San Do Kuen Martial Arts

Karate is widely seen as a striking martial art.  The striking movements in karate are easy to understand an interpret because as Bruce Lee said “A punch is a punch, and a kick is a kick.”  However, the most valuable aspects of karate are not the reverse punch and straight kick.

Most karate masters of also had experience in Judo which contains a lot of standing grappling, sweeps and throws.  Many karate systems also contain elements of Judo and traditional Japanese Ju-jitsu (not modern sport or brazilian ju-jitsu), but most instructors just don’t understand these elements.

The Depth of Kata

Isshinryu Karate, as it is taught in the Three Way Fist system, is full of great standing grappling techniques.  Every kata has several very effective defenses for standing grappling attacks as well as some great throwing movements.  In San Do Kuen, techniques that are usually taught as “blocks” become strikes, arm bars, wrist locks, throws, grabs and other close quarters defenses.

Without guidance, it can take decades of practice for the average student to understand and apply these kinds of applications from kata.  San Do Kuen students learn most of their karate as it applies to standing grappling from the early stages of training.