So what exactly are basics? To most karateka basics means standing in line performing simple techniques (punches, kicks and blocks).

There's more to it than that. Basics are your fundamental skills. They provide the foundation for all your studies - how to stand, how to move, how to generate power, what targets to hit, what weapons (hand and foot positions) you can use, how to read an opponent's intentions, how to breathe, stay healthy, relaxed and of course learn the fundamental techniques of striking, locking, throwing, kicking and stance work.

Line work isn't basics. Line work is drilling techniques. There's a problem with line work in that you cannot learn your basics in an efficient and natural way. The origins of line work are in the Japanese military where large groups of people were learning how to react to orders.

I found that beginners have difficulty with line work. They are expected to get into a stance and hold their arms in a certain position then move in a particular way. Why does it take 3 months to learn a handful of basics and a couple of kata for your next belt. You can learn a kata in a couple of hours. The reason is simple - inefficiency.

It takes a while to become accustomed to traditional karate movement which isn't the same movement you perform when out walking, dancing or working. So why do it? Times have to change. Line work is no longer suited to skill development especially with advances in sports science and biomechanics.

At our dojo we learn basics working with a partner in a freestyle environment so students can clearly see what is happening. We make use of focus mitts and other equipment so new students begin with actually hitting things. Progress is much better than the old way and when they come to learn their traditional karate movements and kata they already understand the applications and the mechanics of the techique. The approach means they learn the best angles for working each technique. They get the body movement, entry points through the opponent's guard and control of timing and distance.

We then progress to kata, applications, 2-person drilling and push hands, then onto freestyle practice and attack/defence sparring. We will shortly be introducing scenario sparring where one partner is, say, limited to grappling and another is limited to striking, or we start from on the ground with the aim of one partner being to stand up while the other prevents him.

You can chop and change your partner work and sparring formats to suit different environments. There aren't really advanced skills, just fundamental skills with different levels of understanding - which, to newer students appear to be "advanced" in the sense that they are moving towards greater understanding.

"That's not traditional karate!" I hear you cry. Well, if traditional karate is nothing more than marching about in lines that's fine you can keep it. The only traditions worth maintaining are the ones that evolve and grow with the times.

But it begins at Day 1. No more "stand at the back and follow as best as you can." Invest in some good focus mitts (I've just discovered the joys of training with Thai pads too!), hang a kick bag and get on with it.

Stephen Irwin

http://www.totalgoalsetting.com