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Shoki: The Story of Sensei Pete Ratcliff
By Nick Armbrister


Nick: How are the weapons used offensively in a defensive Martial Art? For example a sword is an offensive weapon and Karate is a defensive Art.
Sensei Pete: Well with Karate, Karate means ‘Empty Hand.’ Ju Jitsu, all that means ‘Gentle Art.’ It depends on what content. There’s no violence in any Martial Arts at all, it’s all just pure training. If it’s a Samurai sword, which the real name is a Katana, they usually use them for demonstrations.
Nick: Like when they cut the pieces of wood and that?
Sensei Pete: Yes.
Nick: What does Karate consist of? Blocks, punches, Katas, things like that.
Sensei Pete: Karate consists of blocks, punches, strikes with your feet, strikes with your shins.
Nick: It’s all parts of the body. Is it except the head and like throws?
Sensei Pete: Yes.
Nick: For example, could you name me one each of kick, block and punch and what are they called and what the names mean?
Sensei Pete: Yes. Mae-Geri is a front kick.
Nick: Okay.
Sensei Pete: Mawashi-Geri is a roundhouse kick. Yoko-Geri Kekomi is a side kick. Punch. Gyaka-Zuki is a strike can be used for Jodan or Tudan. Gyaka-Zuki is…
Sensei Derek:  A Mawashi-Uchi. Mawashi roundhouse strike to head, chest, solar, plexus and ribs.
Nick: Can you please explain Tudan above and below the belt and the terms?
Sensei Derek: Tudan is the centre of the body area. Tudan. Gedan is the groin area. Jodan is the facial area. Meaning punching Jodan, kicking Jodan. Tudan. Punching Tudan, kicking Tudan. But reduced strike, like say we were doing Shuto meaning the ‘knife of the hand.’ Shuto can be to the side of the head. This is where techniques get a bit different. Soto Shuto Uchi is outside knife hand strike. Uchi Shuto Uchi is inside knife hand strike. Shuto Sakotsu Uchi is straight down there to the collar bone, straight down is Sakotsu. Shuto Hizo Komi is lower, to the spleen.
Nick: You use the side of the hand as…
Sensei Derek: Is the knife hand, Hizo. Shuto Uchi Komi is straight forward. That’s the bottom of the knife. Straight with the knife. So that’s Shuto Uchi Komi isn’t it?