Tekki / Naihanchi 1 to 3: Flow drills and pad drills

www.iainabernethy.co.uk/ This video summarises some flow drills and pad drills for Tekki / Naihanchi 1 to 3. The video is made of up summary footage taken from a full weekend of teaching. It therefore doesn’t cover everything we did or the context in which the drills should be practised. Viewers should not mistake these flow drills as combinations to be used “as is” in combat. They were not taught as such. They are also not some form of “ultimate bunkai” simple because they utilise the entire kata. Rather they are one way to quickly run through some of the core bunkai. They are also useful ways to help people remember core applications when teaching in a seminar format i.e. it is easier to remember one flow drill than many individual applications.
At the seminar we also practised live drills and semi-live drills where the vital skills of utilising the right part of the kata, in the right way, relative to changing situations was also covered. These are drills that need to be experienced, hence summary footage to aid memory is not needed and was therefore not recorded.
Watching this video is no substitute for being at the event. There is always a risk when posting such footage - which is invariably incomplete - that viewers, who were not there, will misunderstand or misinterpret what is being shown. I, nevertheless, share the footage in the hope it is of interest and value to those who already are familiar with the wider approach.
All the best,
Iain
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[@TheUmmahFightCamp]

As a former full contact bare knuckle karate fighter from the 1970s (Yes, I still teach and train). ALL karateka owe this man a debt. Karate has been abandonedby veterans of karate under the pressure of people not believing it worked in real life situations. This man has gone a long way in legitimatizing it for us. He has convinced those that we could not.

[@ninjadane9365]

I've always love that kata. With your presentation it's makes sense, why it was seen as a full system for self-defence. Watching your video I really miss my karate, however Covid made that almost impossible. Then it's always great to see other do it with passion and love to the art/sport.

[@Ash-Man07]

Awesome video! Always so excited to see another Iain video. Haha.

[@YoukaiSlayer12]

Sweet a new video on the Tekki katas potential applications. Which is nice since I was going to practice all 3 katas shortly this evening.

[@Artforall100]

Fantastic. All there Tekki (Nihanchi) drills displayed amazingly beautiful. Best regards from London Türel

[@magicbymccauley]

Absolutely great stuff. Dead on!

[@Scott-yg3pf]

Hello, I have really been enjoying and learning a lot from your video's. I may have missed it, if not I have a clarifying request. You give great detail of what the move and kata are for. Can you explain, where/what my mind should be thinking when training/practicing Kata? I learned, as one of your previous video's called it the 3K's. So with that in mind, and what I have learned from your video's, what should I be thinking as I practice katas? Simple Taikykoku Shodan, as an example, I look left, stack for left downward block, and move to a left front stance, and execute a left downward block. I have always thought this way and focused on the execution of the technique and movement. I am now wondering, as I train kata, should I be thinking differently? I am moving to the left side of my opponent, blocking with the correct weight distribution and planted, for the step in and counter punch? Then, I do all of that to the right, I am training the other side? Then down the center of the I. Rather than a block with 3 punches. Should I be thinking, blocking directly in front, with 3 forward moving punches, with the assumption of aggression or the opponent is retreating? Or is it better to preform the Kata, focus on technique, and then work on breaking it apart as you demonstrate, with a partner, bag, or pole, for reference? Thank You in advance.

[@vonclap]

Another good video, nothing to add ...except well done

[@dermotrooney9584]

🌟

[@theaikidoka]

Hi Iain, thank you, a nice long video to start the year off. Quick question, I usually see you wearing the classic white Gi (I know for preference you'd wear sports clothes), but occasionally we see the black Gi. Does it signify anything or is it just a colour you like?

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Just a coloured piece of clothing with zero symbolic meaning. Some groups do link gi colour to a given rank or achievement. However, for us, any student can wear black or white as they see fit. Black has many benefits over white (particularly for female practitioners), but I just tend to put on whatever one is clean :-) It’s even arguable that white is not the traditional / classical colour as the first unbleached gis were more of a light beige :-)

[@theaikidoka]

@@practicalkatabunkai Hi Iain, thanks for the quick response. My Shotokan school had a weird phobia about black Gis, but apart from that I haven't really seen many outside of America where different colours seem much more common. My Aikido Gis (as well as being much heavier) also tend to be 'natural' cotton/beige coloured. I'm curious what benefit women get from black though - I don't see you as a sexist arguing they hide extra pounds?

