Sloppy Basics Make Sloppy Technique

By Christopher Caile

Sometimes the hardest part of martial arts training is the practice of basics year after year. For many this gets boring and repetitive. They want to move on and master more advanced techniques – things that are more exciting, fun and even spectacular.

These are the martial artists who after many years get into their own groove. They are so used to doing techniques, that they do not focus on them, and do not examine what they are doing. I often see these students in class. Many of them are advanced in rank, but their technique has dissolved into sloppiness. Even if shown the correct method, these same students quickly revert to original form.

This is what I call following outer form without working on the principles and technique within.

In various arts, such as karate, or example, this problem becomes especially evident when you see these same students execute kata (prearranged sequence of techniques). (1) They perform the outer form, but are unbalanced, lacking power, effectiveness, and speed of execution. In short: their basics are sloppy, thus so is their technique, and with sloppy technique their kata is impaired.

In self-defense, this same problem may impact a student’s health. If a knife is coming toward you, it is no time to be sloppy and slow.

Some time ago I was at a gathering at a friend’s house, and my friend introduced me to one of his neighbors. After talking for a while, this neighbor said that he had been studying a form of Korean Taekwondo for about eight years. Before long he was demonstrating various techniques. Included were some kata moves. It was terrible –sloppy movements, off balance, no power, etc, etc. “Good God,” I thought. “What are his teachers teaching him?” I hoped his self-defense, if he ever had to use it, was more effective, but doubted it. (2)

Whatever your art, there are intricacies and subtleties of basics that are essential to the correct performance of your art. Real progress is measured by the mastery of these aspects, the mastery of the inner form, not the outer pattern. Nothing is gained by practicing year after year the same sloppy technique.

Students in karate, for example, sometimes ask me, “Aren’t you bored after more than 45 years doing your basic punches, kicks, blocks and stances?” I tell them, “No, because I am always working on something. You might not see the subtleties in what I am working on, but they are there.” This adds interest to what otherwise might seem boring and repetitive.

In practicing karate, for example, my performance of basics has evolved from what it was ten years ago. Even though I am older and possibly not as strong, today my punches are faster and more powerful. My techniques, I believe, are infused with better body mechanics, body movement, methods of generating power, and are more focused on specific targets and angles of attack. I have incorporated more internal dynamics of power and reduced reliance on outer muscular strength. I have relaxed externally, but learned to add internally compression, and the use of the internal hinges of the body including multi-angle koshi movement (hip including lower torso and upper thighs) combined with gravity. And, I might add, there is much to work on.

Mastering basics is a lifelong activity, not just repetition of the same movements done in the same way over time. You learn the outer pattern first, but then you work on trying to understand and perform the principles and methods within. Sometimes you only understand these after years of training and watching your masters. Some teachers too will first teach one level, then another and another.

The secret to improving your basics is to be attentive to yourself and your movement. You can be shown something, but only you can monitor your progress. You thus become your own teacher as you incorporate what you have learned. At some point what your have learned become so ingrained into your muscular memory and reflexive action that it becomes instinctive. You can then move your focus to new goals.

Mastery of basics is always an elusive goal, for there is always more to learn. Once many years ago after a seminar in aiki-jujutsu I was talking to another student in the locker room. I had been very impressed with the technique and aiki movement (seemingly almost effortless ability to perform technique) of the master. I casually questioned myself saying, “How long do you think it would take to approach his capability?” The fellow student looked right at me and replied, “You will probably die first.”

Footnotes:

(1) These include, but are not limited to, kendo (the sport of the Japanese sword), kenjutsu (the warrior art of the sword) two man short sequences, aikido (a self-defense art developed by Ueshiba Morihei based on an ancient form of jujutsu but influenced by sword and spear arts as well as religious influences) and jujutsu (joint manipulation, choking & throwing) self-defense techniques.

(2) This story is no reflection on the art of taekwondo; it is instead a reflection of the teacher of the student I met.

About the Author Christopher Caile

Christopher Caile

Christopher Caile is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of FightingArts.com. He has been a student of the martial arts for over 65 years.

He first started in judo while in college. Then he added karate as a student of Phil Koeppel in 1959 studying Kempo and Wado-Ryu karate. He later added Shotokan Karate where he was promoted to brown belt and taught beginner classes. In 1960 while living in Finland, Caile introduced karate to that country and placed fourth in that nation’s first national judo tournament.

Wanting to further his karate studies, Caile then hitch hiked from Finland to Japan traveling through Scandinavia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and South and Southeast Asia — living on 25 cents a day and often sleeping outside.

Arriving in Japan (1962), Caile was introduced to Mas Oyama and his fledgling full contact Kyokushinkai Karate by Donn Draeger, the famous martial artist and historian. Donn also housed him with several other senior international judo practitioners. Donn became Caile’s martial arts mentor, coaching him in judo and introducing him to Shinto Muso-ryu under Takaji Shimizu.

Caile studied at Oyama’s honbu dojo and also at Kenji Kurosaki’s second Tokyo Kyokushinkai dojo. In his first day in class Oyama asked Caile to teach English to his chief instructor, Tadashi Nakamura. They have been friends ever since. Caile also participated in Oyama’s masterwork book, “This Is Karate.”

