AKS Quarterly Newsletter

"The Punchline Editorial"
March 2019

Something to Think About

Over the years, as an instructor, I have stated various reasons to continue your training. Now that I'm a little older, it's time to talk about the difficulties you will run into as the aging process starts to take hold of your physical being.

Some of these problems arrive at different ages. When my body could handle the training, I would keep the intensity as high as possible, knowing that the people I would compete against would be at that level. I suggest, that if you can train to be at that level for competition, then you should. Now years later, I would say to keep training, but remember that your mind and body will not always agree on the level of intensity.

Recently, and only due to the way Community Colleges have to keep their accreditation, I started instructing a beginner Judo class. The [original] instructor had an accident and severely injured himself. Instead of canceling the class, I was asked to take over. Over the years, I have practiced a certain amount of Judo and other grappling throws and moves. I bring this up because it's funny how your mind will say, especially if you're feeling well, that teaching basic anything should be a piece of cake. Well, suddenly, I'm demonstrating all the different falls with some basic throws. The mind says "great," but the body doesn't necessarily agree. So now I have to design the class so the students get the information, but also I survive. I do my best to demonstrate, but will not let the students practice on me.

Over the years, following the example of Yamashita Sensei, I noticed how he demonstrates at his seminars. You never see anyone doing the technique on him. I must be gaining some knowledge because that's my new rule.

Now that I have to deal with Judoka/Grapplers, there is a saying I tell anyone who studies martial arts when it pertains to self-defense. "Never box with a boxer, grapple with a grappler or for that matter do karate with a karateka." In self-defense, use techniques that are unexpected and severe. My judo students would love to wrestle around, and I have a couple students of such size and strength that my ability to grapple would just get me killed. So when we talk about vital areas such as eyes, throat, groin, and knees among others, using severe strikes to these areas would be my only chance.

My point is, use your time practicing the types of strikes that will do damage to these areas. The use of elbows and knees will also be the kinds of weapons you will need. Now, even though I'm teaching Judo, I'm preparing myself to be able to defend against a person of such skill.

Conditioning is still important. As we age, we might not do as we did when young. It is important to continue the effort. Using your kata/forms practice is still a good way to work on your conditioning. In the Judo class they practice Randori/free practice. A type of sparring. The simple way to describe this is to grab your partners jacket top, one hand on the lapel and one on the sleeve and he/she grabs yours. Then you push and pull trying to dislodge your opponents balance. Well this might not be a new form of conditioning for any grapplers. For someone used to just kicking and punching, it became an eye opener. Using one of my new rules, I won't let them trip or throw me, but just that pushing and pulling can wear you out. This makes you understand why you shouldn't grapple with a stranger. Of course the Judo students will have to take this to the next level. Using the trips and throws to put their opponent on the ground. For us older karateka, we can just use it for conditioning.

Well to sum up, as we age, we need to realize our bodies are deteriorating faster than our minds, hopefully. So make adjustments in your training. Even though our bodies are changing, you can still practice effective self-defense. All the same, threats and reasons we started training are still out there.

Lastly, on conditioning, a self-defense situation is not going to be a 2 or 3 minute sporting match. You must have the stamina to deliver 3 or 4 powerful and on-target strikes, along with the ability to bravely run away. So training to be effective, along with some conditioning, will always be important.

Frederic A Reinecke
9th Degree AKS
Chief Instructor

Karate as Therapy

by Dave Thomas

After our students have been in class a few months, they begin to realize the advantages of regular exercise. More flexibility, better mobility, quicker reflexes and a lighter heart are just a few of the benefits of regular training. We often extol the merits of training to deal with threats in the real world. We teach all the techniques for keeping ourselves, and those we hold dear, safe from harm. More than just kicking and punching, we teach psychology, group dynamics and space optimization. These are tangible and quantifiable attributes to karate training.

There is a less often discussed aspect to our training; using our training and the personal bond of our peers to help us cope with setbacks in our lives. I have known a number of former students who return to class when problems arise in their lives. The karate class is a sanctuary where you leave your problems at the door and focus solely on the skills of learning the martial arts. Sometimes they stay just long enough for a self-confidence "tune-up," and sometimes longer.

About once a year, yet another medical study is published explaining that people who exercise regularly have a better quality of life. Those who are active are physically healthier, emotionally happier, and less subject to routine illness.

Some years ago, there was a study group with varying degrees of emotional problems. They were given the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory). It is a standardized test to evaluate emotional problems. Then members of the test group were divided into two smaller groups. One group was put into conventional group therapy, and the other was given a regimen of exercise and group sports. The second group was encouraged not to discuss their personal problems.

At the end of six months, both group were tested again. The exercise group actually scored better on the second test; as people that could more appropriately deal with their own issues. Physical exercise releases endorphins from the brain which contributes to a healthier and more positive outlook. We often feel euphoric (and tired) after a good strenuous workout.

In December, 2017 one of my students was found unresponsive by her father. She was rushed by ambulance to the hospital and placed in intensive care. She was a bright, healthy young lady who had graduated college six months earlier. She had been a regular competitor in the area karate circuit and had won several trophies.

She was diagnosed with viral meningitis and spent several weeks in a coma on a ventilator to keep her breathing. At the time, her doctors were very concerned about how much damage had been caused by her illness. Their prognosis was not optimistic as to what she would be able to do for herself once she left the hospital.

After she regained consciousness, she had to re-learn many basic skills. But through it all, she said she wanted to come back to karate class. Karate for her had been fun, rewarding and helped her in many intangible ways. The ways we don't list in the AKS Handbook; the ways we don't talk much about in self-defense. These are the ways we learn for ourselves by pushing, trying and sweating, achieving goals we didn't think possible from the time when we first walked on the dojo floor.

Two weeks ago, she was back on the floor working on her techniques and forms. Her pace is slower and she needed a couple breaks (at our encouragement). But she was out there working and trying, and I think for everyone in class that night, we saw how a spirit can soar over adversity. How to win even when the world tells you that you lost.

Keep soaring my friend and showing the rest of us how it's done.

Dave Thomas 8th Dan