There is an evolutionary process in all that we do, and karate training methods are no exception…with time comes new knowledge much as many karate practitioners love to argue about it.
Testing platforms vary, and over time there have been many variations of them.
Uechi Ryu is of Chinese origin and Old China has a history of competitive 'testing platforms'…take San Shou, for example
Sanshou's competitive history involved barehanded or lei tai fights in which no rules existed. However, even sanshou as a competitive event developed in the military as these bouts were commonly held between the soldiers to test and practice barehanded martial skills, ability and techniques. Rules were developed and the use of protective gloves etc. was adopted. It was originally used by the Kuomintang at the first modern military academy in Whampoa in the 1920s. Later it was also adopted as a method by the People's Liberation Army of China.
Kanbun Uechi was exposed to this training method, but he was wise enough to realize that if you allow students to practice or compete in unsafe, relatively speaking, methodology, the student will get badly hurt and he will not continue with his training. So as a teacher, you have accomplished nothing.
But he did teach jiyu kobo… a free attack/defense platform. To wit … Basically, Jiyu Kobo consists of a well-timed, explosive attack without
warning. Any type of attack was appropriate - fist, foot, and swinging
strikes, combination attacks, anything. The defense must react in a relaxed
and flowing motion, diffusing the attack and countering. When contact is
made, the attack/defense sequence is over.
Contact is allowed only with the use of sundome. As opposed to todome_Injuries were rare at this
level of skill and control. Intent to contact was required, but intent to
injure was strictly forbidden.
An aspect of Jiyu Kobo that makes it more difficult is that each attack and
defense must be made with perfect form within the system. The power,
precision, and balance generated in kata must be shown in the attacks and
Also Kyokushin competes with bare knuckles…so to allow face punches is frowned upon, as the dangers for both fighters in the ring are obvious…including broken hands, blood flowing from cuts, and sepsis infection from cut knuckles that can lead to death. KK students still practice face punching in a safe manner when training to learn how to deal with them, but the rules of competition are there for a reason.
Stryke has got this right
Micro moment skillsets , meant to be blended with other skillsets to flesh out the package , while maintaining degrees of safety and specialisation to build particular skills .