Disqus - Latest Comments for MikeOliveri

Re: New Karate and Kobudo Program, Castle Rock CO

Mike Oliveri — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 19:54:08 -0000

Congrats! Looks like a nice space to work in.

Re: Red Head by John Kenyon

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:53:58 -0000

Nothing says noir like a mom sucking dick for tooth fairy cash.

I dug it!

Re: Tadashi Yamashita

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:54:21 -0000

Seeing his photos around your blog, I kept thinking Sensei Yamashita looked familiar. Then it hit me: he's one of the Yakuza in the Snipes/Connery flick Rising Sun. He stands out in the fight in the climax. I looked up the credits and sure enough, there he is. Fumio Demura is also credited, and is probably in the same fight scene. I'd have to look again to be sure.

Re: Naihanchi Shodan Bunkai

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 14:03:57 -0000

You might enjoy the book Shotokan's Secret: http://amzn.to/eonM2C

It has some analysis of kata, including naihanchi/tekki sho bunkai as something that would be run by a bodyguard for the Okinawan royalty. The side to side stepping is used to move with the protected person along a wall until they can escape through a doorway or up stairs. As good a theory as any.

I'd heard the naihanchi designed for running on a boat speculation before. I'd also heard it could be run along the edge of a cliff face or along the shoreline on a beach. In other words, positions where there would be no attacker coming up behind you. The Shuri-ryu bunkai, for example, includes attackers from the front, 90 degrees to either side, and 45 degrees to either side.

Re: Commercialization

Mike Oliveri — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:15:56 -0000

Thanks for checking out my blog. I'm glad you enjoyed the Sanchin post. I'd definitely be open to talking about guest posts. Shoot me an email sometime at mike @ mikeoliveri.com and we can talk about it.

Re: Commercialization

Mike Oliveri — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 23:59:57 -0000

Thank you for attributing my photo. It's actually pretty old, almost two years now. I sure don't miss that lightweight gi!

I've still got a ways to go before black belt. Black Belt Club at our dojo is an extra workout for students driven to make black belt.

I enjoyed your post. I have no problem with paying for knowledge, but there are a lot of pretenders and predators who make the honest instructors look bad and cheapen the art. I wish a lot more people knew (or cared about) the difference.

Re: 52Books: Severance Package by Duane Swierczynski

Mike Oliveri — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:05:36 -0000

The Blonde is another good read. Looking forward to Expiration Date.

Re: How to Choose a Karate Uniform (Or Gi)

Mike Oliveri — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:25:33 -0000

I like a heavyweight gi. We do some judo in our classes and curriculum, and the heavyweight gi helps. I recently had an Arashi (licensed offshoot of Tokaido), and have switched to Century's Iron Man (which I've found has a better fit and, though the same weight, feels a little more supple). I had the Arashi for almost two years and had finally worn a small hole on the inner thigh and was getting some fraying around the collar. I have found both uniforms can be stiff after hanging them to dry, but once I start working out in them they soften up quick.

For a follow up post, do you have any good tips for caring for a gi? I feel like I take pretty good care of my gi, but I'm just wondering if there are any tricks folks have found to prolong the life of a gi or improve comfort.

Re: Christmas Self Defense

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:09:00 -0000

"As the attacker gets ready to make his move, BANG – you toss the drink in his face. Then dangada dangada dang, kick to the biz, and your done."

HA! Dead on.

Good stuff, Matt. Enjoy the holidays!

Re: Gojushiho Every Day

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 07:33:33 -0000

That does help, thanks! We do break down kata like that from time to time with the higher-level students, but I wasn't aware there was a name for it. I'll have to share this with my sensei and my school director, see if they're familiar.

Re: Gojushiho Every Day

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:39:07 -0000

What is "tichiki"? I'm not familiar with that term. A quick Google told me it's "an old term that predates 'bunkai' and also refers to the hidden techniques in the kata." Is that correct?

Re: Thoughts on Footwear

Mike Oliveri — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:25:55 -0000

Good post. My dojo instructors often say try to incorporate our street clothes into our workout for the same reason, especially our shoes. I tend to wear motorcycle boots, which are both heavier and have a thicker sole with a rigid edge in front of the toes. I think they make kicks a bit more effective, but they are very different to move around in from barefoot in both the carpeted dojo I normally work out in and the mats at our main dojo.

I don't do it regularly, but I try to remind myself to do so from time to time.

Re: Community Prize Giveaway II

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:55:28 -0000

More prizes? Sweet! Always enjoy the blog, Matt. Keep up the good work.

