I love that you included the history of the concepts. Far too many people completely separate hard and soft styles instead of incorporating the concepts of each to be well-rounded. Great video.
@@KARATEbyJesse Sorry to revive an old thread, but you know everybody now thinks you're talking about Miyagi Do Verses Cobra Kai, right? :D THEY CAN'T HELP IT, IT'S ALL THEY KNOW
As a Shotokan Karate practitioner, I have always thought that we practice a "hard style". Now I have better understanding why we always snap our punches and kicks. Awesome video Jesse-san. Osu!
Just reading through the comments left by who I assume are subscribers. So much positive communication and feedback. I think this says so much for your channel Jesse 🙏🏽. I do agree we want more videos! Please continue to share your knowledge and learnings.
Yes I think I’ve watch around 80% of them and favourites are your trips to Okinawa. Both myself and my son look forward to them. Going for my 1st Dan soon and I’m super tempted by your silk belt. Will embroidery come back?
Until I watched this video I didn’t realize that I started out training like the towel for punching and like the stick for kicking. This definitely helps me better understand the mechanics I’ve been taught. Your videos are very informative, thank you for taking the time to make them.
I prefer the towel method... however having torn my right foot ankle tendon a year ago. I couldnt generate the same power i used to. I got depressed for quite sometime until i realized my left leg can do muay thai kicks. Your video made me realize perhaps i am too stubborn trying to reach my previous state of power, when there are other ways to do it. ありがとう先生！おす！
I came from a karate background and I converted over to the kung fu systems. This is by by far the best analogy of power generation that applies to every style.i didn't learn this sadly until I got into the kung fi systems. I practice concepts from xing yi, baji Quan, ba gua , wingChun, a little tai chi. From learning those principles it made what I practice in karate so much better. I'm more converted to the towel soft internal base but I do try to take some external and balance it out because I was taught you need both
Jesse-San, what amazes me in your videos is your open minded approach to not limiting yourself to one “truth” or technique. I wish I could find an instructor with that approach nearby that I could train with 🙏
When I first started I was basically doing the stick side of things. As I trained, showed interest and dug into the arts my Sensei and a few others tried different things with me. At this point I try to mix both the towel and stick into my training. This way I can use whatever a situation calls for all while challenging my mind to switch things up. Your videos have also taught me many training tips so even before I knew about this I was inadvertently training in many different ways without realizing it. As usual you put words and a focus to what I was doing which is great because now I feel like I am going in the right direction, up the mountain. I study Meibukan Goju Ryu but some members including my Sensei never limit ourselves to just their curriculum, we play with many different teachings to grow a greater understanding of Karate while incorporating our roots and staying true to the spirit of Karate at its core. Thanks for the video!
My Sensei told me the real difference between hard and soft styles was the direction of training the body. Internal styles start with the core and work toward expressing the power in various outlines and postures, like Tai Chi. External styles start with the outline and work inwards making the connections stronger. This also explains why hard styles are quicker to develop some self defense skills before the internal styles, but after ten years they are both on a par. Being a small person ,I guess I always favored what you call the towel method, every attack recoils into the next technique. I learned very quickly that trying to match strength with larger opponents was a recipe for disaster. After training 6 years in Shorin ryu I took a year to study Goju ryu. There I learned to appreciate the use of kime, but in my case I only apply it to finishing techniques. It's a lot like trying to hit a home run. You are betting everything on connecting and if you don't you're stuck there like a fish in a barrel.
I have definitely defaulted to the stick style in my (only a couple of years of) training. I'm not so much a naturally strong person, but a naturally rigid person (physically, not mentally ;) ). Just within the past several days I've begun training myself to relax more and to try a more relaxed, whip-like punching style. This video was perfectly timed for me. :) Thank you for your channel.
Thanks for lighting us up with your knowledge again. Our sensei doesnt tell us to do just one method but i myself think i am like the towel. Oh, and one more thing, the fact that you read every comment really shows how humble you are in my opinion. You care so much about people and you are one with your fans. Thats an awesome thing and it makes me feel like someone cares about me. Thanks for making us feel special. Oss 🤩
I just train to get stronger in Taekwondo. Just one more push up each day, take one more kick, one more punch, become 0.1 seconds faster, make your technique a bit more accurate, denser or more fluid with a resisting opponent. Do this unless you damage yourself (in which case focus on recovering fast) and if you reach a plateau effect, just keep trying to break it! Respect others (especially if they learn another art, never assume yourself to be better. Don’t become toxic even if you think you’re better). Don’t look at a persons’ belt, look them in the eye (it is important to respect an occidental person by looking them in the eye, or a person from the East by looking at the Adam apple, not the eyes). Never think a person can’t beat you (especially because of the colour of their belt), you will be proven wrong or proven right on your prior thoughts when you compete in Poomsae (Taekwondo’s Kata) Or spar seriously on the mats. Loved the video Jesse, respect you as a martial artist and enjoyed learning about Karates’ training and culture! Keep up the videos, as apart from music and the news your one of the few channels I’ll watch (HINT: keep posting videos)!😁👍
Thanks for this, Jessy. That’s why I left Shotokan! They always teach the stick. So I went on after 20 yrs Shotokan to Shorin Ryu which I practiced for 10 yrs and I‘m quite happy with the whip-like techniques. It‘s more natural for me, although I‘m a quite big guy.
For me, I kind of do a mix of both, where I punch through but still snap back after. My instructor said it was important to know both of them, but it was up to us to use it. Great video detailing the differences Jesse-san!
My Sensei adapts to us individually but encourages both the towel and the stick,like you mentioned in the video. He is an amazing Instructor, he helps you grow and learn in so many ways possible.
This is a great video and illustration Jesse. Thank you! I use a kind of 4 step method, where the towel and the stick are used two different ways. 1) "hip vibration" or the whipping towel method you demonstrated. 2) "tension", think of the towel being used to apply a choke. It is just that, power as applied in holds and chokes. 3) "hip rotation", the stick method you detailed in your video. 4) And Tai Sabaki, think using the stick like a battering ram or jabbing your opponent with the end of the stick. The Sensei, I believe he was Brazilian, in your MMA video demonstrated this wonderfully with a hip check using yori ashi. Thanks again. Keep the knowledge coming!
