KYOSHIN SABAKI

Kyoshin Sabaki is not just one style but also a combination of various styles, with an emphasis on Ashihara Karate. 

Its main aim is to allow a person to defend themselves in a real world environment, in real situations.  For example, - Its late at night and you've just finished work, you're walking to your car, railway station, etc.  Suddenly an attacker that wants to really hurt you confronts you, there is around 3 - 5 seconds to end the confrontation. Not something you will learn in a tournament or constantly training every night under lights or on nice jigsaw mats in your dojo.

Although our emphasis is mainly on positioning with a take-down, we try to train in all areas, as the situation and environment is not always to your advantage

K.S. is not here to degrade other styles but the truth is it's hard to throw someone if your attacked in a phone booth, grapple someone on the ground if your standing ankle deep in a pool of mud or the ground is covered in broken glass. Likewise trying to kick on loose or uneven ground.

You must have the ability and techniques to change your fighting style to suit, still within the 3 - 5 second time frame, hence the need for training in awareness skills as well as your physical skills.

Shihan Chris Parsons who trained for many years in Ashihara as well as other styles founded K.S. Shihan found the need to enhance his instruction format even further due to changes in attackers style of fighting and level of violence. This was achieved by Shihan Chris training with other instructors of various styles and also by talking to his students of various ages and occupations about their needs. Therefore a single technique can be adapted to suit the individual size, shape, height or other needs.  Now the student is learning a technique or combination of techniques that will work for them.

All forms of self-defense are reactive ie: all your reactions are governed by the attackers initial actions.  You need to have choices ie:- walk away, take down to a submission/control point or launch a quick attack/counter-attack. Depending upon your situation ie:- multiple attackers, you may need to take control and attack first.  You must be able to control your first opponent very quickly and still retain a position that gives you the choice to plan your movements.

K.S. is a reactive style that allows you, through understanding of positioning, distance, etc., to act accordingly on your terms and not the attackers.

TECHNIQUES

The basic techniques of K.S. ie:- punches, kicks, knees, elbows, do not differ greatly from any other style, although emphasis is placed on good hip movement, full extension of the technique, speed and being relaxed when executing the technique.  It is the combination of these and other factors that give you power.

Positioning yourself in relation to that of the attacker by using correct but simple footwork is the key to K.S. This principle is called "SABAKI" which when translated means circular movement. Which in its basic form is moving to the outside or off the centerline of the attacker and his relevant technique. You could train for years doing a particular block, but on the day it if fails, or you perform it incorrectly due to being under pressure or stress, you get hit, because your still in the way of the attack.  By moving to the attackers blindside, his initial attack has now failed, thereby allowing you to make your choice on your terms.  Not everyone who wants to fight you will be the same size, weight, rank or skill level.  Street defense is not a tournament.

SABAKI comes in 4 basic positions which gives the student an understanding of getting out of the way of an attack and achieving "blind spot positioning".  Once an understanding of these 4 positions is in place, these same positions are used at different ranges - short, medium and long.  Variations of the positions are also covered to create a desired effect or positioning for a particular take down.

Other styles claim to have "X" amount of positions to which they give a particular name or number. All this information he/she has to try and remember in the 3 - 5 seconds time frame, under stress, in a possibly unfamiliar environment.  Makes for hard work, don't you think? K.S. need to know just 4, for example, "if the attack comes from this side of his body, and its a punch, I'll move there, if its a kick, I'll move over there" in relation to blind spot positioning.

Hence you are now out of the way of his initial attack which not only makes you safe (for only a short time) but this can even surprise your attacker therefore taking some of his confidence.  "Hell, I missed, where did he go?"  By the time the attacker turns to face you again you have already launched or are launching your counter-attack, from a superior and balanced position. From this positioning various takedowns can be applied and being taken down when you don't train for it ie: - break falls, rolls, etc, is quite an experience.  Again there are no set takedowns or combinations you use from here, you use what naturally feels good and do that. Sure we teach particular takedowns and set combinations (what style doesn't) but students are given the choice whether to use them or an alternative technique. That's up to the student and the nature of the attack.

Katas are performed in the same way as you would perform combinations in a fight situation.  The techniques must flow together with speed and power.  The student starts off slow and speeds up over time with the emphasis on the techniques moving and flowing from one to another with no big stops in between the techniques.  Anyone can learn to perform a block really fast and strong and then a strike in the same way, but if the time between your block and strike is too long this creates an opening, which your attacker can exploit (especially if you're still standing in front of him). The strike must be able to flow right after the block therefore decreasing the "window of opportunity" for the attacker. Of course this takes time to learn and develop, hence the need to establish a position of balance and blind spot to increase your reaction time to plan a good counter-strike, not one that may be ineffective or if it fails leaves you in the line of fire.  Most people, apart from a very few, if they get punched in the face once or twice, usually fall down, HARD, or at the very least are temporarily blinded due to watery eyes, blood, etc, and are now off balance, which gives the attacker vital time to complete his objective.