Caile left Japan with his black belt and designation as Branch Chief, the first in the US to have had extensive training in Japan directly under Oyama Sensei. As such, Oyama Sensei asked him to be his representative on visits to his US dojos to report on their status.

A little over a year later, Nakamura, Kusosaki and Akio Fujihira won an epic David vs. Goliath challenge match against Thailand’s professional Muay Thai Boxers in Bangkok, Thailand, thrusting Kyolushinkai and Nakamura into national prominence.

Back in the US Caile taught Kyokushinkai karate in Peoria, Il while in college and later in Washington, DC. while in graduate school. Durimg this time Shihan Nakamura had moved to New York City to head Kyokushinkai’s North American Operation.

In 1976 when Kaicho Tadashi Nakamura formed the World Seido Karate organization, Caile followed. Living then in Buffalo, NY, Caile taught Seido karate and self-defense at the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) for over 15 years where he also frequently lectured on martial arts and Zen in courses on Japanese culture.

Caile moved to New York City in 1999 to marry Jackie Veit. He is now an 8th degree black belt, Hanshi, training in Seido Karate’s Westchester, NY Johshin Honzan (Spiritual Center) dojo. In Seido Caile is known for his teaching of and seminars on kata applications. He also produced a 14 segment video series on Pinan kata Bunkai currently available to Seido members.

Caile is also a long-time student and Shihan in Aikido. He studied in Buffalo, under Mike Hawley Shihan, and then under Wadokai Aikido’s founder, the late Roy Suenaka (uchi deshi under Morihei Ueshiba, founder of Aikido and was Shihan under Tohei Sensei). In karate, Suenaka (8thdan) was also an in-house student of the Okinawan karate master Hohan Soken.

Having moved to New York City, Caile in 2000 founded this martial arts educational website, FightingArts.com. Twenty-five years later, in 2025, it underwent a major update and revision.

For FightingArts.com and other publications Caile wrote hundreds of articles on karate, martial arts, Japanese art, Chinese Medicine and edited a book on Zen. He also developed relationships with a cross section of leading martial arts teachers. Over the last four decades he has conducted extensive private research into karate and martial arts including private translations of the once secret Okinawan hand copied and passed on Kung Fu book, the Bubishi, as well as an early karate book by the karate master Kenwa Mabuni. He periodically returns to Japan and Okinawa to continue his studies and participate Seido karate events. In Tokyo he practiced (with Roy Suenaka Sensei) in a variety of aikido organizations with their founders – including private interviews and practices at the Aiki-kai Aikido Honbu dojo with the son and grandson of aikido’s founder, Doshu (headmaster) Kisshomaru (an old uchi-deshi friend) and his son, Moriteru Ueshiba and in Iwama with Morihiro Saito. On Okinawa he studied Goju Ryu karate under Eiichi Miyazato, 10th dan founder of Naha’s Jundokan, and also with Yoshitaka Taira (who later formed his own organization, who specialized in kata Bunkai. While there Caile also trained with Hohan Soken’s senior student, Master Fusei Kise, 10 dan as well as with the grandson of the legendary karate master Anko Itosu.

Caile’s other martial arts experience includes: Diato-ryu Aikijujitsu and Kenjitsu, kobudo, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, Kali (empty hand, knife and bolo), study of old Okinawan Shoran-ryu & Tomari body mechanics, study of old Okinawan kata under Richard Kim, study of close quarter defense and combat, including knife and gun defenses, Kyusho Jitsu and several Chinese fighting arts including 8 Star Praying Mantis, Pak Mei (White Eyebrow), and a private family system of Kung Fu.

Caile is also a student of Zen as well as a long-term student of one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chi Kung (Qigong). As one of two senior disciples of Chi Kung master Dr. Shen (M.D., Ph.D.) Caile was certified to teach and practice. This led to Caile’s founding of the The Chi Kung Healing Institute on Grand Island, NY. In Western NY, he also frequently held Chi Kung seminars, including at SUNY Buffalo and at the famous Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, NY. His articles on Chi Kung also appeared in the Holistic Health Journal and in several books on alternative medicine.

Caile holds a BA in International Studies from Bradley University and MA in International Relations with a specialty in South and Southeast Asia from American University in Washington, D.C. While in Buffalo, NY he also studied digital and analog electronics.

In his professional life Caile also worked in public relations and as a newspaper reporter and photographer. Earlier he worked in the field of telecommunications including Managing a Buffalo, NY sales and service branch for ITT. He then founded his own private telephone company. This was followed by creation of an electrical engineering company that designed and patented his concept for a new type of low-cost small business telephone system (which was eventually sold to Bell South). The company also did contract work for Kodak and the US space program. Simultaneously Caile designed and manufactured a unique break-apart portable pontoon boat.

Most recently Caile co-founded an internet software company. Its products include software suites with AI capability for control and management of streaming media, such as video and music, an all-in-one book publishing software product for hardcover, eBook and audio book creation and security software for buildings and government use.

For more details about Christopher Caile’s martial arts, work experience and life profile, see the About section in the footer of this site.