Always struggle with padwork because I find it hard to generate all my power through the pad but I love how snappy I get to be in kata. Your explanations always make so much sense but I’ve just never thought of things in that way before. Always impressed with your knowledge and hope you had a wonderful knx18, I heard very good things. 🤟🏼🙇🏻♀️
As a 5'10 and 110kg guy I definitely tend to use the stick method more. For now I will focus on that while learning basics but try to incorporate the towel method so my body can start learning to relax and use momentum and conserve energy better. Love that you actually give the theory and history. That makes it much more relatable and easy to understand why
Great explanation of kime. I had my students punch a sheet of newspaper. Many discovered that focus and the snapiness of kime brought them success in splitting the paper in two, rather than punching with all their might. I love this TH-cam channel!
Excellent information Sensei Jesse! I really appreciate the historical context and the explanation of the styles' names. Super clear and easy to understand🥋👏👌👍
Awesome video! I am used to train both ways. My sensei says that we have to learn a little of everything, to adapt and improve. Thanks for the explanation!
I'm like a half and half kinda guy. I like counter-striking and utilizing what I've learned as a Judo student and what bits of Aikido that I've picked up. I love how you explain stuff and still hold onto the traditional and historical bits. My brain just gets it. Another great vid.
Very insightful video Sensei! And I love seeing a different perspective on this. In American Kenpo we have similar concepts for power, but we break it down into 3 ways to generate power: 1) Backup mass, putting our entire body into the strike, such as a front kick (versus using leg power alone), 2) Gravity, similar to the Falling Tree as you outlined in using gravity to assist with downward strikes, and 3) Torque, much like the wet towel. We also divide Torque into 2 subclasses, direct and indirect. Indirect is like the whipping action you outlined, while direct we rotate our body INTO the twisting strike, like a round kick or backfist/hammer to the body. I would teach the kids that the arms and legs can have SOME power on their own, but by pushing your whole body weight into a strike, using gravity to assist, or using the power of torque makes the strikes MUCH more powerful. Thank you as always Sensei for the great content and hope you had a Happy New Year!
Great explanation, sometimes difficult to explain this to new students, you worded it very well, thank you, (47 year uechi ryu student). I still have much to learn. Domo
According to some Karate-Techniques my experience is to use the Uraken like a towel, Yoko Geri Kekomi like a stick and a Gyaku-Tsuki or Ura-Mawashi-Geri like a combination of both methods :) Great Video, thanks Jesse! Makes me always think beyond my current borders :D
I studied Shorin-ryu which was taught in a basic straight forward power karate style. (boxing, low kicks, and body damaging self defense techniques) It worked for me because I'm six feet tall 285lbs. and not super flexible. My father was more of a jui-jitsu (sp) practitioner he showed me some softer defense techniques that really surprised me with their effectiveness. I'm having some fun trying use both methods in different situations in my training. I still believe in training for "Stick" power because it's easier to back power off than it is to try to find what you never had in a street defense situation but softer tech better for times when you don't need to blow someone's body apart to defend yourself. I love your videos!
Coming from a background of Kukkiwon Taekwondo I've always been taught the towel method, Focusing on speed and accuracy over outright power. This was tough when I first started training because I was quite a heavy guy back then, but gradually became my default style. As my skills and understanding developed I've come to see that the stick method has its uses too, more for max power use like board breaking which may be less useful when engaged in TKD sport sparring.
With you talking like this, I would say I tendo to be more like a "Stick" than a "Towel" I don't get along very well with those fluidity technics, with fast snaps. But like the hard one punch or kick, or a strong defense. But it makes me feel like I need to search for a better middle ground to enhance my abilities. Thank you so much for this video!
I was trained in both methods and while it was quite a challenge to understand. It has improved my reaction time as well as my attacking and defending strength
Jesse, you are very inspiring. Method: Uraken, because it is easy to apply in up/down combinations and difficult to anticipate by most opponents. Also feels natural when you exhausted. So, towel all the way through. Thank you so much, have an awesome day!
After watching a half dozen of your videos I have decided to use Ueuchi Ryan's open hand technique with a combination of stick and towel or hard and soft techniques. Arrigato gozaimasu, Sensei.
I don't train under a sensei right now, I'm basically training using the techniques I previously learned, I plan on getting back into the Shotokan karate once I get my schedule in order. Anyway, love your channel, sensei.
I practice wing chun which is considered a “hard/soft style of southern Shaolin Kung fu. I gravitate to the soft,yielding and blending techniques but am working on more forceful hard ways to generate power. Thanks for this video!
Grear video. I practice and teach both methods not separating them but rather connecting. One transits into another and back and again etc. In my imagination the whipping technique is a towel up to the point when the impact happens; then it becomes a stick or a stone as I usually explain and delivers energy of the whip with all the additional momentums the body generates and weight in (totiho). After the impact the stick becomes the towel that naturally flies back (No need to pull the technique in hikite - it naturally recoils). Difficult to explain and even more difficult to demonstrate. But that is how I visualize it. :) Thanks for the video. I am going to recommend it to my students.
Good vid. Another way i look at it is from watching an interview from Jet Li. Learn the hard style first, which ever discipline you're learning, then you learn the soft style. While learning the hard you develop strength and basics. When you learn the soft , you dive deeper into technique and body mechanics, which actually makes you stronger. As a bonus, you can spiritual development and/or religion, which helps temper your mind. Making you even more powerful. At least that's my takeaway from the interview, he's a devout Buddhist
I train in Kyokushin and we tend to train both soft and hard methods from the start. Even at beginner levels you learn seiken tsuki (hard push-through) and seiken uchi (soft fast snap) and go from there further knowing both ways and combining them.
Hey, I've just started doing karate and have been for the last 3 months.I find your videos for really helpful, they are so informative, they teach me something new and I'm able to apply it during my lessons. This video has helped me to think about how I could develop and think the knowledge will help when it comes to doing semi contact or developing techniques.
Thank you for this video. In Wado-ryu the towel is basically more used than the stick ("more Shotokan" ). But at the opposite some "hard" katas like Naihanchi Shodan and Seishan have been included in the method. They show for higher black belts how to alternate speed (kinetic energy) and hard positions. Work in progress...
Jesse, I use both all the time. I combine both methods into one. I start the towel method and then apply the stick finish as in going through the target. I've been taught so many different things, I don't know the difference anymore. I like what you said though to use either method according to the situation. I will apply that to my training. Thank you !!!