[@adammills9715]

​@@theaikidoka Women may be more comfortable wearing darker training clothing during menstruation. Having white be the only acceptable colour of gi can discourage people

[@theaikidoka]

@@adammills9715 Yup, I'm all for people making their training/practices work for them rather than the other way around. I think my school's thing about black Gis was a personal hangup from the chief instructor as I never heard an explanation as to why they were bad.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

@@theaikidoka Some women won’t train during parts of their cycle if forced to wear white (blood leaks are much more visible on white). I want all students training as much as possible, and as happily and confidently as possible, so giving the option of black is a no-brainier. I freely admit that I need this pointed out to me, but it was a forehead slapping “Of course!” moment when it was pointed out. Lots of other advantages to black / a choice of colours that are not dependent on gender too of course. It's a lot more common these days I find.

[@hydroturd]

hey Iain, does it make sense for a martial arts teacher to tell their students that they will get to focus and develop in whichever part of the art they are most interested in? The recent class I attended covers strikes, throws, kata, kobudo. Being accustomed to some sort of a syllabus, it seems hard to develop any lasting skill with just two classes a week that cover so many topics.. but I'm not sure how to communicate to an instructor "I'm legitimately happy to do 100 partner drills focusing on one technique I'm not good at instead of 5 katas".. indeed I've been to classes where they do 5 or more katas in one session.

[@JustSomeGuy69420]

Your development is on you at the end of the day. Instructors can only do so much. If some technique or group of techniques pops out at you and you like them for whatever reason, I'd reckon you'll have to spend time on your own training them and potentially cross-training. For example, a lot of the throwing in Karate looks similar to judo and sometimes wrestling. You could study that stuff to get some finer points on a particular karate throw. Similarly, you'd be foolish to not take a look at other striking arts for inspiration as well. If you ever have to use your karate, it won't be your instructor's karate that you have, it'll be yours. So make it your own. All the old masters did.

[@woodearthdvd]

Any credence to the idea that the 3 katas are parts of one longer kata? They do seem to fit going from one to another.

[@practicalkatabunkai]

Historically, the evidence tells us that originally there was one Naihanchi; and that would be the one that now often has the Shodan suffix. Itosu - being the great creator of kata that he was - then made the Nidan and Sandan versions. I know some have written that all three were originally one big kata, and they were separated into three at a later date, but there’s no evidence that I am aware of support this. There is evidence to discount it though. Students of Itosu credit him with making the Nidan and Sandan versions, but none of them say he split a longer kata into three. There are also no historical linages that would seem to have practised a “long Naihanchi”. The historical references to Nahanchi (singular) would seem to be what we would recognise as Shodan (not a long amalgam of the three). To me, the evidence is clear: Matsumura acquired a kata called Naihanchi. Itosu learnt that kata, and then made two other versions. Itosu labelled the original one “Shodan” and his two new creations as “Nidan” and “Sandan”.

[@AyeJordan7]

Hello mr Iain I would like to ask you a very important question I’ve had for a long time,I understand the importance of kata within karate but don’t you think it’ll be more effective if karate were to focus on strength training,Cardio,speed training,footwork,more sparring and technique drills(even tegumi and toutie can be mixed in)instead of a countless amount of time on solo movement and kata?I understand the importance of it but I heard back then the bunkai was taught first then the kata,I just think it’s much more effective to teach actual combative skills first then once the student is advanced enough he can learn kata.I believe conditioning strength training n all that other stuff like technique drills and sparring is far more important then kata or solo training,which is why I believe boxers and kickboxers are so good at combat,I also believe that once the student has a good amount of fighting skills down he/she will be able to pick up self defense techniques ALOT better.I am a full believer in bringing back the old ways of a martial art,but I am also a big fan in evolving a martial art to,this includes the training methods within that martial art,bc if a art stays traditional,then it will eventually die…it must fit into modern day society so it can be fully effective,what do you think about this Sensi??I would love to know your opinion,with all respect 🥋

[@practicalkatabunkai]

