Basic body conditioning, although different styles may perform it differently a cornerstone of any legit okinawan karate.

agree absolutly on this one Medulanet!

We work 3 main conditioning drills,

1. low/high/low forearm drill
2. lock up and round kicks to legs
3. strikes to mid section

All stationary and then on the move.

And our tegumi practise (stand up wrestling) delivers superb overall conditioning,

After about 1 year we then introduce makiwara, heavy bag, chiishi, ishisashi etc etc.

Also heavy contact sparring with light armour also helps students to take and deliver shock, and be able to work the next day.


Its a big part of a students early training and they can develop it as they progress.

Just a couple of points,

re level of intensity with conditioning - I find it builds and should deliver 2 main things,

1. an improvement in physical ability to take pain.
2. not to injure the student, it should be safe.

Conditioning should be built upon slowly to the level of the student, I find working just outside of our comfort zone most of the time is a good way forward.

Re Taisabaki, once the methods have been worked isolated and stationary I see every reason to do things on the move, a whole new world of angles and power generation become evident,

naturally a great bonus and applicable benefit of conditioning excersisies.

Definitely, the drills are done moving around in all directions at more advanced levels. However, I see tai sabaki as something very different from this type of body conditioning.

In addition I use this as what I would refer to as spirit training where the intensity level is increased signficantly. I have found some have stronger spirits than others.

Kote Kitae is most definately a part of our Isshinryu study.

The level a person works is at their discretion. Our drill combines the arm and body striking in a continous set, but for the same effect. It's never taught to children, and forms one of the personal decisions about what level one's training will undertake.

On the whole it's better not to be struck, but with training you can train the body to counter some impacts and that serves a purpose.

My opinion is that all okinawan styles of karate must practise kote kitae. Nowdays many people talking about kote kitae just as a part of Uechi ryu and Goju ryu curriculum, but if someone want to master this martial art he must practise this as a part of training.

always thought of shime as somewhat like molding clay...most important during the first 10 years of training. It is possible to get carried away and go into extreame - not good.

Kote Kitae or by any named term for whichever Art, conditioning and being able to take a hit is important.