The biomechanics principles you discuss in this video is spot on. As a guy that does boxing, wrestling and Krav Maga. I agree for hurting someone or sparring I use snapping strikes. For clearing space like in a self defense situation I use the teep from Muy Thai more of a pushing or "stick" strike. Kudos
Exellant analogy Jesse i remember my first exposure to both Judo and Tai ji Quan over 35 years ago the teachers used the similar explanation To be fair i have noticed over the years that some students of the Tai ji Quan have niavely assumed the towel approach to be somehow superior ? but ive been fortunate to have attended classes and seminars held by the BCCMA ie British CouncilFor Chinese Martial Arts and all the teachers ive met have recognised both the towel and stick aproach to training ! For both the forms and 2 person routines ! Special mention to Richard and Simon Watson Proffesor Li Deyin and Master Wang yan Ji Its a credit to you that your video posts raise the level of communication regards the aproach and attitude towards training bettween the numerous styles and offshoots Good on yer mate loving yr clips and tips
I have only recently restarted my Karate path after 16 years away from it. I'm a big guy and have always found the stick method and using my bodyweight to my advantage to be the easier one for me to grasp.
I have been fortunate enough to be training in Uechi-Ryu for 26 years now...the Sensei that I have teaches both methods. The effectiveness of either one depends on the situation that your in. Like you say in the video, it is good to know both methods so you can adapt either technique to the situation that you might find yourself in.
the style of shorin ryu (shinjinbukan) i did focused on koshi/whip (but it wasnt exactly a whip). we would always rotate around our spine so body structure was important. we used koshi for tenshin (whole body movement) as well. you can use koshi in that way: either stationary striking, or movement, but we always combined both striking with movement, never standing in one spot. combine all that with whole body skeletal alignment (legs, spine, locked down shoulders, arms, wrists,) and it makes for a solid foundation for movement with striking. we also practiced the development of muchimi (to stick) with our strikes, blocks, kicks, etc. this further concentrated the energy to a single spot (into the target) unlike the ‘stick’ technique where youre dispelling the energy all over. for close range fighting you dont want your attacker to get pushed away from the kinetic energy, you want them to stay in proximity of your style. also, makiwara is essential to help develop these biomechanics and awareness.
When I was younger and struggled with controlling my body with the physical disabilities I have, I used the “stick “ method of training, however now that I am older and a bit more worn down and have better control of my body and am more in tune with it, I prefer the softer towel approach not for the snappy speed but for the flow and the over all options available. The largest and strongest of rocks can be worn down by wind and water
This is great. Naturally, I fall in line with the towel style. I'm tall, but slim and not terribly strong, but I'm very agile and light on my feet. After becoming skilled in that style through taekwondo and wing chun, I started training in muay thai and karate where I was pushed to improve my hard style more in order to supplement my soft style.
I personally use both. It depends on what situation and what kind of opponent i have. Its always interesting when you are telling about biomechanics. Nice video Jesse! Greetings from Finland!
I train Wing Chun. I love seeing the same concepts in different Styles. Use your roots like a tree but flow like water. Spiral your body (fibbinoci sequence is everywhere) and striking like a whip works great. Sink with your Dan tian then explode out. Opening and closing. And don't forget to breathe lol
My karate master was always forcing me to train hardway but I wasn't a very good fighter in this approach but when a friend showed me the soft karate I became an excellent fighter. Since I had years of extensive hard karate training, I was able to combine the two style while fighting. I became smarter and wiser. Now I teach my students depending on their skills, natural flexibility and body size. My teaching depends on who I have in front of me. If you are more hands, I am with you. if its legs, I am with you. Any approach I adapt. Be right or left side, I can fight in all stance. But to reach this level it took me decades to understand these principles. I listen to my body and soul. God bless
If you allow a muscle to stretch it will produce force; length tension relationship. That is why it is said in striking arts that you should "relax" so you can increase that range of motion, and generate more power from the muscle being stretched. Power = force x velocity. How fast can you get your force to move through space? The less force you have, the more you'll have to rely on velocity. However, something can have a lot of mass (which can increase force), and can produce devastating results with not as much speed. Think of a weight advantage, or the phrase "heavy handed". What part of the equation you fall into is dependent on the person, but yes, you can do both: "towel v stick". I really like your videos. Thanks Jesse!!
I train Jujutsu, and most of our striking is based on snapping movements. However when we go for low kicks we try to use more "stick". Personally I feel that when you go for the head, you can use snapping strikes as they are faster and you don't need as much power to knock someone down. When going for the body, I preffer to use more powerfull penetrative strikes.
In depth as always, kinda reminds me of a lesson my Pop taught me, hit soft targets with the hard part of the body and vice versa, each techniques have it's place.
Hi again Jesse! I remember my practices with 2 tall and heavy seniors senseis in Goju Ryu, when I hit them it was like striking cotton, they only make a soft movement and my strenght puch just disolved in their bodies, but having their body relaxed they gave you a really heavy punch. This same is applied in kungfu, I recomend you to analize the pakmei concepts, where they use the cotton softness and use the principle of sinking and lift your body for this porpouse. Once again, nice video and what an awesome stick breaking technic you did here!
Jesse your the best any 7 years experienced boy in karate could say that keep going and by the way I'm choosing the towel although I was kind of forced to do karate as a stick or at least that is the only known way that is known to us in Egypt but you're still the best as I never heard this whether in azerbaijan or saudi arabia but I could finally know what is my technique and I'm gonna be mastering it Thank you jesse keep going👍🏻
My sensei has made me train both ways. Have a relaxed posture , but while blocking be a wall , and while hitting hard , be a bull , while when feinting , be the bee. Also when i spar against kung fu students ( some of my friends ) I find that the towel kinda method is better tp block with , since they primarily have speed and precision based attacks . Some force applied to their lower forarms or below kknee stops thier attacks , and you can use a stick kind of knee kick to counter.
I'm late to the party but in 10 years of Shotokan I'd say we focused more on the "whip" method but I found certain techniques just didn't tend to work for me until I applied the "stick" method. Sweeps being one example where I just couldn't pull them off effectively because I was always trying to snap back and thought I was recovering my balance but in reality I was just shortchanging the sweep. When I started "kicking through" my opponent's leg, I realized my size and weight (6'3" 190lbs) allowed me to blow through most opponents' stances and still end up with reasonably good stability after I took their legs out from under them.
