Taking Shotokan Forward

[fujicolt]

I know many of you get hissed of with me when i say or even suggest Too many people are doing OLD HAT shotokan - decades behind.

I am myself still a traditionalist BUT I have to take my hat off =' bow in Japanese thinking' to Paul Herbert.

now i have to be honest and say i have reservations - is this a Study of shotokan karate or just a way to 'have a go with no risk of injury? which IS NOT Studying Shotokan Karate but

Paul's Redman stuff - even though i have not seen it or experienced it - seems to me to be possibly the biggest leap forward we have had in a long while.
i shall no doubt - being me - have to have a close and possibly very critical look at it but i can already say -

Damn i wish we had it 30 yrs ago!. not because it would help real Shotokan but cos i woulda really been young and strong enough to really test it as a solution to gaining reality.

Paul - pioneers do not have a smooth ride - they crash against the waves to let those whom follow ride gently in the wake!

respect but i want a go for 'old folk'

[Danielsan]

Not to be pedantic but I'm confused, if you've not seen or experienced it why do you think it's such a leap forward?

Bear in mind I know nothing of what you're talking about so it may well speak for itself, I dunno :p

[kensei]

Not to be pedantic but I'm confused, if you've not seen or experienced it why do you think it's such a leap forward?

Bear in mind I know nothing of what you're talking about so it may well speak for itself, I dunno :p

[fujicolt]

Not to be pedantic but I'm confused, if you've not seen or experienced it why do you think it's such a leap forward?

Bear in mind I know nothing of what you're talking about so it may well speak for itself, I dunno :p

simply look above - Paul's REdman stuff - he sent me info afore it was above BUT looks really interesting to me - Good luck Paul - ignore the skeptics and advertise those who found it of value. I admittedly haven't had a go - but I really want to - but suspect REDMAN suits don't come in short and dumpy (with oxygen attached) HAHA!

[Danielsan]

Oh, I am sorry, I misread your initial post as "Paul Redman's stuff" :p I've never heard of Paul Redman so had no idea what you were talking about.

Ah those redman suits look fun man, would love to strap up in one of them and go at it :p Kinda expensive for the sake of sparring without getting a bloodied lip, though.

[Bob Davis]

Kinda expensive for the sake of sparring without getting a bloodied lip, though.

But probably worth it if you have the resourses.

Old story but the boy and I tried something similar a few years back "on the cheap", standard TKD body armour, mitts, boxing head gear etc... It became very apparent VERY quickly that one or both of us was going to get seriously hurt if we carried on, the level of protection was no where near sufficient to throw full power techniques. Although it did stop the more delicate of us bruising our hands (just dropped that in for you Steve )

[kensei]

I agree, My brother...many years before he passed...won a Hogo and a 1 month pass to a TKD club. The Hogo was of good quality from hat I understand and even felt like leather. He put the thing on and was saying how it was supposed to protect him. He took three classes, bought a helmet and Foam hand and foot gear. I said one day how silly it was and told him the Hogo would do nothing for him, even when the instructor insisted. so he showed me how a push kick would be "protected" and how the round kick and side kicks (another push kick) would protect him.....
I showed him how a reverse punch and real good snappy front kick would go right through it like butter...that was his last class in TKD. Granted he never did join Karate...but he said we were scarry!

[Darjum]

Hi Steve

Paul is not the only one to be using these kind of suits. Myself and Simon from Shobu Promotions have been using a similar suit (Hitman) for the last 5 years. We have used it not only for our own training but also to teach self defense with etc. Paul will be the first to tell you as he asked us advice on which suit to get. I hope he does well with it as the suits are a fantastic way of testing technique. It really brings home the efficacy of your technique. My only critique of any of these suits are the headguards. They do not protect the wearer one bit. We changed to boxing headgear as that seemed to afford some protection.

From experience I can tell you the following:

Hitting the suits: highlights the slightest defect in your technique and also gives you a balance of when technique turns to sheer frustration when the suit just does not give in! You can also build into hitting the suit with a certain amount of rage...quite a good stress relief!

Inside the suit: Gives you the chance to stay focused under intensive attack. All though you are protected somewhat you still have to defend as there are some very powerful people trying to knock you down. Also builds stamina as you are carrying in excess of 2 stone more than your own bodyweight and so can give you the feeling of fighting when fatigued.

If you get the chance then I would say book a session with one of these suits as apart from being a great modern training aid they are also fantastic fun! We have been doing Self defense courses with these as well which have proved very worthwhile to the participants because they go away with a more realistic approach as to what a determined attacker will or will not do. We always say to expect that the attacker will keep attacking and they will not stop.

I just thought I'd put my two pennies worth in to say that there are more people out there doing this kind of thing.

Regards

Darren Jumnoodoo

[Shaun]

Hey guys,


Here is a link to the report I wrote of the personal one-on-one session I had with Paul Herbert and his RedMan Suit:

http://www.theshotokanway.com/redmansession.html

As I say within, Paul is an innovative instructor always looking to find and develop methods of allowing his pupils and those he teaches to develop and maximise their potential. I cannot encourage any of you enough to book him to your dojo and also book him with the RedMan suit. It's an experience that is for sure!

Thanks everyone!

All the best,
Shaun