Welcome to the longest podcast we have ever done! This month’s podcast follows on from last month’s on the grading system and the black belt. I received a lot of requests for more information on what I felt a syllabus should include and what a dan grade should be. So I picked up a copy of my syllabus and clicked the record icon on my laptop. The resulting “stream of consciousness” is this month’s podcast.
The podcast is split into two halves. In the first half, I discuss the topics that I feel a holistic and pragmatic syllabus should include and why they are so important. I think it would be fair to say that the majority of martial arts syllabuses omit these things so I hope it provides some food for thought. The second part of the podcast discusses how my personal syllabus (which I keep private) is set up and the podcast also breaks down what we do for 9th kyu and 1st dan; and a little bit of what we cover as students make their way from one to the other.
As I hope I made clear last month, I personally don’t believe that a universal and standardised criteria for dan grades is a good idea (listen to the podcast for the details of why I think that). So in that vein, I am not suggesting that what I do is what others must also do; nor am I suggesting that all syllabuses adopt the criteria I personally use. I do, however, hope that this discussion on what I personally do is helpful to you in structuring what you do.
I hope you enjoy the podcast and I’ll be back with a standard length podcast next month!
In this month’s podcast we discuss the always controversial subject of the grading system and the coveted black belt. On internet forums, message boards, and in the letters pages in the martial arts magazines we frequently find discussion on how standards are falling, the black belt does not mean what it once did and that there is no uniform standard anymore. So in this podcast I’d like to give my take on the black belt and the plusses and pitfalls associated with the grading system in general.
I cover the origins of the black belt; how the grading system can encourage the pursuit of things that have no bearing on combative function; how the grading system can both encourage and discourage the inappropriate rise of ego; what could happen if we got rid of the grading system; the lack of standardisation in grading criteria (which I think is a good thing); what grades are legitimate; and many more of the issues surrounding the grading system.
This podcast also has a little bit of information on some of the exciting changes that will be coming to iainabernethy.com in the next few weeks! I hope that you enjoy the podcast and I’ll be back with a new one next month!
All the best,
Iain
PS The picture associated with this podcast is drawn by Lauren Fast and is of myself strangling Scott Knowles (the “official uke” of my recent Canadian trip) using a technique from Pinan Yodan. I’ll share high resolution versions of these with you in coming weeks, because they are amazing works of art! Thanks to James Freeman for arranging these pictures, to Lauren for drawing them … and to Scott for being happily strangled for a fortnight!
A few weeks ago I added some videos to this section relating to the Crossing the Pod seminars in the UK and the USA in August! Well, I now have a new video from Nicholas Yang!
The first weekend of seminars will take place in Seattle in the USA (14th and 15th of August) and the second weekend will take place a week later in Coventry in the UK (21st and 22nd of August). Kris Wilder, Marc “Animal” MacYoung, Alan Peasland, Nicholas Yang and I will be the instructors with all five of us teaching both days!
The main website for these events is www.crossingthepond.webs.com and you can book your place online (click HERE for USA bookings / click HERE for UK bookings).
As I have said before, these events present an amazing mix of the “traditional” and the “reality based” (not that I see a difference between the two terms) and I’m sure serious martial artists in Europe and USA will be very keen to be part of this history making event! So far the UK one has bookings from as far a field as Norway and Spain! This is going to be a very exciting international event. Any how, that’s enough from me, please checkout Nicholas’s new video below!
Here’s a quick clip from the filming of the first set of Extreme Impact Downloads. Those who have seen the downloads will know that Steve and I take turns when demonstrating and to explain each of the drills … well on this one I forgot it was my turn! Watch carefully for the shifty sideways glances from Steve and me! Thankfully, the editing removes all such cock-ups from the final program! Enjoy!
This month’s podcast is a cardiovascular martial arts workout! It’s been a while since we have done a workout podcast and I’d been receiving lots of requests for one. All you need for this one is a little space and some light dumbbells. You then play the podcast and work along with it for a 23 minute training session that involves various cardiovascular exercises, muscular endurance exercises, and various types of shadow fighting!
Before doing the workout, you should watch the video that goes with this podcast (found on the blog of iainabernethy.com if you are accessing this podcast via iTunes etc). This video has demonstrations of the key exercises and should make it clear what is required.