First time watching one of your videos, I loved the history and detail. I am a 4th Dan in Wado Ryu, and we typically emphasize relaxation and snap. However, my sensei is also a retired world class kickboxer, and his style typically leans towards the “stick” method, so I get a healthy dose of both. They both have their place. Great video!
Excellent video, I I was in Shotokan for a while then I switched to Kyokishin, I'm well built and after combining two disciplines I started to see what you mean about the stick and the towel. I'm light sparring with Kyokushin we usually go 40 to 60 % and mainly combine both techniques. However, in a real fight or a tournament I usually go with the "stick" to end things quickly, since it's so tiring in close combats with exchanging devastating blows. Thanks again for the video.
I'm thankful that in my life I was taught to embrace both external and internal power generation. I was initially taught external, as the easiest concept to understand. But then with all of those "external" techniques, I was taught the internal way to do them (some years later). To be honest.....I never really appreciated the internal aspects because I have always been a pretty big and strong man. But.....then I was diagnosed with cancer. After chemotherapy I found my strength and endurance gone. So then I relied on the training that promoted internal power generation (along with chi gong exercises). Only then did I really start focusing on internal practice, and realized that I should have been focusing on that 40 years ago. So now my opinion has changed. Now....I see external power as elementary, more easy to develop. Yet, internal power is a harder concept to grasp.....takes more discipline and time to master....but is more valuable. From experience I have learned that no matter how strong and athletic you are.....things change. We should not neglect external training (of course), but we should also place internal training as a priority, even though it's a much harder concept. I understand that for school owners, that goes directly against what will bring in revenue to your school. But still.....there is a place for it.
We're all incredibly lucky that Jesse reads the comments snd shares his knowledge and opinion past simply posting a video and moving on to the next one.
Hola! En primer lugar, enhorabuena por su canal!!! Me alegra ver su afán por enseñar aquello que se ve que le apasiona! Respondiendo a su pregunta: en mi modesta opinión, ambos métodos son necesarios y complementarios (como el Yin y el Yan) Un cordial saludo desde España! Hello! First of all, congratulations on your channel!!! I'm glad to see your enthusiam to teach what you like! Answering your question: in my modest opinion, both methods are necessary and complementary (such as Yin and Yan) A cordial greeting from Spain!
I’ve always been taught both thanks to learning a style based in traditional Okinawan karate. I personally use more of the towel method with most punches, knife hands, front kicks, and ridge hands. Where as with palm strikes, roundhouse kicks, side and back kicks I tend to use the stick method. I think that also came from going from the tall lanky kid I was for most of my young life to being built like a linebacker like I ended up being(I’m 6’3 and 246lbs now) lol
Very knowledgeable video, I’m a bigger sized inclined kinda guy and do more stick than Towel but I also believe that knowledge about practical application and high skill ability with technique is way more important that just brute size and strength
Hi Jesse, it would be nice if you could do a follow up video on this demonstrating what these methods look like. And maybe something more like how they feel to use and receive.
Yes absolutely....I wrestled in high school at 215 and heavyweight and trained like a small guy..my junior a new coach aid who was a heavyweight college wrestler changed the styles for the 215 and heavyweight and it accelerated my wrestling big time.
Very interesting video, thanks for posting it!!! As a 190cm, 85kg guy, my bias has always been towards strong, hard techniques (my background is in boxing). However since training in Wado-Ryu style of karate, I've been pushing myself out of my comfort zone, putting effort in adapting my body to fast and snappy techniques. I can clearly see the benefits in both approaches, and although I still prefer the stick philosophy, my sensei keeps stressing the need of having different options available: I may be the stronger guy in most confrontations, but at some point I'll meet someone bigger/stronger so knowing different approaches can only be an advantage!
I'm more the towel (female & tiny) but usually have to train with sticks (large heavy guys) since our dojo is rather small). I find it difficult but am eager and positive to master this. Oss, sensei Jesse, for this insight!
Hello Jesse !! I'm practicing Goju Ryu Karate, so I would say I use both, but depending on the situation I can be more towel or more stick, for exemple in kumite tournament I'm more towel like, and in my 2nd Dan exam I was more like a stick, for it's more a "traditional" context there. Thank you for your videos, it's really inspiring and satisfacting to see someone so much dedicated to this martial art !
I love that you included the history of the concepts. Far too many people completely separate hard and soft styles instead of incorporating the concepts of each to be well-rounded. Great video.
Much appreciated! There’s a lot more to say, but I follow an ancient principle called KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) 😜
@@KARATEbyJesse Wise words indeed 😅
@KingCola that combo would be totally epic!!!
@@KARATEbyJesse a lot of boxers throw a jab with a snap like a towel, but their right cross slams into you like a stick.
@@KARATEbyJesse Sorry to revive an old thread, but you know everybody now thinks you're talking about Miyagi Do Verses Cobra Kai, right? :D THEY CAN'T HELP IT, IT'S ALL THEY KNOW
As a Shotokan Karate practitioner, I have always thought that we practice a "hard style". Now I have better understanding why we always snap our punches and kicks. Awesome video Jesse-san. Osu!
Same. I was told Shotokan is a hard style by default
Just reading through the comments left by who I assume are subscribers. So much positive communication and feedback. I think this says so much for your channel Jesse 🙏🏽. I do agree we want more videos! Please continue to share your knowledge and learnings.
Thank you! If you’ve watched all my videos, I have 10 years of blog posts available at karatebyjesse.com and 4 books 🙏 Arigato!
Yes I think I’ve watch around 80% of them and favourites are your trips to Okinawa. Both myself and my son look forward to them. Going for my 1st Dan soon and I’m super tempted by your silk belt. Will embroidery come back?
Until I watched this video I didn’t realize that I started out training like the towel for punching and like the stick for kicking. This definitely helps me better understand the mechanics I’ve been taught. Your videos are very informative, thank you for taking the time to make them.
The stick-tied-to-the-end-of-a-towel method is the one I like.
Were you implying surrender?
Another one is the "Rock in a sock" where you can "whip a brick" very effective.
Sounds like capuera
I prefer the towel method... however having torn my right foot ankle tendon a year ago. I couldnt generate the same power i used to. I got depressed for quite sometime until i realized my left leg can do muay thai kicks.