It does not have to be a mutually exclusive choice. The kata informs what we do in sparring, etc. We should also ensure sufficient conditioning, etc and be open to modern training. Mabuni had it right: “kata must be practiced properly, with a good understanding of their bunkai meaning. There may be those who neglect the practice of kata, thinking that it is sufficient to just practice two-person drills that has been created based on their understanding of the kata, but that will never lead to true advancement. The reason why is that the ways of attacking and defending have innumerable variations. To create two-person drills containing all of the techniques including each and every one of their variations is impossible. However, if one practices kata correctly, it will serve as a foundation for performing - when a crucial time comes - any of the infinite number of variations. However, even if you practice the karate kata as you should, if that is all that you do, if you do not train sufficiently in other areas, then you will not develop sufficient skills. If you do not also use other training methods to strengthen and quicken your hands and feet, as well as to ensure the sufficient study of things like body-shifting and distancing, you will be inadequately prepared when the need arises to call on your skills.” - Kenwa Mabuni, “Practice Karate Correctly” It's also imprtant to remember that kata is a process that must include sparring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXKWi3-Fg7Gka5Isi=Jl_1pQcBsRhp2BVU kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2GVlWCHisSUpacsi=O_N1WBjrEQUvfVm4 I hope that helps. All the best, Iain

[@AyeJordan7]

@@practicalkatabunkai got it.thank you🥋❤️

[@coryballinger5307]

If you didn’t know Naihanchi sho and understand the Kata and what he was doing and was solely trying to follow him. One the acoustics in that facility is horrible and the echo is wretched. Secondly he talks 110mph and with his accent makes it near impossible to understand a word he says. If you mute the video and just follow along you’ll get way more out of it. But again only if you know the kata. Otherwise. He needs to slow down his presentation, and find a better faculty with less acoustics that echo

[@practicalkatabunkai]

TEXT ACCOMPANYING VIDEO STATED: “The video is made of up summary footage taken from a full weekend of teaching … Watching this video is no substitute for being at the event. There is always a risk when posting such footage - which is invariably incomplete - that viewers, who were not there, will misunderstand or misinterpret what is being shown. I, nevertheless, share the footage in the hope it is of interest and value to those who already are familiar with the wider approach.” YOU WROTE: “One the acoustics in that facility is horrible and the echo is wretched.” The venue was not chosen to be a studio for those watching in KZbin. It was chosen, by the hosts, as a facility to conduct two days of training. In this case, it was their regular dojo. This footage was shared as a “free bonus” for those who were not there. I’m not going to demand the host group change their dojo to placate KZbin commenters :-) YOU WROTE: “Secondly he talks 110mph and with his accent makes it near impossible to understand a word he says.” Again, it is recap / summary footage that is summarising a whole weekend of training. It was filmed to help those there as an aid to memory. They had done all of this, in depth, over many hours. If I took my time to slowly go over everything in the same detail as covered at the event, it would have been as long as the event! Some accents are easy to understand by some people, some are not. I dare say that if you were talking in the part of the world I am from, it would not be as easy for people to follow as my accent is. Because of the Nordic influence on my dialect, I find that those from that part of the world have little difficulty following me … even though I am speaking in their second language. The Finnish people at this event were able to follow me just fine. Above all, I am proud Cumbrian and like the associated dialect and accent. I also like learning about accents and dialects from other parts of the world and would never demand everyone speak as I do just to make it easier for me. YOU WROTE: “He needs to slow down his presentation, and find a better faculty with less acoustics that echo” Again, it’s summary footage and that was made clear in the text of the video. It was not made for you or any other viewers on KZbin. It was made for those there. A lot of people like these summary videos, but those that don’t are welcome not to watch and find something else they enjoy more. I’m not going to stop sharing them because a tiny minority think it should be studio quality or nothing. They are what they are, and there are plenty of people who find value in them. I’m not forcing anyone to watch if it’s not for them. Bottomline, I make these videos for those at the actual events. I share them for what they are and make that 100% clear in the text. I don’t make these videos for people on KZbin, but I occasionally share them here because many do read the text, understand what is being shared, and they like and benefit from them. Other KZbin channels are available :-) All the best, Iain