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Choki Motobu quote
A few days ago in conversation I mentioned a Choki Motobu quote however I couuldn't remember the exact wording or where I had in fact read it. Putting "Motobu fist instead of elbow" into google directed me with frightening accuracy to page 36 of Chris Denwoods book on Naihanchi where he is discussing the elbow strike in the kata. The quote is apparently taken from Motobu's 1932 book Watashi No Karate-Jutsu:
"In practical application, one should not impact with the left elbow but use the clenched fist instead" He goes on to say:
"In the kata the elbow looks better, but don't forget its practical application"
I would be very interested to hear what others think about these words and their possible meaning.
Regards,
Mark
Don't forget that Motobu was a proponent of converting punches to elbow strikes (which I've written about before), as he described in a discussion with Kano Jigoro, founder of Judo: “…about karate, he [Kano] asked me what I would do if my punch missed. I answered that I would immediately follow with an elbow strike from that motion.”
I will note that, in boxing, people have been known to throw hooks in such a way that elbows follow them to try to sneak past the rules and cut their opponent. I could very well see this type of thing as what Motobu is talking about. That said, that movement is not used as a punch in any of the applications I have learned from KishimotoDi, which utilizes an older form of Naihanchi, so I suspect that was either Motobu's personal interpretation, or that of one of his teachers, but not inherent to the kata.
.. as he described in a discussion with Kano Jigoro, founder of Judo: “…about karate, he [Kano] asked me what I would do if my punch missed. I answered that I would immediately follow with an elbow strike from that motion.”
You see that methodology in his two person drills too. A clear example is Drill 10 were a strike to the head is attempted, but the uke leans back. A strike to the now stretched ribs with the same arm (another of Motobu’s combative idiosyncrasies) is then delivered.
… so I suspect that was either Motobu's personal interpretation, or that of one of his teachers, but not inherent to the kata.
I’d agree. I think it is Motobu using the template of the kata and expressing a preferred alternative expression. Seeing the kata as an illustration of concept, that we can individualise based on personal preferences, is important. I also think that is what Itosu was driving at in his 6th precept:
“Learn the explanations of every technique well, and decide when and in what manner to apply them when needed.”
We learn what the kata as to teach (“learn the explanations of every technique well”), but we individualise it and make it our own (“decide when and in what manner to apply them”).
All the best,
Iain
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I always took that as Motobu's preference of what looks "cool" when performing kata and his preference to what he prefers to do when applying the techniques against a partner.
I think this point also outlines the importance of concepts of techniques. Yes we can elbow from that position, but we could also use other striking methods if the situation allowed. The elbow strike is an effective tool to be used, but any effective tool can be used in practice.