Training Methods
Kihon - Kata - Kumite
Kihon means "Foundation".
Kihon develops the body structure, balance, footwork, breathing, timing and the power generation method for all of the techniques used in Goshin Kenpo Jutsu. Kihon includes breathing exercises to improve health and repair damage, conditioning methods to strengthen the body and anatomical weapons used to be able to receive and issue impact during combat, these methods include two person body weight exercises, weight training with specialised implements and hitting sandbags and punchbags. Once learned these methods can be practiced at home.
Kata means "Formal Exercise" it is the rule book for the techniques practiced in Goshin Kenpo Jutsu.
The Solo performance Kata works like shadow boxing does in Western Boxing but in a fixed manner. Each solo Kata is like a moving manual of techniques that are stored in your brain rather than on paper or in digital format. Practicing solo Kata teaches the student how to link individual movements together and improve the footwork, body alignment, coordination and balance learnt from Kihon. The Solo Kata is practiced at different speeds, slow for health, fast for fitness and with intent for self-defence. We have six solo Kata in total for more information about each Kata and it's uses please see the Kata page in the navigation bar.
Padwork Kata develops the transfer of impact from the limbs into a target. This method of striking and kicking foam pads safely tests if the student's body structure is capable of handling the stresses of impact in a real fight, body conditioning is also a by-product of this training method as holding the pads in the correct manner allows the students to feel and abosrb or redirect the impact whilst the body's external strength develops. Advanced students use other forms of equipment including sand bags and Makiwara which, is a traditional rope wrapped wooden post, to develop the anatomical weapons further.
Two-person Kata practice trains the applications to the movements in a controlled method with a training partner. Two-person Kata are a method of safely drilling the self-defence techniques of Goshin Kenpo Jutsu, knowing exactly what is being practiced in each drill reduces the risk of injury and are practiced at different levels of intensity and physical contact depends upon the skill level of the student.
Kumite means "Sparring" it is the method of pressure testing the techniques learned.
Sparring is where things start to get a bit more realistic but it differs from the sparring seen in combat sports. In combat sports you are forced to engage with your opponent or you will be disqualified. In self-defence you do not have to engage with your potential attacker until they try to engage with you and because of this there are different types of sparring used in class, again this depends upon the technical level of the student.
Prearranged sparring is the main type used, this is done for single and multiple opponents unarmed and armed. The difference between Two Man Kata and Prearranged sparring is that in the Two man kata both attack and defence methods are known prior to practice but in prearranged sparring only the initial attack is known the defensive technique is chosen randomly by the defender. Prearranged sparring is done in one, three and five step methods to learn how to counter attack common assault scenarios with the techniques learnt in class in a controlled but more realistic manner, one step uses a set attack but can be counter attacked by any method of choice, three step allows the training partner to counter attack the student's initial technique, forcing the student to react with a suitable second technique of their own, progressing to five step where they could be counter attacked twice, the student learns how to effortlessly transition into the next technique as necessary.
Free sparring allows the opponent or opponents to use any form of attack and counter attack as necessary, this is reserved for higher level students. The level of body contact again depends upon the level of the student but self-defence arts contain techniques banned in most if not all contact sports and great care has to be taken during even medium contact sparring.