Advanced karate seminars

Nenad Djurdjevic has spent the last 15 years researching advanced applications of Okinawan karate by cross-referencing karate techniques with those of the "soft" or "internal" arts of China, namely xingyi, bagua and taiji.

The results of this research are now being presented in a series of seminars aimed at providing karate instructors with knowledge directly relevant to, and capable of being immediately absorbed within, their own syllabuses.

Accordingly the knowledge imparted in the seminars is directly linked to specific kata (the exact kata are specified under the various topic headings below). By special arrangement, seminars can be adjusted to mix and match material from various topics. In addition, each seminar will include instruction in scientific junbi undo (preparatory exercises) and essential hojo undo (conditioning exercises).

Unless otherwise specified, a "day" seminar consists of 2 sessions of training of 2 hours each (with a break for lunch in between).

1. Tuide - grappling applications of karate kata

From his background in qin-na, the grappling applications of the internal arts, Nenad discovered that karate kata contain sophisticated, effective, locks, holds and ground fighting techniques that rely on "softer" more efficient movement and less on brute strength (commonly associated with karate grappling methods).

The grappling techniques are packaged in drills or "lock flows" - ie. a series of locks where one lock flows directly into another along the lines of possible escape. Each drill is based on a particular kata and is designed to be taught alongside the kata for maximum benefit. While many people now teach grappling for karate, Nenad's approach is unique in that, instead of teaching a disparate group of techniques that have no particular relevance to particular kata, the lock flow drills are designed to slot into your existing syllabus. The fact that the grappling techniques of a each kata are themselves "packaged" into one drill means that the techniques can be easily learned, taught and remembered.

Short videos showing some of these drills can be found here

The seminars currently comprise the following units, conducted as separate day seminars:
(1) Heian shodan/Fukyugata: Grappling for beginners I
(2) Gekisai: Grappling for beginners II
(3) Saifa: Grappling for intermediate students I
(4) Tekki/Naifunchin: Grappling for intermediate students II
(5) Seiunchin: Grappling for senior students I
(6) Shisochin: Grappling for senior students II
(7) Sanseiru: Grappling for senior students III

(Specific course may be arranged for other kata on a case by case basis.)

2. Tenshin - body evasion and footwork from karate kata

The art of "tenshin" (Okinawan for evasion) is a largely lost art in karate, however the kata are rich in this knowledge. With the benefit of his knowledge of corresponding moves in the internal arts, Nenad will show you how each kata specialises in particular lines of body evasion and footwork, both to help you avoid or check attacks, but also to set you up in a superior position after the attack. This course will teach you a series of footwork drills for each kata and give you an understanding of how embusen (lines of kata) relate to the 8 basic lines of evasion. This footwork can then be combined with techniques for sophisticated and advanced bunkai (applications) of the kata.

The seminars currently comprise the following units, conducted as separate day seminars:
(1) Basic tenshin: Evasion based on Heian/Fukyugata and Gekisai kata (includes bunkai)
(2) Intermediate tenshin: Evasion based on Saifa and Naifuchin/Tekki (includes bunkai)
(3) Senior tenshin: Evasion based on Seiunchin, Shisochin (includes bunkai)
(4) Advanced tenshin: Evasion based on Sanseiru and Seipai (includes bunkai)

3. Embu - the 2 person versions of karate kata

In Chinese arts 2 person forms (called "san shou") are a commonplace and vital part of learning martial skills. They give you the opportunity of applying your kata techniques in a dynamic, yet safe, context.

While many schools have lately designed 2 person drills, these are often either (a) not directly related to the kata of the system or (b) are highly artificial re-enactments of the kata, virtually identical to the kata that inspired them (making the 2 person form a mere repetition of the kata with no added insight).

However, using knowledge of tenshin (see above) the Wu-Wei Dao Martial Arts College has, over the last 2 decades, developed "embu" (literally "performance fight") for each kata. The embu are designed so that they are capable of being practised as one person form because they are circular - ie. each sequence contains the moves for both sides (the first move in the embu is a defence for the middle move).

The embu of Wu-Wei Dao are short, easy to learn sequences that are designed to be taught alongside the kata to which they relate. They are particularly useful in that they contain not only the tenshin inherent in each kata, but also the most important bunkai, providing an encyclopaedic "package" of knowledge.

The seminars currently comprise the following units, conducted as separate day seminars:
(1) Heian/Fukyugata embu
(2) Gekisai dai ichi embu
(3) Gekisai dai ni embu
(4) Saifa embu
(5) Naifunchin/Tekki embu
(6) Saifa embu
(7) Seiyuchin embu
(8) Shisochin embu
(9) Sanseiru embu

Short videos showing some of these drills can be found here.

4. Effortless combat throws : Wu-Wei Dao's Touxing

Learn effective, simple combat throws that utilise the attacker's energy and can be applied with a minimum of effort.

Karate is also criticised in the Chinese arts for its perceived "hardness", "linear" movement and rigidity. Yet karate is descended from Chinese arts that are, in the main, flowing and circular.  In this course Nenad will show you that karate can indeed be practised in a flowing and circular way (true to its Chinese heritage) without sacrificing the essential kime (focus) for which karate is renowned.  The Academy's unique Touxing (Japanese: Nagegata) comprise individual movements commonly applied in karate, yet combined in sequences that maximise flow to enable direct and efficient combat throws.

The seminars currently comprise a one or 2 days.

Nenad Djurdjevic: a short biography

Nenad Djurdjevic is the chief instructor of the Wu-Wei Dao Martial Arts College and holds a 4th dan. His studies have encompassed goju ryu, shorin ryu, aikido, arnis, Okinawan kobudo, the bokken and jo, eagle and tiger Shaolin forms, xingyi and taijiquan and qin-na (Chinese grappling). He began his training in 1981 under the pioneering Western tode jutsu instructor Bob Davies who was himself the student of the legendary Hung Yi Xiang of Taiwan. Hung Yi Xiang was one of the greatest masters of the internal arts and one of the few to have mastered the complete arts of xingyi, bagua and taijiquan (in its combat form).

Left to Right: Hung Yi Xiang, Bob Davies, Nenad Djurdjevic

Apart from his studies with Bob Davies, Nenad's has taken every opportunity to study with as many varied masters as possible, adding the perspective and technique of each master to his considerable knowledge base. Here are just a few of the masters Nenad has trained with:

Left to Right with: Higaonna Sensei; BJJ Black Belt John Will; Kanazawa Sensei

Left to Right with: Combat taiji Master Earle Montague; Sifu William Cheung; Guro Dan Inosanto

Left to Right with: Renshi Paul Ceberano; Kyoshi Tino Ceberano;, Shihan Sal Ebanez

Left to Right with: Sensei Graham Ravey; Master Jeff Speakman

In addition to his martial arts knowledge Nenad has a degree in sports science and has used this knowledge to assist him in his research and development.

Contact

Expressions of Interest for Sensei Nenad to hold a seminar for your dojo can be made via any of the following methods:

E-MAIL: admin@wuweidao.com

TELEPHONE: 61-08-93702913

MOBILE: 61-0409 110 862

POST: PO Box 168, Nedlands, Western Australia, 6909