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{{short description|Style of full contact karate}}
]'''Enshin kaikan''' is a style of knockdown, "]" founded in 1988 with ] and students in various countries around the world. The core emphasis in Enshin is use of the "Sabaki Method," a system of techniques employed with the goal of turning an opponent's power and momentum against him or her and repositioning oneself to the opponent's "blind" spot to counterattack from a more advantageous position. Although Enshin is a "]" style that includes kicks, strikes, and punches found in most other styles of ], it also utilizes numerous grabs, sweeps, and throws often associated with ] or other ] styles of ]. Enshin was founded by Kancho (]) ] who directs the Enshin organization from the ] in ], ]. The organization is noted for its annual ], the Sabaki Challenge, a full-contact, no pads/no gloves, knockdown-rules competition held every spring in Denver and open to advanced martial art's entrants from any style or school.
{{Infobox martial art
| logo = Enshin kaikan logo.jpg
| logocaption =
| logosize = 200px
| image =
| imagecaption =
| imagesize =
| name = Enshin
| aka =
| country = {{flagicon|United States}} ]
| arts_taught =
| creator = {{flagicon|Japan}} ]
| parenthood = ], ], ], ]
| famous_pract = Michael Ninomiya
| website = {{URL|enshin.com}}
}}


{{Nihongo|'''Enshin kaikan'''|円心会館}} is a style of "] ]", or ], founded in 1988 with ] and students in various countries around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0toDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Sabaki+Challenge&pg=PA73|title=Sabaki Challenge Draws 2,000|date=1 August 1988|website=]|publisher=], Inc.|via=]|access-date=6 July 2017}}</ref>
]Enshin is derived from two Japanese words: "en," meaning "open or unfinished circle," and, "shin," meaning "heart" or "inner." "En" relates to the circular movement inherent in the Sabaki Method. However, the circle is "open" or "unfinished" to suggest that studying Enshin and Sabaki is a continuous journey, i.e. a process and not an end that is most important. "Shin" signifies that the Enshin students are not adversaries, but members of a mutually supportive family. "Kaikan" basically means "organization."


==Overview==


The core emphasis in Enshin is use of the ], a system of techniques employed with the goal of turning an opponent's power and momentum against him or her and repositioning oneself to the opponent's "blind" spot to counterattack from a more advantageous position. Although Enshin is a "]" style that includes kicks, strikes, and punches found in most other styles of ], it also utilizes numerous grabs, sweeps, and throws often associated with ] or other ] styles of ].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Black Belt|date=February 1974|via=]|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ|page=|publisher=Active Interest Media |access-date=2015-08-11|quote=Enshin karate.}}</ref>
==History==


Enshin was founded by ] who directs the Enshin organization from the ] in ], ]. The organization is noted for its annual ], the Sabaki Challenge, a full-contact, no pads/no gloves, ] rules competition held annually in Denver and open to advanced martial artists from any style or school.<ref name="google1">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_6tYDAAAAMBAJ |page= |quote=Sabaki Challenge. |title=Black Belt |date=February 1974 |publisher=Active Interest Media |via=] |access-date=2015-08-11}}</ref>
]Kancho Joko Ninomiya, was born on January 27, 1954, in ], ], ]. Ninomiya was the youngest of 10 brothers and sisters. His family owned and tended to several fruit orchards. To augment the family’s income, his father also worked as a carpenter.


=== Meaning of name ===
In seventh grade, at age 12, Ninomiya began training in a Judo class taught by a teacher at his junior high school. He earned his first degree black belt by the end of eighth grade. After turning 14, Ninomiya did extra Judo training at the local police station gym on weekends and holidays. It was there that he met the man who would become his teacher and mentor in karate- Kancho ]. One year later, in 1969, Ninomiya began training in Ashihara’s Kyokushin dojo.
Enshin is derived from two ] words or ]: "en," meaning "open or unfinished circle," and, "shin," meaning "heart" or "inner." "En" relates to the circular movement inherent in the Sabaki Method. However, the circle is "open" or "unfinished" to suggest that studying Enshin and Sabaki is a continuous journey, i.e. a process and not an end that is most important. "Shin" signifies that the Enshin students are not adversaries, but members of a mutually supportive family. "Kaikan" basically means "organization."