IMPORTANT: If you are unsure of how to perform any of the exercises safely, effectively and efficiently then do not attempt this workout without first seeking instruction from a suitably qualified and experienced person. Also be sure to work at a suitable pace and immediately stop if you feel any undue pain or discomfort.
The workout is cardiovascular and muscular endurance in nature and is time-based (i.e. each activity is engaged in for a given time). It is therefore important to work at a pace that allows you to keep moving for the duration of each section. If you find that you need to stop / take breaks because of exhaustion, then you need to reduce the pace at which you are working.
I hope you enjoy the workout and find it a useful addition to your training program. I’ll be back with a normal podcast in a few weeks!
All the best,
Iain
PS The bench press picture above has absolutely nothing to do with this workout!
I have some very exiting news! Later this year myself, Kris Wilder, Marc “Animal” MacYoung, Alan Peasland and Nicolas Yang will be conducting two not to be missed two day events! The first one will take place in Seattle in the USA (14th and 15th of August) and the second event will take place a week later in Coventry in the UK (21st and 22nd of August).
I’m thrilled to be able to be able to meet up with members and visitors from the USA as well having the opportunity to teach as part as such an amazing line up!
Alan is a good friend who I have trained with and along side on numerous occasions. Kris is an amazing karateka and a really nice guy. He stayed with my family and I the first time he visited the UK and I look forward to spending some more time with him. I’ve been a big fan of Marc’s books for decades and, although we’ve swapped a few emails, we have yet to meet up in person and I am really looking forward to that. Nicolas Yang’s father’s books are also firm favourites of mine and I’m very excited to be able to meet and teach along side Nick.
I have to say this is an amazing mix of the “traditional” and the “reality based” (not that I see a difference between the two terms) and I’m sure serious martial artists in both the UK and USA will be very keen to be part of this history making event!
In this podcast I’d like to explain how an individual kata can record a complete fighting system! There is a common view that individual kata are for specific circumstances, and it is only when all the kata are combined that we have a complete style. I think this is an incorrect and mistaken view; both from a practical and historical perspective. Surely, one kata can’t record a complete fighting system though? Well, in my view it can!
You may be asking how a relatively small number of techniques can ever be considered to be a full system? Well if you are, listen to the podcast and I’ll do my best to explain my thinking to you! Kata are a lot deeper and much wider reaching than many people suppose.
As part of this discussion we will also cover the nature of kata, how kata should be practised in order to realise its full potential, what some of the past masters had to say about kata and its application, and how and why kata were created in the first place.
I hope you enjoy this latest offering and I’ll be back with a new workout podcast and online video next month!
It’s officially our 30th podcast! I say “officially” because we’ve done things like double-podcasts and workout podcasts in the past. Regardless, I’m classing this as our 30th podcast … and it’s my website so no one can stop me! Thanks to you all for your support of the podcasts. The amount of downloads is fantastic (and pushing our bandwidth limits!). I’m truly delighted that so many of you are finding these podcasts useful.
This month I want to discuss what many seem to regard as the biggest secret in the martial arts! While there is no doubt that many martial artists are aware of this secret, there are very few who will publicly discuss it. Indeed, most will totally deny this highly influential secret and seem to regard it, and the influence it has, with great distain.
Want to know what the secret is? Well I can pretty much guarantee it has a big impact on how you train. It certainly does with me. The picture that goes with this podcast (assuming you are viewing this on the blog of iainabernethy.com and not on i-tunes or elsewhere) also gives you a clue. It’s myself and Dave Hazard at the recent British Combat Association residential course. Dave’s superb session certainly involved this rarely discussed “secret” aspect of the martial arts in large quantities. Still not sure what this secret is? Then I suggest you listen to the podcast!
I hope you enjoy this podcast and I’ll be back with our 31st podcast in a few weeks!
Thanks to everyone for their support of the new Extreme Impact downloads! They have got off to a great start and I’m delighted people are enjoying the direct, to the point, “high energy” presentation and editing. The aim was to get as much as we could into the running time with no filler and no unnecessary explanations so that the visuals match the methods of training. I’m really pleased this is striking a chord with people and Steve and I have plans to produce more units in the summer. This kind of training forms a big part of my own teaching and training and I feel it is totally necessary to ensure my students become rounded martial artists who are capable of generating great impact regardless of distance or environment.
Each download starts with some technical tips before moving into a number of drills and variations to develop all aspects of the technique in question and the required physical fitness and mental attributes to make the technique work when under stress. If you click on the “play now” link below you can watch a low-resolution sample of three random drills taken from Extreme Impact units 2, 3 and 5. If you like what you see, please visit the shopping side of the main website for more details. Please also see the post below!