Your video made me realize perhaps i am too stubborn trying to reach my previous state of power, when there are other ways to do it. ありがとう先生！おす！
I came from a karate background and I converted over to the kung fu systems. This is by by far the best analogy of power generation that applies to every style.i didn't learn this sadly until I got into the kung fi systems. I practice concepts from xing yi, baji Quan, ba gua , wingChun, a little tai chi. From learning those principles it made what I practice in karate so much better. I'm more converted to the towel soft internal base but I do try to take some external and balance it out because I was taught you need both
Jesse-San, what amazes me in your videos is your open minded approach to not limiting yourself to one “truth” or technique. I wish I could find an instructor with that approach nearby that I could train with 🙏
That’s the Karate Nerd mindset 🙏
I love the idea of Jesse just walking around outside in his gi in Okinawa (the birthplace of karate)
When I first started I was basically doing the stick side of things. As I trained, showed interest and dug into the arts my Sensei and a few others tried different things with me. At this point I try to mix both the towel and stick into my training. This way I can use whatever a situation calls for all while challenging my mind to switch things up.
Your videos have also taught me many training tips so even before I knew about this I was inadvertently training in many different ways without realizing it. As usual you put words and a focus to what I was doing which is great because now I feel like I am going in the right direction, up the mountain.
I study Meibukan Goju Ryu but some members including my Sensei never limit ourselves to just their curriculum, we play with many different teachings to grow a greater understanding of Karate while incorporating our roots and staying true to the spirit of Karate at its core.
Thanks for the video!
I've realized that I use both depending on what I am doing. Usually I'm the stick with my kicks and the towel with my hands
I'm same as towel while using my punches and kicks but as a stick while using chops and blocks.
My Sensei told me the real difference between hard and soft styles was the direction of training the body. Internal styles start with the core and work toward expressing the power in various outlines and postures, like Tai Chi. External styles start with the outline and work inwards making the connections stronger. This also explains why hard styles are quicker to develop some self defense skills before the internal styles, but after ten years they are both on a par. Being a small person ,I guess I always favored what you call the towel method, every attack recoils into the next technique. I learned very quickly that trying to match strength with larger opponents was a recipe for disaster. After training 6 years in Shorin ryu I took a year to study Goju ryu. There I learned to appreciate the use of kime, but in my case I only apply it to finishing techniques. It's a lot like trying to hit a home run. You are betting everything on connecting and if you don't you're stuck there like a fish in a barrel.
Best explanations I've ever heard on power generation.
Thank you! 🙏
This is one of your best videos, even being just you talking. Really interesting and clear.
I have definitely defaulted to the stick style in my (only a couple of years of) training. I'm not so much a naturally strong person, but a naturally rigid person (physically, not mentally ;) ). Just within the past several days I've begun training myself to relax more and to try a more relaxed, whip-like punching style. This video was perfectly timed for me. :) Thank you for your channel.
Thanks for lighting us up with your knowledge again. Our sensei doesnt tell us to do just one method but i myself think i am like the towel. Oh, and one more thing, the fact that you read every comment really shows how humble you are in my opinion. You care so much about people and you are one with your fans. Thats an awesome thing and it makes me feel like someone cares about me. Thanks for making us feel special. Oss 🤩
Awesome to hear 😄 Thanks for your kind comment 🙏
I just train to get stronger in Taekwondo. Just one more push up each day, take one more kick, one more punch, become 0.1 seconds faster, make your technique a bit more accurate, denser or more fluid with a resisting opponent. Do this unless you damage yourself (in which case focus on recovering fast) and if you reach a plateau effect, just keep trying to break it!
Respect others (especially if they learn another art, never assume yourself to be better. Don’t become toxic even if you think you’re better).
Don’t look at a persons’ belt, look them in the eye (it is important to respect an occidental person by looking them in the eye, or a person from the East by looking at the Adam apple, not the eyes).
Never think a person can’t beat you (especially because of the colour of their belt), you will be proven wrong or proven right on your prior thoughts when you compete in Poomsae (Taekwondo’s Kata)
Or spar seriously on the mats.
Loved the video Jesse, respect you as a martial artist and enjoyed learning about Karates’ training and culture!
Keep up the videos, as apart from music and the news your one of the few channels I’ll watch (HINT: keep posting videos)!😁👍
Thanks for sharing your insights 👍
Jesse Enkamp Thank you for the reply!
Kaizen
D yeah, that’s the Japanese for it I guess! 😁👍
Bleach fan ?
Thanks for this, Jessy. That’s why I left Shotokan! They always teach the stick. So I went on after 20 yrs Shotokan to Shorin Ryu which I practiced for 10 yrs and I‘m quite happy with the whip-like techniques. It‘s more natural for me, although I‘m a quite big guy.
Is that so? I dont really think Shotokan is stick savy.
For me, I kind of do a mix of both, where I punch through but still snap back after. My instructor said it was important to know both of them, but it was up to us to use it. Great video detailing the differences Jesse-san!
Yet another great clip with an awesome explanation. Keep up the great work.
My Sensei adapts to us individually but encourages both the towel and the stick,like you mentioned in the video. He is an amazing Instructor, he helps you grow and learn in so many ways possible.
This is a great video and illustration Jesse. Thank you!
I use a kind of 4 step method, where the towel and the stick are used two different ways.
1) "hip vibration" or the whipping towel method you demonstrated.
2) "tension", think of the towel being used to apply a choke. It is just that, power as applied in holds and chokes.
3) "hip rotation", the stick method you detailed in your video.
4) And Tai Sabaki, think using the stick like a battering ram or jabbing your opponent with the end of the stick. The Sensei, I believe he was Brazilian, in your MMA video demonstrated this wonderfully with a hip check using yori ashi.
Thanks again. Keep the knowledge coming!
Always struggle with padwork because I find it hard to generate all my power through the pad but I love how snappy I get to be in kata.
Your explanations always make so much sense but I’ve just never thought of things in that way before.
Always impressed with your knowledge and hope you had a wonderful knx18, I heard very good things. 🤟🏼🙇🏻♀️
As a 5'10 and 110kg guy I definitely tend to use the stick method more. For now I will focus on that while learning basics but try to incorporate the towel method so my body can start learning to relax and use momentum and conserve energy better.
Love that you actually give the theory and history. That makes it much more relatable and easy to understand why
Have you tried the towel/soft style? I am five ten or above as well but feel like the the soft style has more control and nuance.
Great explanation of kime. I had my students punch a sheet of newspaper. Many discovered that focus and the snapiness of kime brought them success in splitting the paper in two, rather than punching with all their might. I love this TH-cam channel!
