Kumite training must involve no friendship

"Kumite training must involve no friendship. There is no friendship in fighting someone, so if you want to learn karate as true bujutsu (martial arts) you must train with a serious spirit, right from the onset of your training. For example, when doing yakusoku-kumite, the attacker must aim to hit the defender. They must attack from the correct ma’ai, not too far away, and not too close. This is the most basic point in kumite training, if people do not follow this precisely, they will be completely wasting their practise time. Obviously one must use commonsense when training with someone much less experienced, or physically weaker, but at a high-level, there is no excuse if you cannot handle someone stronger. When defending and counterattacking you must not be afraid, you must foster a spirit of `no fear’. Enter into range without pre-conceived thought, this was my way when I used to compete. I didn’t care, I just reacted. This is essential and needs to be fostered in all karateka. This why I am always teaching that running away is more dangerous, go inside. Everything is step-by-step, but for instructors, there is a responsibility to be strong both physically and mentally. Fortunately most are strong, but some are using age, or high rank, as an excuse, and this is not acceptable. Higher level karateka must rely on superior technique, regardless of age, to overcome strength, size and youthfulness. This is karate, and this is the purpose of all technical skill. Instructors must self-train everyday!"

T. Asai

Kumite demonstation

 
                                  Asai Sensei and Tamang Sensei demonstration

This video is devoted to Kumite demonstation.

This video is part of the Asai kata collection, an archive of seminar and training footage connected with Tetsuhiko Asai's school of karate. Asai-Ryu is rooted in Shotokan and enriched with principles of Chinese White Crane kung fu, and the material collected here shows how that approach is taught and practised in the dojo. The collection is updated every week with further kata and seminar recordings.

Grand Champion at the All Japan Championships

Asai Sensei also employed his impressive fighting skills in competition, holding several impressive titles to his name. He even became Grand Champion at the All Japan Championships in kata and kumite, impressively beating the likes of Shirai Sensei and Mikami Sensei.

Osaka Sensei and Asai Sensei

Forget everything and jump

"People should forget everything and jump head first into what they want to do. Although, the average person can't comprehend such a way of thinking, or to be in such an enviroment, it this type of enviroment, however, that is most essential for one's success."

T.Asai

Interview with Sensei Asai

                          Asai Sensei demonstrates some techniques based on the crane, snake and bear.

This video is devoted to Interview with Sensei Asai.

This recording belongs to the Asai kata collection on this blog, a growing archive of Tetsuhiko Asai's forms kept for study and reference. Asai's karate grew out of Shotokan and was later enriched with White Crane principles, which is why his kata combine direct Shotokan lines with unusually soft, circular movement. Watch the performance slowly and more than once: the value of these recordings is in the details of timing, posture and transition that a single viewing rarely shows.

He wanted to be stronger

As a boy growing up, he wanted to be stronger than other people. What impressed Asai sensei to learn karate was at a time when the allied forces had just occupied Japan after the Second World War. He observed a fight between a boxer and a karate-ka. Asai sensei was impressed by the karate-ka’s kick which disabled the boxer. The incident was always in his mind. From there he knew karate was the path he wanted to follow. He wanted to be physically and mentally strong and decided to start training in karate. With great determination, Asai sensei studied hard until he gained entrance into Takushoku University. There were about one hundred and fifty students that started with Asai sensei training at the karate dojo, however, within a month there was only a handful. He overcame the hard training and eventually was allowed to live at the karate dormitory. For Asai sensei it was an honor to live there because all the renowned Shotokan masters attended and trained at Takushoku University. Those who knew Asai sensei said that, they were amazed by him and claimed that the only time he did not train was when he ate or slept.

About Asai sensei

In the photo: jog in park with Nakayama Sensei

"Tetsuhiko Asai’s ever-changing movements, sometimes resembling a dance performed in the air, leave spectators gaping with admiration. His inimitable talent has its source in training since youth, fostering powerful hips, a flexible body, deep technical skill, excellent reflexes and nerveless courage."

M. Nakayama 

K.Funakoshi, M.Nakayama and T.Asai

Calligraphy

The Dojo Kun calligraphy by Asai Shihan

This video is devoted to Calligraphy.

This video is part of the Asai kata collection, an archive of seminar and training footage connected with Tetsuhiko Asai's school of karate. Asai-Ryu is rooted in Shotokan and enriched with principles of Chinese White Crane kung fu, and the material collected here shows how that approach is taught and practised in the dojo. The collection is updated every week with further kata and seminar recordings.

Kumite demonstration

сообщение Asai Karate.

This video is devoted to Kumite demonstration.

This video is part of the Asai kata collection, an archive of seminar and training footage connected with Tetsuhiko Asai's school of karate. Asai-Ryu is rooted in Shotokan and enriched with principles of Chinese White Crane kung fu, and the material collected here shows how that approach is taught and practised in the dojo. The collection is updated every week with further kata and seminar recordings.

Makiwara training

The makiwara is used by karate practitioners to practice strikes in much the same way as a boxer uses a heavy bag. The makiwara develops ones' striking ability by letting them experience resistance to punches, kicks and other strikes. A poor punch will bounce off the makiwara if the body is not in a position to support the energy generated by the strike. It also develops targeting, and focus, which is the ability to penetrate the target (i.e., opponent) to varying degrees of force.

Fragment of officiale Film about Asai karate system