== History ==
Hideyuki Ashihara began training in ] karate at the honbu dojo in 1961 when he was 16 years old. Kyokushin(kai) is a full contact, knockdown style of karate founded by ]. Ashihara attained first degree black belt in Kyokushin in 1964. Two years after that he became an instructor, and two years after that he was allowed to open his own dojo in Ninomiya’s home town of Yawatahama.
{{Nihongo|'''Joko Ninomiya'''|二宮城光|Ninomiya Joko}} was born on January 27, 1954, in ], ], ], ]. At age 12 Ninomiya began training in a Judo class taught by a teacher at his junior high school. After turning 14, Ninomiya did extra Judo training at the local police station gym on weekends and holidays. It was there that he met the man who would become his teacher and mentor in karate ]. One year later, in 1969, Ninomiya began training in Ashihara's ] karate dojo.


When Ninomiya was 17, he was chosen to compete in the 1971 All-Japan Tournament as the youngest competitor. Ninomiya subsequently competed in the 1972, 1973, and 1976 All-Japan Tournaments and the 1975 All-World Tournament, making it to the later rounds in all of them. Ultimately, he won the 1978 All-Japan and then retired from tournament competition.
]During this time, Ashihara was developing his own approach to the Kyokushin curriculum he was teaching his students as well as adding additional movements and techniques that he had devised. His techniques involved using circular patterns to move outside of an opponent’s attack and then to counterattack from a position of advantage. These techniques also involved parries and sweeps intended to use the opponent’s momentum against him. He always stressed getting the maximum impact from a minimum amount of force. Ashihara called these techniques, “Sabaki.” Although many of these techniques were prohibited in Kyokushin tournament rules, he taught them to his students, including Ninomiya, so that they would be more effective, all-around karate fighters. Many renowned karate students came to train at Ashihara’s dojo because of his reputation as an extremely effective instructor. One of these students was ] from ].


When Ninomiya was 17, he received his brown belt in Kyokushin from (then) ] Ashihara and was chosen to compete in the All-Japan Tournament as the youngest competitor. He lost in the second round to eventual tournament champion Katsuaki Sato. In 1973 Ninomiya was selected to go train at the ] dojo in ]. He stayed on in New York City as an instructor for several years. In 1977 he moved to Denver and opened his own Kyokushin dojo.


In 1980 Hideyuki Ashihara left the Kyokushin organization and started his own style ]. Ninomiya joined Ashihara's organization and directed the US region of Ashihara Karate from Denver. Over the next eight years, Ashihara Karate slowly increased in size in the US and around the world.
Ninomiya trained hard for the next year’s tournament, including spending three weeks living and training alone at a beach some distance from his home town. At his second All-Japan tournament in 1972 he lost in the third round to eventual tournament champion Miyuki Miura.


During this time, Ninomiya states that he had developed strategies and ideas of his own that he was eager to implement in his training curriculum. He also wanted to develop his own tournament format that would provide what he felt to be a “true” test of karate skills. Therefore, in May, 1988, Ninomiya decided to leave Ashihara Karate and start his own style. Most of the instructors and students of Ashihara in the US decided to follow Ninomiya into his new organization, providing a strong base for the new style Enshin Karate.
During this time, Ninomiya had continued to train and compete in judo, as well as in karate. However, with graduation from high school, he stopped training in judo and trained full-time in karate, when not working in various jobs, including as a nightclub security guard. Ninomiya was now a 1st degree black belt in Kyokushin. At the 1973 All-Japan tournament, he lost again in the third round, this time to eventual tournament champion Hatsuo Royama.