Excellent information Sensei Jesse! I really appreciate the historical context and the explanation of the styles' names. Super clear and easy to understand🥋👏👌👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
That's by far the best explanation i ever saw about this subject.
Thank you Jesse Sensei.
Awesome video! I am used to train both ways. My sensei says that we have to learn a little of everything, to adapt and improve. Thanks for the explanation!
How is it possible that you give a heart to everyone 🤔🤔♥️♥️
It’s my passion 🙏
I'm like a half and half kinda guy. I like counter-striking and utilizing what I've learned as a Judo student and what bits of Aikido that I've picked up.
I love how you explain stuff and still hold onto the traditional and historical bits. My brain just gets it. Another great vid.
Fantastic. Thank you!!🙏
@@KARATEbyJesse No, thank YOU.
My most sincere respect to you Jesse. I love your videos.
Very insightful video Sensei! And I love seeing a different perspective on this. In American Kenpo we have similar concepts for power, but we break it down into 3 ways to generate power: 1) Backup mass, putting our entire body into the strike, such as a front kick (versus using leg power alone), 2) Gravity, similar to the Falling Tree as you outlined in using gravity to assist with downward strikes, and 3) Torque, much like the wet towel. We also divide Torque into 2 subclasses, direct and indirect. Indirect is like the whipping action you outlined, while direct we rotate our body INTO the twisting strike, like a round kick or backfist/hammer to the body.
I would teach the kids that the arms and legs can have SOME power on their own, but by pushing your whole body weight into a strike, using gravity to assist, or using the power of torque makes the strikes MUCH more powerful.
Thank you as always Sensei for the great content and hope you had a Happy New Year!
Great explanation, sometimes difficult to explain this to new students, you worded it very well, thank you, (47 year uechi ryu student). I still have much to learn. Domo
Thank you very much!
That was an EXCELLENT explanation..
It is amazing just how much improvement can come when someone focuses on applying these theories ❤️
According to some Karate-Techniques my experience is to use the Uraken like a towel, Yoko Geri Kekomi like a stick and a Gyaku-Tsuki or Ura-Mawashi-Geri like a combination of both methods :) Great Video, thanks Jesse! Makes me always think beyond my current borders :D
I studied Shorin-ryu which was taught in a basic straight forward power karate style. (boxing, low kicks, and body damaging self defense techniques) It worked for me because I'm six feet tall 285lbs. and not super flexible. My father was more of a jui-jitsu (sp) practitioner he showed me some softer defense techniques that really surprised me with their effectiveness. I'm having some fun trying use both methods in different situations in my training. I still believe in training for "Stick" power because it's easier to back power off than it is to try to find what you never had in a street defense situation but softer tech better for times when you don't need to blow someone's body apart to defend yourself. I love your videos!
Thank you for providing all these knowledge sensei, only because of you I am able to know karate in depth
Towel principle is known as "Muchi" (whip). Also, there is more details to understand both principles. Very good video Jesse-san.
Coming from a background of Kukkiwon Taekwondo I've always been taught the towel method, Focusing on speed and accuracy over outright power. This was tough when I first started training because I was quite a heavy guy back then, but gradually became my default style. As my skills and understanding developed I've come to see that the stick method has its uses too, more for max power use like board breaking which may be less useful when engaged in TKD sport sparring.
With you talking like this, I would say I tendo to be more like a "Stick" than a "Towel" I don't get along very well with those fluidity technics, with fast snaps. But like the hard one punch or kick, or a strong defense. But it makes me feel like I need to search for a better middle ground to enhance my abilities.
Thank you so much for this video!
💪😄👍
I was trained in both methods and while it was quite a challenge to understand. It has improved my reaction time as well as my attacking and defending strength
Jesse, you are very inspiring. Method: Uraken, because it is easy to apply in up/down combinations and difficult to anticipate by most opponents. Also feels natural when you exhausted. So, towel all the way through.
Thank you so much, have an awesome day!
After watching a half dozen of your videos I have decided to use Ueuchi
Ryan's open hand technique with a combination of stick and towel or hard and soft techniques. Arrigato gozaimasu, Sensei.
I don't train under a sensei right now, I'm basically training using the techniques I previously learned, I plan on getting back into the Shotokan karate once I get my schedule in order.
Anyway, love your channel, sensei.
I practice wing chun which is considered a “hard/soft style of southern Shaolin Kung fu. I gravitate to the soft,yielding and blending techniques but am working on more forceful hard ways to generate power. Thanks for this video!
Grear video. I practice and teach both methods not separating them but rather connecting. One transits into another and back and again etc. In my imagination the whipping technique is a towel up to the point when the impact happens; then it becomes a stick or a stone as I usually explain and delivers energy of the whip with all the additional momentums the body generates and weight in (totiho). After the impact the stick becomes the towel that naturally flies back (No need to pull the technique in hikite - it naturally recoils). Difficult to explain and even more difficult to demonstrate. But that is how I visualize it. :) Thanks for the video. I am going to recommend it to my students.
Good vid. Another way i look at it is from watching an interview from Jet Li.
Learn the hard style first, which ever discipline you're learning, then you learn the soft style.
While learning the hard you develop strength and basics. When you learn the soft , you dive deeper into technique and body mechanics, which actually makes you stronger.
As a bonus, you can spiritual development and/or religion, which helps temper your mind. Making you even more powerful.
At least that's my takeaway from the interview, he's a devout Buddhist
I train in Kyokushin and we tend to train both soft and hard methods from the start. Even at beginner levels you learn seiken tsuki (hard push-through) and seiken uchi (soft fast snap) and go from there further knowing both ways and combining them.
How do you combine them
Hey, I've just started doing karate and have been for the last 3 months.I find your videos for really helpful, they are so informative, they teach me something new and I'm able to apply it during my lessons. This video has helped me to think about how I could develop and think the knowledge will help when it comes to doing semi contact or developing techniques.
Thank you for this video. In Wado-ryu the towel is basically more used than the stick ("more Shotokan" ). But at the opposite some "hard" katas like Naihanchi Shodan and Seishan have been included in the method.
They show for higher black belts how to alternate speed (kinetic energy) and hard positions. Work in progress...
My style is Shorei Goju Ryu, which means Enlightened One, Hard soft way. This example made a lot of sense to me. Thanks!