Newsletter subscribers will be aware that Steve Williams and I have been working on a project called “Extreme Impact”. Extreme Impact is a unique training system for martial artists who want to train in a way that will separate them from the crowd. The drills that form the Extreme Impact training system will develop to high levels the vital martial attributes of Speed, Focus, Fitness, Power, Impact, Aggression, Mental Resilience, Flowing Transitions, Timing, Dynamic Movement, and Confidence.
The drills in all the Extreme Impact units reflect the way Steve and I train together and such drills form a large part of my teaching in my own dojo. Whether you are a “traditionalist” like me or a “modernist” like Steve, we feel sure that you will not only reap great benefits from training in this way but you will also enjoy it (afterward if not during).
The way each unit is structured is that Steve or I explain the details of a given drill, which is then followed by Steve or I demonstrating the drill at full speed and power (all sweat, twisted facial expressions and signs of fatigue are entirely genuine!).
The first five units are now available to download:
Unit 1 – Developing a Knockout Jab!
Unit 2 – The Cross: The Ultimate Knockout Shot! Unit 3 – Roundhouse: The King of Kicks!
Unit 4 – Front, Side and Groin Kicks: Straight Down the Line! Unit 5 – Strength & Plyometric Drills: Not for the Fainthearted!
The download format means we don’t have to pay for DVD production and hence each unit is available at just £9.70. If you click on the “play now” link below you can watch a short trailer for the first five Extreme Impact units (more units will be released later in the year).
“I fall to the floor. I’m breathing so hard that my lungs feel like they are about to burst. I look down at my broken body. I can hear nothing but the sound of my pounding heart. I have a splitting headache as my brain screams for oxygen. My muscles are so exhausted that my body can no longer move. So it doesn’t. Mentally and physically I have nothing left. This is hell. And then it starts; like it always does: “Get up! Get a grip of yourself and get on your feet!” The inner voice. My will. My sprit. It’s the one thing that will never lie down and die. So I get to my feet and I do it all again. This is how I train. This is INTENSITY.” – Steve Williams
Welcome to the longest podcast we have ever done! This month’s podcast follows on from last month’s on the grading system and the black belt. I received a lot of requests for more information on what I felt a syllabus should include and what a dan grade should be. So I picked up a copy of my syllabus and clicked the record icon on my laptop. The resulting “stream of consciousness” is this month’s podcast.
In this month’s podcast we discuss the always controversial subject of the grading system and the coveted black belt. On internet forums, message boards, and in the letters pages in the martial arts magazines we frequently find discussion on how standards are falling, the black belt does not mean what it once did and that there is no uniform standard anymore. So in this podcast I’d like to give my take on the black belt and the plusses and pitfalls associated with the grading system in general.
A few weeks ago I added some videos to this section relating to the 
This month’s podcast is a cardiovascular martial arts workout! It’s been a while since we have done a workout podcast and I’d been receiving lots of requests for one. All you need for this one is a little space and some light dumbbells. You then play the podcast and work along with it for a 23 minute training session that involves various cardiovascular exercises, muscular endurance exercises, and various types of shadow fighting!
I have some very exiting news! Later this year myself, Kris Wilder, Marc “Animal” MacYoung, Alan Peasland and Nicolas Yang will be conducting two not to be missed two day events! The first one will take place in Seattle in the USA (14th and 15th of August) and the second event will take place a week later in Coventry in the UK (21st and 22nd of August).
In this podcast I’d like to explain how an individual kata can record a complete fighting system! There is a common view that individual kata are for specific circumstances, and it is only when all the kata are combined that we have a complete style. I think this is an incorrect and mistaken view; both from a practical and historical perspective. Surely, one kata can’t record a complete fighting system though? Well, in my view it can!
It’s officially our 30th podcast! I say “officially” because we’ve done things like double-podcasts and workout podcasts in the past. Regardless, I’m classing this as our 30th podcast … and it’s my website so no one can stop me! Thanks to you all for your support of the podcasts. The amount of downloads is fantastic (and pushing our bandwidth limits!). I’m truly delighted that so many of you are finding these podcasts useful.
Thanks to everyone for their support of the new 
Newsletter subscribers will be aware that Steve Williams and I have been working on a project called “