the katas as a dynamic tension exercise, but this can be done while still using proper form--and he ain't usin' it. I'm all for innovation, but innovation which still utilizes appropriate body mechanics. Why strengthen yourself to be in such a contorted position which you know to be inferior to proper technique? Seems a little out-there.

[@enta3omry293]

SORRY I don't like this video and his way in training but MMA and Thai Boxing are very good and perfect for self defense but if you want to improve your Ability ,power, performance and reactive speed and be very explosive you must train kata shotokan (that fucken video is for Sensi who play old way of kata and show his own way in strengthening)but listen to my words and try to train kata but with a professional coach who train champions and you will see the transformation in your fight ability

[@deadguy29]

I don't know how much these people paid for this seminar but it was obviously money flushed down the toilet. This guy is just embarrasing, I really have yet to see one video where he actually performs one single movement correctly.