An interesting conundrum.

Since good basics are the foundation of good kata, and many kata contain techniques which are not supposed to be taught in classes (jumping front kicks, spear hand strikes, crescent kicks, heels inline long stances etc), does this not imply that the standard of kata will suffer as a result of neglecting these non official techniques?

GKR basics are very basic to say the least.The problems students have with kokutsu dachi in Bassai dai is a typical example.Hardly any techniques are practiced in kokutsu dachi in basics so how are students expected to suddenly master it when doing Bassai dai?A lot of the "illegal"techniques are only illegal in kumite.Nukite is a typical example.This is far too dangerous to use to the face in free sparring.Elbow strikes are practiced in basics but again these are not allowed in free sparring.Basics should include everything that is in the katas.

One other problems GKR has is the absurd rule that no one under 3rd kyu is allowed to do leg sweeps and take downs.Students should be taught from day one how to fall on the floor and how to do take downs.Its a hard knocks school where you first experience of take downs is in a street attack.Waiting 2 years to learn this basic technique is just plain ridiculous.

Also that leg sweeps are allowed from 3rd kyu, presumably this only includes de ashi barai (sweeping the foot) and nothing else, but never is it taught how to do basic breakfalls.


Mick

Can't the technique be effectively taught in isolation?
Surely every style doesnt practice every conceivable basic.
Tony, what are some basics taught elsewhere?

Its not the amount of basics but rather the manner in which they are taught.In Shotokan we practiced basics in all kinds of stances,moving foward and backwards etc.Hieko dachi was never used for practicing techniques.I am often left puzzled when an instructor tells us to use our hips in heiko dachi.A slight hip movement can be used but its best to cultivate this in zenkutsu dachi or sanchi dachi.Heiko dachi is best used in the warm up for throwing 20-30 punches to build up arm speed but its not much use for teaching a student proper body alignment.

I don't think techniques can be taught effectively in isolation.The body has to be used as one unit and movement has to be geared to achieving that objective.

The GKR basics are okay for beginners but grades above 5th kyu need something a little more creative.

Tony,
in our class we now tend to do combinations and blocks and strikes in various stances and movements of forward/ backwards whilst beginners stand in heiko dachi. i thought that was the norm for all GKR classes as you progress thru the ranks ???

You'll probably find that the basics and their applications are taught in a variety of ways thorughout the club.

From the senior training class I attended a few days ago, we had a discussion about illegal moves in sparring. They were basically the open handed techniques because the hand isn't padded in the areas that you use to strike. The same went for the hammerfist strike, and the crescent kicks/spinning back kicks.

Strangely enough, these techiniques were actually used a lot during a black belt grading that was held not long ago.

And suddenly I realise the topic was 'illegal moves in kata', not 'sparring'. Eh, oh well.

That argument regarding open handed strikes doesnt make a lot of sense when you consider there isnt much padding on the ball of your foot, and thats what we're supposed to kick with for front and round kicks.

Aren't the open handed techniques illegal in sparring because they can damage both parties. The person on the receiving end and also the person doing the technique. We don't do a lot of conditioning on the actual hand. We do some conditioning on the closed fist but never the hand. So if you were hitting something kind hard with an open hand and you hadn't done any conditioning work before wouldn't it be pretty painful??

Although being a non-contact style none of this should be a problem...

Actually I dont believe I've ever been informed as to why open handed techniques aren't allowed. I always assumed it was because a fist may break a nose but a chop to the neck may be somewhat more lethal.

I think all of those factors are part of why they are illegal.

in my other style we can use anything we want. you can also ask your partener if they want to involve ground work and holds ect in the sparring session. in saying about the ground work we do have a matted floor to spar on.