How does Kyushindo Karate differ from mainstream Karate?

Natural Movement

Natural movement allows the full power of the body (using legs & torso) to be involved in techniques rather than the power generated from just the muscles in the limbs. This allows less forced and rigid movement than traditional styles.

However, Natural Movement has a lot of different interpretations in the Kyushindo Karate ‘world’ so the ‘Natural Movement’ statement above is how I see it. If you look at very high-ranked (old) Japanese Karate instructors, they move more naturally rather than in a forced, robotic way. The Kyushindo ‘way’ tries to get this movement earlier in your journey.

Deflection and Avoidance

Kyushindo Karate emphasises deflection and avoidance rather than the concept of force meeting force. By meeting strikes’ head-on’ with blocks, the strongest person will always win, but no matter how strong you try to be, you will always meet someone stronger than you!!. Using force against force makes it more likely that you will sustain an injury while performing the defence. Deflection reduces the force required to redirect a strike from the line of attack. 

There is a lot of historical emphasis on circles in the Kyushindo Karate philosophy and how it relates to incoming attacks. However, in application these circles are actually spirals.

A ‘circle’ is 2 dimensional, so when drawing it back or pushing forward – with tightening, it becomes a spiral or helix.

Power without Tension

Kyushindo aims for speed in its movements, so the stances are higher than in traditional Karate styles. When the muscles work against each other under tension, fast movement and striking can be restricted. Kyushindo aims to perform relaxed strikes, only tensing the limb at the moment of impact. However, you can reduce the momentary tension as one becomes more proficient with striking. 

The word ‘relax’ was always used by instructors when performing strikes, and I used to say the same saying, ‘Relax, Relax…blah blah blah..’. However, over the years, I have stopped using ‘relax’ and now stress ‘absence of tension‘ as ‘relax’ can mean a loose or slack technique to some people. As your striking technique becomes ingrained, it then requires relaxing the muscles not involved in the strike and using body structure, alignment, and mechanics to maximise power (a study that lasts a lifetime!!)