Shigeru Kimura Sensei 9th Dan Tani-Ha Shitoryu Shukokai had a punch that was like getting hit with a cannonball.Kimura Sensei had won the All Japan Karate Championship two years in a row. His technique was lightening fast, crisp, and decisive. There was a problem however. Tani Sensei, top student of Mabuni Kenwa and founder of Tani-Ha Shukokai was a firm believer in the age old concept of IKKEN HISSATSU or "One Fist - Certain Death".
Kimura Sensei was unsure that the technique he possessed was capable of that in a SHINKEN SHOBU or REAL life and death battle.He and others of the Shukokai began experimenting with Bogu(Bogu is body armor, similar to Kendo, but modified for Karate). Kimura was dismayed that his punches and kicks lacked TRUE stopping power when applied full force against real resistance. Now Tani Sensei WAS an innovator and had "changed" traditional Shitoryu Karate waza to impart MORE force, speed and power.
Tani was the FIRST person to coin the term "double hip" in reference to the torqueing movement used to create greater ballistic force.Kimura Sensei went FURTHER. He developed other concepts based on modern sports science, training techniques and drills. This continued until his untimely death at age 58.When Kimura Sensei first arrived in the US and began teaching at Yonezuka Sensei's Dojo circa 1970 he was interviewed by a well known local sportswriter. This gentleman commented in print that Kimura had a punch as HARD if NOT HARDER than any of many PRO-FIGHTERS including HEAVYWEIGHTS that this sportswriter had known throughout the years. HIGH PRAISE INDEED, considering most martial artists would assume that boxers possess the HARDEST blows of any of the combative methods!The STAPLE of Kimura's Shukokai training was the use of the "punching" block, now known as the "impact" pad.The original ones we used were simply polyfoam squares cut 14" X 14" stacked 8 to 10 inches thick and wrapped with a Gi belt.
Three techniques were drilled CONSTANTLY for HOURS AND HOURS on end. They were the "gyakuzuki" or reverse punch, "maegeri" or front kick, and "mawashigeri" or roundhouse kick. Utilizing the principles of the "double hip twist", "muscular recoil", "the whiplash", "total body lock", and other concepts rooted in modern sports the dynamic speed and tremendous power one could develop made such training far MORE worthwhile than the usual "monkey" drills found in most other Dojos.The use of punching blocks developed BOTH the hitter's ability to deliver massive shock AND the "hittee's" ability chevron conveyor belt to RECIEVE massive shock. The punching blocks WORK. Since the blocks allow you to really work on penetrating INTO the target you can develop the ability to get excellent "feedback" on just HOW effectively you are striking.JUST ONE PROBLEM! You NEED a training partner. Your training partner is the one who HOLDS the block and GIVES you VISUAL feedback on the effectiveness of your blows.
In time and with proper skill development another "problem" arises. You will, when everything works right, be able to hit SO powerfully that after two or three "gut" blasters your partner will have NO interest in continuing. On a really "good" day you can even do it with ONE shot. One large and powerful individual (about 220lbs.) known for his body toughening and conditioning and a black belt in a system KNOWN for it's conditioning drills, who trained with us LASTED for only THREE punches. On the third reverse punch he dropped the bag and almost tossed his "cookies". He admitted that without the pad the FIRST punch could have "killed" him.
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