Re: Interview: Forrest Morgan, Author “Living the Martial Way” (Part 2)

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:20:25 -0000

Great interview. My copy of the book arrived today. I look forward to digging in.

Re: Kama – The Sickle of Okinawan Kobudo

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 19:50:10 -0000

I'm guessing the holes in the XMA kama are to make it whistle and whoosh as he does his routine. Some of their swords seem to be the same way. All about flash and style, not practicality.

I've not had an opportunity to practice with kama yet, but they do seem like they'd be a fun weapon. Right now I'm concentrating on bo and sai.

Re: Kimbo Slice to Join the UFC (If He Can Conquer Ultimate Fighter)

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:18:33 -0000

I agree. I saw him interviewed on Inside MMA, and he was very well spoken. His appearance on Ultimate Fighter will help determine whether he's a professional or just another thug.

Re: Green Beret vs Spetsnaz

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 27 May 2009 21:59:44 -0000

Finally got around to watching this one, and I think the results show what a waste of time it was. Both are highly trained, both have similar gear, there's just no clear winner. The only reason they gave the edge on the pistol and the sniper rifle is because one team or the other managed to shoot a little better that day.

Re: William Wallace vs Shaka Zulu

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:39:33 -0000

I have to agree, pitting two individuals against one another is kind of pointless. Might as well take sides in an MMA fight or argue Superman vs The Hulk.

Re: Hikite – The Withdrawing Hand

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:09:38 -0000

Good points on your "hikite can become a hindrance" portion. We often do exactly what you're talking about when practicing ippon kumite kata, bunkai, etc., with attackers. We don't spar with hikite, but we do the karate drills with it. I'll have to mention that to my sensei and see about trying those same drills without hikite from time to time.

Re: Building and Rebuilding Bunkai

Mike Oliveri — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:26:35 -0000

The training curriculum at my dojo is pretty straightforward: they teach the kata (the movements), then teach the interpretation (bunkai), then run it "rapid session" with attackers (a higher rank attacks in at least three places in the kata and you block/strike as appropriate -- with control, of course!). I think this is mostly in convenience in teaching the kata (and the official Shuri-ryu interpretations) and fitting it into the curriculum than anything else.

That said, our school's director or my Sensei will often discuss alternative interpretations of each, sometimes stuff that we think we see or things we've picked up in other books or from other styles.

I'm still a rookie with most of this, but it is fun to explore other possibilities within the kata. I concentrate on the "official" interpretation within class for progression, but I still try to take the time to see where the kata came from and what they could mean. I also find it helps to learn some of the interpretation with the kata as it helps me remember the movements better. If I know what I'm supposed to be doing, it helps me visualize the attacker and the techniques.

Re: Green Beret vs Spetsnaz

Mike Oliveri — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:10:15 -0000

Mostly patriotism, but I'm going with Green Berets on the likelihood they're better equipped and better supported. The AK-47 vs M4 is a tough call, but the AK is a reliable weapon with more punch. After that it's sidearms, knives, grenades, hand-to-hand? Tough to reliably pick one over the other when they pretty much have the same job.

Re: Announcing Community Contest Winners (May 8th)

Mike Oliveri — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:57:00 -0000

Thanks, Matt! Great bit o' news to top off a Friday.

Re: The Mafia vs The Yakuza

Mike Oliveri — Wed, 06 May 2009 11:29:05 -0000

It is rather contrived, but I think this is why they run 1000 simulations through the computer. Some of the "battles" have been closer than others.

Re: The Mafia vs The Yakuza

Mike Oliveri — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:21:34 -0000

Oh, and given I'm Sicilian by blood, I guess I should say "Go mafia!" Heh.

Re: The Mafia vs The Yakuza

Mike Oliveri — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:20:40 -0000

Wow, that is going to be a tough call. If you go Prohibition-era mafia with the Tommy Gun you pictured, you're looking at a .45 caliber round, which will have a bigger punch than what I imagine the Yakuza would pack. Plus it's fully automatic, which, as you say, would probably be tough to get a hold of in Japan.

You don't hear about modern-day mafioso packing machine guns, though, so if we're talking modern day, I'd say they're probably about equal on the firearms card.

I'm not sure what else would give either side an edge. Katana, certainly, but I'm going to assume that won't count. Garrotes? Switchblades & stilettos? I'm guessing you're going to come down to hand-to-hand at some point. Is it safe to assume the Yakuza studied martial arts, and the mafia, mabye boxing? If so, I'd give the Yakuza the edge for versatility (throws, takedowns, joint locks) vs straight pugilism.

I guess we'll have to wait and see what they actually count.