Feet flat on the floor

Karate Technical Seminars in Varaždin, Croatia
September 12–14, 2025


#Varaždin #croatia #heian #kata #karate #shitoryu #Shitokai #wskf #eskf #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道

"Whether you think you're ready or not, just start right now. There is magic in ACTION."

“It never gets easier, you just get better.”

“What seems impossible today will one day become your warm-up.”

#macebell #tanzadeh #shitokai #shitoryu #Karate #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道 #糸東流空手 #空手 #日本空手 #沖縄空手

Master Kenwa Mabuni founded Shitoryu in 1934. It is a hybrid style that beautifully merges the techniques of Shuri-te and Naha-te. Mabuni, a devoted student of both Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higaonna, created a system that blends hard linear movements with soft circular ones. Shitoryu features an extensive catalogue of kata, reflecting Mabuni's encyclopedic knowledge of martial arts.

This unique mix of power and fluidity makes Shitoryu stand out. Whether you're refining strong stances or mastering intricate defensive techniques, Shitoryu offers a balanced approach that preserves its deep Okinawan heritage.


#shitokai #shitoryu #Karate #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道 #糸東流空手 #空手 #日本空手 #沖縄空手

素振り刀 (Suburitō)

A suburito is a type of wooden practice sword used in Japanese martial arts. Heavier than a standard bokken (wooden sword), it is designed to build strength and power while refining swordsmanship techniques.

Training for karate demands not just precise technique but also strength and resilience. This synergy of traditional and modern tools not only enhances my physical capacity but also deepens my connection to the art of karate. It’s a journey of continuous growth, balancing strength with precision and tradition with innovation.

#suburito #素振り刀 #kendo #budo #karatedo #shitoryu #shitokai

Mushin (無心)
Acting decisively is the bridge between hesitation and flow.

Mushin is the state beyond decisiveness, where even the need to decide disappears.
You start by learning to act decisively, then through deep repetition, you reach Mushin, where mind and technique become one.

#mushin #無心 #mindset #martialarts #karate #shitoryu #shitokai

With Kaicho Iwata Sensei. Japan, Tokyo 1993.

Pt. 1

Kisoku no Donto, 気息の呑吐, (the Principle of Inhale–Exhale Control) means controlling the rhythm of breathing in kata, when to inhale and when to exhale. It is one of the classic kata principles. You match breath to movement, so power, posture, and timing stay consistent. Kisoku no Donto is structured breath control for kata. You choose inhale or exhale per technique to support power, posture, and timing. 

Use abdominal breathing to load during preparation, release at impact, and maintain steady internal pressure during transitions. Naha-te kata such as Sanchin and Tensho are classic training models for this type of breathing control, which you can also apply in kihon practice and other kata as appropriate.

Kisoku no Donto, 気息の呑吐

Pt. 2

Six breathing patterns often taught under Kisoku no Donto:
Long inhale, long exhale.
Long inhale, short exhale.
Short inhale, long exhale.
Short inhale, short exhale.
Combinations of the above (1 to 4) are chosen to fit specific techniques.
波形呑吐 (Hakei Donto) – Wave-Shaped Breathing. Continuous, seamless breathing where inhale and exhale merge naturally without pause, like a wave. Represents the most advanced form of Kisoku no Donto, where breath and motion become one.

Meoto-de (or Meoto-te 夫婦手) is a concept that refers to the coordinated use of both hands in action simultaneously (Dōji 同時). The term "Meoto" (夫婦) means "husband and wife," symbolizing a complementary relationship, much like how a married couple works together in harmony.

In karate, this means that one hand typically performs an offensive movement (such as a punch or strike, sometimes even in combination with a kick), while the other plays a defensive or supporting role (such as blocking, pulling, or controlling the opponent). Unlike standard techniques where the hands often function independently, Meoto-de 夫婦手 emphasizes simultaneous action, allowing them to work together as a unit to enhance power, balance, and overall effectiveness.

#MeotoDe #TraditionalKarate #karate #shitoryu #Shitokai #wskf #eskf #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道

Inen (意念) (directed intention) 意, intent or will. 念, focused thought.

In kata, Inen (意念) means performing each movement with spirit, will, and clear intent. Every action must have a defined target, purpose, and result. Your body, eyes, breath, and timing all express that inner intent. Without Inen, kata becomes only physical choreography; with it, each movement comes alive, carrying direction, energy, and meaning.

#意念 #inen #kata #karate #karatedo #shitokai #shitoryu #martialarts #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道

沖縄空手の八大要素＝ Okinawa karate no Hachidai youso
Meaning : Eight most important elements in Okinawan karate

フェーサ 速さ＝ Feesa - Hayasa
Meaning : Speed

アティファ 破壊力 ＝ Atifa - Hakairyoku
Meaning : Destructive force/power

チンクチ 締め ＝ Chinkuchi - Shime
Meaning : Tightening

チュラサ 美しさ ＝ Churasa - Utsukushisa
Meaning : Beauty

クシ 腰 ＝ Kushi - Koshi
Meaning : Hips

ムチミ 弾力性 ＝ Muchimi - Danryokusei
Meaning : Flexibility,Elasticity

ククル 心眼 ＝ Kukuru - Shingan
Meaning : Mind’s eye, mental perception

ミチチ 目付 ＝ Michichi - Metsuke
Meaning : Metsuke (Chakugan)

#tanzadeh #okinawankarate #karate #shitoryu #Shitokai #worldkarate #Shitoryukaratecanada

In/Yō (陰陽) in Kata – The Balance of Opposites
In kata, In/Yō represents the balance and exchange between soft and hard, slow and fast, expansion and contraction, receiving and attacking.
Every movement in karate holds both sides. Understanding this balance gives life to your kata and prevents it from becoming mechanical.
In (陰) is the passive, receptive, and hidden aspect.
Yō (陽) is the active, expressive, and visible force.
In/Yō teaches rhythm and contrast. Without it, kata looks flat. With it, kata breathes, becoming alive and real.

#inyo #陰陽 #yinyang #kata #karatedo #shitokai #shitoryu #martialarts #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道

Nagare (流れ) and Ibuki (息吹) are both breathing methods in karate, but they serve very different purposes and feelings.
In Shitoryu Karate, practice mainly emphasizes Nagare breathing.

Nagare breathing (流れ呼吸, Nagare Kokyū) means “flowing breathing.”
It is a way of breathing that remains continuous, smooth, and natural throughout movement.
Nagare breathing feels like a gentle wave. It rises and falls naturally, keeping rhythm and connection between movements.
It is quiet, relaxed, and fluid, allowing your body and technique to move as one.

#流れ #流れ呼吸 #呼吸 #karatedo #shitokai #shitoryu #martialarts #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道

Kime-geiko (決め稽古) literally means training that emphasizes decisive focus and finishing power, combining both mental and physical concentration at the moment of impact.
決め (kime) = focus, decisive finish, concentration of power.

稽古 (keiko) = training or practice.

#kime #keiko #決め #決め稽古 #karatedo #shitokai #shitoryu #martialarts #糸東会 #糸東流 #空手道