Awesome explanation!! I have seen so many instructors saying karate IS one way, or IS the other way without considering both can coexist
Great take on what karate actually consists of. Thanks.
Jesse, I use both all the time. I combine both methods into one. I start the towel method and then apply the stick finish as in going through the target. I've been taught so many different things, I don't know the difference anymore. I like what you said though to use either method according to the situation. I will apply that to my training. Thank you !!!
The biomechanics principles you discuss in this video is spot on. As a guy that does boxing, wrestling and Krav Maga.
I agree for hurting someone or sparring I use snapping strikes. For clearing space like in a self defense situation I use the teep from Muy Thai more of a pushing or "stick" strike.
Kudos
Cool! 😎💪
Exellant analogy Jesse i remember my first exposure to both Judo and Tai ji Quan over 35 years ago the teachers used the similar explanation To be fair i have noticed over the years that some students of the Tai ji Quan have niavely assumed the towel approach to be somehow superior ? but ive been fortunate to have attended classes and seminars held by the BCCMA ie British CouncilFor Chinese Martial Arts and all the teachers ive met have recognised both the towel and stick aproach to training ! For both the forms and 2 person routines ! Special mention to Richard and Simon Watson Proffesor Li Deyin and Master Wang yan Ji Its a credit to you that your video posts raise the level of communication regards the aproach and attitude towards training bettween the numerous styles and offshoots Good on yer mate loving yr clips and tips
I have only recently restarted my Karate path after 16 years away from it. I'm a big guy and have always found the stick method and using my bodyweight to my advantage to be the easier one for me to grasp.
I have been fortunate enough to be training in Uechi-Ryu for 26 years now...the Sensei that I have teaches both methods. The effectiveness of either one depends on the situation that your in. Like you say in the video, it is good to know both methods so you can adapt either technique to the situation that you might find yourself in.
as beginner Goju, these information really help. Arigatou Sensei !
the style of shorin ryu (shinjinbukan) i did focused on koshi/whip (but it wasnt exactly a whip). we would always rotate around our spine so body structure was important. we used koshi for tenshin (whole body movement) as well. you can use koshi in that way: either stationary striking, or movement, but we always combined both striking with movement, never standing in one spot. combine all that with whole body skeletal alignment (legs, spine, locked down shoulders, arms, wrists,) and it makes for a solid foundation for movement with striking. we also practiced the development of muchimi (to stick) with our strikes, blocks, kicks, etc. this further concentrated the energy to a single spot (into the target) unlike the ‘stick’ technique where youre dispelling the energy all over. for close range fighting you dont want your attacker to get pushed away from the kinetic energy, you want them to stay in proximity of your style.
also, makiwara is essential to help develop these biomechanics and awareness.
When I was younger and struggled with controlling my body with the physical disabilities I have, I used the “stick “ method of training, however now that I am older and a bit more worn down and have better control of my body and am more in tune with it, I prefer the softer towel approach not for the snappy speed but for the flow and the over all options available. The largest and strongest of rocks can be worn down by wind and water
This is great. Naturally, I fall in line with the towel style. I'm tall, but slim and not terribly strong, but I'm very agile and light on my feet. After becoming skilled in that style through taekwondo and wing chun, I started training in muay thai and karate where I was pushed to improve my hard style more in order to supplement my soft style.
I personally use both. It depends on what situation and what kind of opponent i have. Its always interesting when you are telling about biomechanics. Nice video Jesse! Greetings from Finland!
Kiitos! 😄
I train Wing Chun. I love seeing the same concepts in different Styles. Use your roots like a tree but flow like water. Spiral your body (fibbinoci sequence is everywhere) and striking like a whip works great. Sink with your Dan tian then explode out. Opening and closing. And don't forget to breathe lol
My karate master was always forcing me to train hardway but I wasn't a very good fighter in this approach but when a friend showed me the soft karate I became an excellent fighter. Since I had years of extensive hard karate training, I was able to combine the two style while fighting. I became smarter and wiser. Now I teach my students depending on their skills, natural flexibility and body size. My teaching depends on who I have in front of me. If you are more hands, I am with you. if its legs, I am with you. Any approach I adapt. Be right or left side, I can fight in all stance. But to reach this level it took me decades to understand these principles. I listen to my body and soul. God bless
Arigatou gozaimashita Sensei Jesse! Another wonderful video! Gotta say, I'm glad you mentioned Goju (my fave) 🤣🤣🥋🥋! Keep up the wonderful work!
If you allow a muscle to stretch it will produce force; length tension relationship. That is why it is said in striking arts that you should "relax" so you can increase that range of motion, and generate more power from the muscle being stretched. Power = force x velocity. How fast can you get your force to move through space? The less force you have, the more you'll have to rely on velocity. However, something can have a lot of mass (which can increase force), and can produce devastating results with not as much speed. Think of a weight advantage, or the phrase "heavy handed". What part of the equation you fall into is dependent on the person, but yes, you can do both: "towel v stick". I really like your videos. Thanks Jesse!!
Great way to see it 😄👍
@@KARATEbyJesse Thanks!! I appreciate your channel, and your insight.
I train Jujutsu, and most of our striking is based on snapping movements. However when we go for low kicks we try to use more "stick". Personally I feel that when you go for the head, you can use snapping strikes as they are faster and you don't need as much power to knock someone down. When going for the body, I preffer to use more powerfull penetrative strikes.
In depth as always, kinda reminds me of a lesson my Pop taught me, hit soft targets with the hard part of the body and vice versa, each techniques have it's place.
Exactly! Old Karate wisdom 👊🔥👍
Another great video Jesse San! I will share it to my students. Deep bow
Hi again Jesse! I remember my practices with 2 tall and heavy seniors senseis in Goju Ryu, when I hit them it was like striking cotton, they only make a soft movement and my strenght puch just disolved in their bodies, but having their body relaxed they gave you a really heavy punch. This same is applied in kungfu, I recomend you to analize the pakmei concepts, where they use the cotton softness and use the principle of sinking and lift your body for this porpouse.
Once again, nice video and what an awesome stick breaking technic you did here!
Jesse your the best any 7 years experienced boy in karate could say that keep going and by the way I'm choosing the towel although I was kind of forced to do karate as a stick or at least that is the only known way that is known to us in Egypt but you're still the best as I never heard this whether in azerbaijan or saudi arabia but I could finally know what is my technique and I'm gonna be mastering it
Thank you jesse keep going👍🏻
Love the way you explain stuff, I can spend hours watching your videos to implement them into my training! Thanks Jesse
Awesome to hear! Domo arigato 🙏
@@KARATEbyJesse Ganbatte kudasai !
