A kata lesson improves when it can survive contact. Despite not actually teaching karate, let alone kata, this lesson demonstrates how another martial arts teacher can improve the teaching of their particular martial art by using cross-training principles correctly. This sparring session with a teacher from Cotswold Karate School tested that idea through grip fighting, clinch exits, knees, elbows, and Naihanchi principles. The work centred on one question. How can close-ra

Today’s lesson continued my teacher client from Cotswold Karate School’s progress with using Muay Thai martial arts cross-training methods to enhance his own martial art of Wado-Ryu Karate. My martial arts cross-training service, especially to traditionalists, is not to teach them their base or primary art. My job is to provide them experiences and methods to use other systems. This is Clubb Chimera Martial Arts approach I call Vagabond Warriors.

Kata application fails when distance, resistance, and recovery are left out. Knee strikes expose all three fast. This morning my teacher client from Cotswold Karate School returned for a refresher on Muay Thai knee strikes. We have covered this material before. The point today was not novelty. It was revision with a clear end use.