Kase Interview (2001)

T.K.: After I got over the worst part of my heart attack, I had a great surprise. The doctors told me I had accumulated a lot of liquid in my lungs. They did not know why, because according to them, this had to have happened over many years, and I should have noticed it, but I did not have any problems with my health. In terms of my recuperation, it is important to keep in mind Yoshitaka Funakoshi's experience. Even though he was sick and was spending most of his time in bed, at night he would put on his karate uniform and he was strong and dynamic as if nothing had ever happened.

That is the reason wh during my recovery, I used to think about it and I decided to accept the challenge to show that with karate you can overcome problems, including health problems. The doctors had told me that it would be better to stop practicing and teaching Karate and that I should abandon it completely. So while I was sick I also remembered the experience of Sensei Egami, one of my other seniors from whom I received several classes. Sensei Egami was likewise very sick and had several surgeries, which among others caused him difficulty breathing. Nevertheless when he gave classes with his Assistant, Sensei Takagi, Egami recovered his breathing in a special way and then he used to say, "Ok, now I am going to teach you", and he would let them attack, he would apply defenses and counter attacks that were very fast and most of all powerful. That is why I decided to learn from my seniors and to test the same things. That is, even though I cannot always be well, I can maintain an explosive power for a short space of time and then later recuperate myself and son on successfully.

T.K.: We were members of the Shotokan-Dojo and officially the Shihan (a high ranking master) was Funakoshi Gichin and the second Shihan Funakoshi Yoshitaka (his son). Another instructor from whom I received classes was Hironishi Genshin. But also in addition to that, we also attended classes at the Karate University. Once a week, in an official way, different instructors were invited, such as Funakoshi Gichin, Yoshitaka, Hironishi, Kawata, Okuyama, Hayashi, Uemura, Kubota and others.

Therefore, the education was not as generally understood, for we were influenced by several instructors. At least once a week we had an instructor invited to the University of Senshu.

B.I.: You have spoken to us a lot about Sensei Okuyama Tadao, who we understand was, and still is, a very special person. Tell us about him and why you appreciate him so?

T.K.: In order to speak about Sensei Okuyama, I will go back to the days when the five Shotokan Universities carried out their Dan Gradings together. In these exams Kata, Kihon and Kihon-Kumite were practiced and the Senior Instructors graded them. The applicants did Kumite with them, it was usual for one of the Seniors to do Kumite (combat) with the applicants. That was where Sensei Okuyama appeared. That moment as I recall, was really sensational, because he attacked with greater speed and force than any of the others. The applicants could not even react. There was no way to defend oneself from Sensei Okuyama, he was over you with his fist in your face before you knew what was happening. Everybody was amazed by his ability.

B.I.: Could you tell our readers why Yoshitaka had so much influence in the evolution of Shotokan Karate?

T.K.: When I began practicing Karate, our Seniors told us that Sensei Funakoshi Gichin was the pioneer of Karate. But they also told us that the evolution, revolution and development of Karate was carried out by his son Yoshitaka. His Karate was faster, stronger and more dynamic. Sensei Yoshitaka searched for validity and efficiency. He wanted to know if the techniques really worked against the attacks. But what is really important to understand, is that the great development from Sensei Funakoshi Gichin's Karate, to the karate practiced by Yoshitaka, was possible thanks to the O-Waza (long distance techniques) concept, with maximum speed and force. However, we must not linger on this point, as what is really important is to master the O-Waza in order to be able to be efficient in Ko-Waza (short distance technique).

Gichin Funakoshi even said that the Seite (when one arm defends and the other counter-attacks) is important, but more so is Hente (defense and counter-attack with the same arm) - Hente is directly related to the Ko-Waza practice. For this reason, it is especially important to understand the O-Waza concept and its history.

Let's imagine that the performance of a Tsuki (punch) at a distance of one meter took "X" time.