THE KARATE NERD SCIENCE TEACHER. OSS
Karate is equal parts Art and Science. :-)
My sensei has made me train both ways.
Have a relaxed posture , but while blocking be a wall , and while hitting hard , be a bull , while when feinting , be the bee.
Also when i spar against kung fu students ( some of my friends )
I find that the towel kinda method is better tp block with , since they primarily have speed and precision based attacks . Some force applied to their lower forarms or below kknee stops thier attacks , and you can use a stick kind of knee kick to counter.
@@KARATEbyJesse not just karate each and every martial arts
I'm late to the party but in 10 years of Shotokan I'd say we focused more on the "whip" method but I found certain techniques just didn't tend to work for me until I applied the "stick" method. Sweeps being one example where I just couldn't pull them off effectively because I was always trying to snap back and thought I was recovering my balance but in reality I was just shortchanging the sweep.
When I started "kicking through" my opponent's leg, I realized my size and weight (6'3" 190lbs) allowed me to blow through most opponents' stances and still end up with reasonably good stability after I took their legs out from under them.
First time watching one of your videos, I loved the history and detail. I am a 4th Dan in Wado Ryu, and we typically emphasize relaxation and snap. However, my sensei is also a retired world class kickboxer, and his style typically leans towards the “stick” method, so I get a healthy dose of both. They both have their place. Great video!
Thanks for the awesome video Jessie, this is really good
Incredible information there! Thank you
Excellent video, I I was in Shotokan for a while then I switched to Kyokishin, I'm well built and after combining two disciplines I started to see what you mean about the stick and the towel. I'm light sparring with Kyokushin we usually go 40 to 60 % and mainly combine both techniques. However, in a real fight or a tournament I usually go with the "stick" to end things quickly, since it's so tiring in close combats with exchanging devastating blows. Thanks again for the video.
I'm thankful that in my life I was taught to embrace both external and internal power generation. I was initially taught external, as the easiest concept to understand. But then with all of those "external" techniques, I was taught the internal way to do them (some years later). To be honest.....I never really appreciated the internal aspects because I have always been a pretty big and strong man. But.....then I was diagnosed with cancer. After chemotherapy I found my strength and endurance gone. So then I relied on the training that promoted internal power generation (along with chi gong exercises). Only then did I really start focusing on internal practice, and realized that I should have been focusing on that 40 years ago. So now my opinion has changed. Now....I see external power as elementary, more easy to develop. Yet, internal power is a harder concept to grasp.....takes more discipline and time to master....but is more valuable. From experience I have learned that no matter how strong and athletic you are.....things change. We should not neglect external training (of course), but we should also place internal training as a priority, even though it's a much harder concept. I understand that for school owners, that goes directly against what will bring in revenue to your school. But still.....there is a place for it.
We're all incredibly lucky that Jesse reads the comments snd shares his knowledge and opinion past simply posting a video and moving on to the next one.
Both methods are great!
Thanks Very much youre the best! Im learning a lot with the channel!
Sensei Jesse your videos are very good help me alot I do practice Shotokan but my backgrounds is Go ju... thank for your videos
Very basic knowledge, and it's often overlooked by teacher and student alike. Thank you for calling attention to this important concept!
Seeing you asked, the style I learnt combines both forms of power production from the start.
Hola!
En primer lugar, enhorabuena por su canal!!!
Me alegra ver su afán por enseñar aquello que se ve que le apasiona!
Respondiendo a su pregunta: en mi modesta opinión, ambos métodos son necesarios y complementarios (como el Yin y el Yan)
Un cordial saludo desde España!
Hello!
First of all, congratulations on your channel!!!
I'm glad to see your enthusiam to teach what you like!
Answering your question: in my modest opinion, both methods are necessary and complementary (such as Yin and Yan)
A cordial greeting from Spain!
I’ve always been taught both thanks to learning a style based in traditional Okinawan karate. I personally use more of the towel method with most punches, knife hands, front kicks, and ridge hands. Where as with palm strikes, roundhouse kicks, side and back kicks I tend to use the stick method. I think that also came from going from the tall lanky kid I was for most of my young life to being built like a linebacker like I ended up being(I’m 6’3 and 246lbs now) lol
Hello....thank you a lot for your advice
Very knowledgeable video, I’m a bigger sized inclined kinda guy and do more stick than Towel but I also believe that knowledge about practical application and high skill ability with technique is way more important that just brute size and strength
Helped me a lot! Thank you Sensei Jesse!
Hi Jesse, it would be nice if you could do a follow up video on this demonstrating what these methods look like. And maybe something more like how they feel to use and receive.
Watch my latest video to see it in action 😄
Yes absolutely....I wrestled in high school at 215 and heavyweight and trained like a small guy..my junior a new coach aid who was a heavyweight college wrestler changed the styles for the 215 and heavyweight and it accelerated my wrestling big time.
Very interesting video, thanks for posting it!!!
As a 190cm, 85kg guy, my bias has always been towards strong, hard techniques (my background is in boxing). However since training in Wado-Ryu style of karate, I've been pushing myself out of my comfort zone, putting effort in adapting my body to fast and snappy techniques. I can clearly see the benefits in both approaches, and although I still prefer the stick philosophy, my sensei keeps stressing the need of having different options available: I may be the stronger guy in most confrontations, but at some point I'll meet someone bigger/stronger so knowing different approaches can only be an advantage!
I'm more the towel (female & tiny) but usually have to train with sticks (large heavy guys) since our dojo is rather small). I find it difficult but am eager and positive to master this. Oss, sensei Jesse, for this insight!
Hello Jesse !! I'm practicing Goju Ryu Karate, so I would say I use both, but depending on the situation I can be more towel or more stick, for exemple in kumite tournament I'm more towel like, and in my 2nd Dan exam I was more like a stick, for it's more a "traditional" context there.
Thank you for your videos, it's really inspiring and satisfacting to see someone so much dedicated to this martial art !
Excellent explanation!!
Another brilliant video! Thx dude
Hi jesse sensei! You are the best, thank you for your work!
Just doing what I love 😄
Sensei Lewis taught both methods. Each are important in the right time.