The only time K.S. uses traditional stances and /or blocks, strikes, etc is for warm ups and body conditioning.  As for fighting we have one stance. You start in that one and anytime you stop you finish that way.

SPARRING

Sparring is performed differently in the sense that the higher rank only defends by using positioning and takedowns, while the lower rank uses all his basic attacking skills and if an opportunity arises, proceeds to takedown as well.  This way, by the time that student rises up through the ranks towards black 1st Dan he/she has a good understanding of attack, counter-attack and blind spot positioning (Sabaki). Therefore sparring becomes a learning experience and not just a point-scoring competition or punch fest.

GRADINGS

Gradings are over a 3 - 4 hour period depending on the ranks participating.  All areas of basics, positioning, kata, sparring, break falls, rolls, combinations, takedowns, locks, holds, etc. are covered.

Fitness ie:- stamina, endurance, plus mental toughness are also covered. Towards brown/black bar and black 1st Dan the students teaching ability is encouraged, as one of the best ways to fix your mistakes is to teach. By correcting a lower ranks technique, in turn corrects yours.

There is no "SHODAN-HO" (probationary black belt) rank within the style. K.S. believes when you wear a black belt, it should be full black 1st Dan. Those who have achieved a black belt in any style will remember it as being one of the greatest and proudest moments in ones life.  Even if you should achieve 2nd or 3rd Dan belts, etc., going from a colored belt to black is a special feeling and obtaining a belt that looks black, but is not, takes away that turning point.  Especially after a 4 hour grading with a board break at the end which must be achieved.  This is probably why it takes an absolute minimum of 4 - 5 years to achieve 1st Dan.  With further Dan gradings there is more emphasis placed on one's ability to teach as well as furthering their knowledge of the style.

TRAINING

Whilst in the dojo, there is the usual warm ups, stretching, body conditioning, bag work, focus pads, etc. It is also stressed to the student that you must be able to perform fighting techniques stone cold in any weather, environment and clothing (as I have not met an attacker that has allowed me to warm up for 20 minutes and change into my uniform (Gi) yet).

The techniques that a female student learns whilst wearing her Gi must be adaptable and work when she is wearing a tight dress and high heels.  The same for a male wearing a big heavy jacket and a set of work boots, a child carrying their books home from school, or as mentioned earlier, standing in that infamous phone booth.

Training in the defense of weapons is not taught until around brown belt and above, as weapon defense is an exclusive area that requires the understanding of the basics first. K.S. teaches that up until that rank the best thing to do is run away very quickly and even when gaining an understanding of weapons, the best thing is still to run away. Take a knife for example, there are techniques we teach, but really the best thing between you and the attacker with a knife is a suburb of the city you live in. At the same time, if all you have is yourself, your hands, feet and no way of escaping and your facing down an attacker with a knife, who you believe will cut or stab you with it, then be committed to your defensive attack and go in HARD.

After reading the previous pages you are probably wondering how Shihan Chris and the other instructors came to these conclusions. Shihan Chris's training has consisted of the following -

 Judo - 3 years

 Shoalin - 2 years

 Ashihara Kai Kan - 16 years

 Instructors trained with or under -

 Sensei Dennis Payne - 4th Dan - Trained under for  several years

 Sensei Paul Mancarella - 4th Dan - Trained with for short period of time

 Sensei Craig Leeson - 4th Dan.  Says Chris "The most  influential instructor I have trained with over the           last several years.  He taught me above all else to  see the road I want to travel or as he would say                  "The Path".  To him I owe what I have become, thank you for tomorrow.

 Seminars outside Ashihara and further training -

 Sensei Peter Lindsay - Aikido - Trained under Steven Segal

 Joe Thambu - Yoshinkan Aikido

 Michael Field - Seminar of Aikido styles

Bill Day - Aiki Kia Aikido

Shihan Chris has also worked in the security industry as a crowd controller, security officer and close escort.

Sensei Dirk McLean holds the rank of 2nd Dan in Kyoshin Sabaki, 1st Dan Ashihara, Instructor qualified in Arnis Eskrima Kali, a Defensive Tactics instructor for a security training establishment as well as having trained in various other martial arts styles, also with instructors and some members of military and police/prison units.

K.S. does not condone violence, nor teaches people to be violent, but everybody has the right to defend him or herself when escape is not possible.  Your chance of being involved in a violent confrontation is quite real and being prepared is your best option rather than burying your head in the sand and hoping it will never happen to you. Knowing your abilities and limitations gives you confidence not only in defending yourself but, expands into all aspects of your life.  It's a much better feeling than being too afraid to leave your house because something might happen, or thinking you're ready and when tested finding you're not.