Email from Sempai George on February 7, 2005
The Essence of KIHON
by George Douvelos

　

Sensei Tats,

 

Having had an opportunity to train with you and see your young students train and I cannot help but think back to my early days of training under Shihan Kenny Uytenbogaardt in South Africa. Shihan Kenny used to concentrate on kihon (basics) in every class as he does to this day, as I notice you do too. At times I used to enjoy the games we played more than the usual kihon, as do most kids. But he always said that kihon is the most important part in the development of a karateka. Though, I remembered his words I did not appreciate them, until much later in my karate development. This is what has prompted me to write this note and maybe you can pass onto your younger students. You will understand my logic, but sometimes students remember something when they have hear it from someone else, even though they may not understand it initially.

Sempai George Douvelos
Began training Kyokushin in 1980 in his home country, South Africa under Shihan KennyUytenbogaardt. Sempai George competed in the 5th World Tournament in 1991.He placed 3rd in All African Championships in 1991. Moved to Canada in Oct 2001 and joined VKK in 2003. Sempai George currently trains at Vanc. East Dojo.

The Essence of KIHON

　

Why do we do we start every formal class with kihon?

A simple answer is because, kihon is our karate alphabet, but to an advanced student it is because it develops a good “center point”.  I remember Shihan Kenny always saying that Sosai says all circular lines/movements start from a “center point”, the same principle applies to linear lines/movements. What is this “center point” I used to ask? He always said it is difficult to explain but it reveals itself through the disciple of training, and importantly though daily kihon training. It was only years later as I matured with my training that I started to understand what a “center point” is, but I too cannot explain it, even now that I am trying to put it in words.  For I realized it is simply a sense of awareness of the origin of the power in our techniques one develops through dedicated training. It is not something mystical but can be proven scientifically by the kinetic movement of a body and it shows in an advanced students posture, stances, movement, and attitude.

　

Someone, develops this understanding though just kihon? Yes, is almost a naïve answer, but it is simple true, because without kihon which is our alphabet, we cannot move on to ido geko (moving basis), which is developing “words” and from there to kata (set form) which is “sentence construction” which eventually leads to kumite (fighting) or rather “communication” . The more we work on kihon, the better everything else gets. It is also through kihon, that we develop good posture, for all kihon starts from getting into a good stance and focusing on our techniques, if this is lacking it becomes a mere aerobics exercise.

 

So I hope students do not get bored with kihon in every class for there is a purpose. Instructors, do try and vary the kihon applications now and then, because they do appreciate it can feel mundane, but know there is a purpose to everything in the dojo, even though it may not appear so at first, especially to a novice and younger students as it was for me when I stared training.

Students that develop a good “center point” develop an aura of strength, that becomes apparent in there fighting and attitude on the tatami (mat). I met Sosai only twice, the first time in 1981, when he came to visit South Africa. I shook his hands, although it was exciting to see him in person, it was just that. Ten years later I fortunate enough to compete in the 5^th World Championships and I meet Sosai again. When I shook his hands that time I could sense the aura in this great man, even though he was small in stature. Kyokushin had more meaning to me then.  The moment that I shook Sosai’s hands I wished I focused just a little more during kihon, for I wanted Sosai to “sense” that I think I understood his “philosophy or theory” for want of better words of his point of origin or center.

So every time I practice basics, which is never enough because of other work pressures, I think back to my early days in the dojo and how fortunate I have been and am to practise Kyokushin. So, never get bored of kihon. There is a purpose.

 

 I just wish I thought the same about kata, because I forget them and never practice them enough for the set forms to become second nature, Kata have a purpose too, other than to pass a grading, but that is another discussion altogether. Ido geko, and kata all have there purpose even though I simplified everything down to the importance of  basics. For they too are required for us  “communicate” better in our kumite.

 

So keep practicing your basics, they are not practiced to kill time in the dojo. That is why in a kyokushin dojo an instructor always does the basics with his students, for basics are the essence of everything else to follow. Osu!