Kendokai's "Cross-Technique" , or "Juzi-Waza"

Here's another interesting waza (technique sequence, shorter than kata) from Kendokai Karate. I've seen this performed in a few other Kendokai demo (a lot of the demos featured children, quite skilled and obviously loving their karate practice) videos:

Full title looks like "Juzi-waza"(Kanji for number 10 looks like the cross), off "gedan barai" (downward block), "chudan zuki"(mid-level punch).

First sequence starts off with a powerful gedan barai using the full rotation of the hips, and Lee sensei punches in all directions, front, back, right, left, with his left foot planted. The latter sequence covers the other side (left punch), with the right foot planted. Multi-direction punching is seen in advanced karate kata such as Unshu but I think this waza would be helpful for beginner and intermediate level practitioners as well, as long as the basic techniques are solid.

One other source states that Nakamura Sensei had dispatched a group of knife-wielding assailants (by some account, 18!), and this waza came from that experience.

Kendokai Karate Kata "Keum Gang" and "Paektu"

Nakamura Hideo Sensei's karate school, Kendokai (Fist-Way Association. However, it's worth noting that Nakamura Sensei opposed factionalism in karate, saying "karate IS karate."), puts a lot of emphasis on kata, kihon, and body conditioning (esp. striking and kicking sandbags). Below are two of the katas performed by Lee Young Sensei of the Kasugai Dojo. Notice the portrait of Nakamura Sensei on the wall.

Keum Gang Kata:

Paektu Kata:

Both katas are named after the famous mountains in North Korea. Keum Gang is a mountain famous for its beauty and popular among South Korean tourists, and Paektu has near mythical significance to the Korean people. This shows that Nakamura Sensei had a strong desire to honor his heritage (I guess it's safe to say so).

Keum Gang kata has a lot of oizuki (lunge punch) and quick up-down parry that comes off the gedan barai (low block). It also includes "ibuki", or the slow abdominal breathing, in the kata. Its about the same level with the famous Heian katas, but may be with a little bit more movements.

Paektu kata is definitely challenging because of many maegeri (front kick) and rapid punch combination. It also includes ibuki breathing. The final movement has a curious "stomp punch", backfist, and ridge hand strike combination.

I'm really not qualified to analyze another school's kata so I'll leave it here, but it's very clear that the katas of the Kendokai are based on solid karate techniques and would complement any karateka's current training, which is what I'm doing.

An Article on Nakamura Hideo Sensei

At the passing of Nakamura Hideo Sensei on 1/8/13, Choson Sinbo, which is the largest Chongryon newspaper, wrote a brief bio (eulogy of a sort). Here's my very brief translation:

"Our comrade Kang Chang Soo (his Korean name) has devoted his life to honoring the great leader Kim Il Sung and the dear leader Kim Jong Il (grandfather and father of the current leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un) and guarding the Chongryon organization. He's a patriot and an outstanding martial artist." 

"He was born in Pyong Yang in 1913 June 16th but his place of origin (?) is South Cholla province. In 1927, he immigrated to Japan at the age of 14."

"Suffered terribly under the ethnic discrimination of the right-wing Japanese students, and organized a foreign student rescue organization to protect the Korean students." - I'm guessing that he had no lack of street fighting opportunities. 

"He longed to return to his homeland to fight alongside our Great Leader but was arrested by the Japanese police." 

"In 1948, he joined the Yamanashi Prefecture Chongryon to fight for the rights of his people to earn living" - It's known fact that many Pachinko (slot-machine like gambling) parlors are owned and operated by the Chongryon (ethnic Koreans in Japan who supported NK).

"In 1986, he visited his homeland to meet with the Great Leader." - He was awarded a number of medals and awards by Kim Il Sung.

In summary, Nakamura Hideo sensei was intimately linked with North Korea and worked hard to strengthen the Chongryon organization of Japan. Regardless of his political belief, it's obvious that he lived an extremely full life of a strong leader.

Nakamura Sensei's Osaka Demo

I believe this is the first "official demo" of Kendokai Karate and Nakamura Sensei. It took place in Osaka 1982.

Osaka Demo Video Link

His techniques are incredibly fast and sharp. Unlike wooden boards, the rafters (or thick wooden stakes) are built to last. The fact that he could break them so easily, and against the natural wood grain, is a testament to his incredible skill. Notice how on the last break, he uses his shuto strike to literally slice a rafter held with one hand. That is on a different level from breaking an object propped on a solid structure (usually cinder blocks).