Since 1988, Enshin Karate has continued to be headquartered at Ninomiya's honbu in Denver. The organization has grown and now includes schools in Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as in the US. Ninomiya's idea for an open, knockdown-rules tournament that promotes the Sabaki method became the Sabaki Challenge that has been held annually in Denver since 1989.
One month after the tournament, Ninomiya was chosen, along with five others, to go to live and train at the three Kyokushin dojo in New York City. Two of the American fighters that trained with them there were William Oliver and Willie Williams. The other five members of the group returned to Japan after two months, but Ninomiya stayed in New York to teach and train. Because of visa problems, he was unable to compete in the 1974 All-Japan tournament.


== Technique ==
]In October, 1975, 21-year-old Joko Ninomiya returned to Japan to compete in the first All-World Tournament. In the semi-finals, he once again faced Katsuaki Sato. After an epic three-overtime match, Sato won the match by judge’s decision. Sato then won the subsequent title match against Hatsuo Royama. Ninomiya finished in third place. The tournament was filmed for a documentary, called ''Fighting Black Kings'' that also profiled several of the competitors, including William Oliver and Willie Williams.
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: ] -->The techniques or ] of Enshin include many of the same or similar kicks, punches, strikes, blocks, and parries found in most other karate styles. However, in contrast to many other karate styles, Enshin also includes sweeps, grabs, throws, and takedowns most often found in ], ], and other grappling styles. The core emphasis in applying all of these techniques is through the Sabaki Method.


Perhaps due to Ninomiya's background in Kyokushin, most, if not all, of the Kyokushin striking techniques are found in Enshin. The kicks include front kick, knee kick, roundhouse kick, axe kick, side kick, back kick, and spinning back hook kick. Groin and front-knee-joint kicks are taught for self-defense purposes, but, for safety reasons, aren't used in ] (]) or tournament competition. The arm and hand strikes include forefist straight punch, hook punch, forefist underpunch, knifehand strike (the classic “karate chop”), and elbow strikes. These strikes can be delivered in a variety of ways. For example, a roundhouse kick can be directed at the lower, middle, or upper areas of the opponent's body.
Ninomiya returned to New York and prepared for the next year’s All-Japan tournament. At the tournament, his quarter-final match went to three overtimes before he was awarded the decision. His semi-final match went two overtimes before he was again awarded the decision. He had only 10-minutes to rest and prepare for the final match against Katsuaki Sato, which he lost by points. Ninomiya returned to New York to resume teaching and training.


The arms and legs are also used for various blocks and parries. These include the upper block, middle outside parry, lower parry, shin block, and foot stop.
Ninomiya was unable to compete in the 1977 All-Japan due to a training accident involving a sword that almost severed his left thumb. Instead, he decided to move to Denver to open his own Kyokushin dojo. His first classes were held in a neighborhood health club. However, soon he was able to rent a vacant store to use as a training dojo. He soon had a dedicated core of students.


Several throws, sweeps, and grabs are taught and often employed in combination with each other. The grabs are either with one or two hands to the opponent's head, neck, shoulder, arm, or leg. The throws include forward-rolling throw, front throw, back throw, and over-the-shoulder throw. The sweeps include foot sweep, inside thigh kick, and back-of-knee-joint kick.
The next year, Ninomiya returned to Japan briefly for his father’s funeral. Seven months later, he returned again for the 1978 All-Japan Tournament. In the final match, Ninomiya defeated Keiji Sanpei to win the All-Japan championship. He retired from tournament competition to concentrate full-time on teaching karate.


Many of the principles of the Sabaki method were developed by Ashihara. The Sabaki method aims to employ all of these strikes, block, parries, grabs, sweeps, throws, and takedowns in a way that puts the opponent on the ground as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once on the ground, the opponent is “finished-off” or knocked-out with a strike to a vulnerable part of the body such as the neck or head (finish-off moves are simulated in Enshin training or tournament competition). Sabaki strategy combines rhythm, timing, position, and distance to parry and counterattack in one continuous motion. The ability to turn defense into offense by using an opponent's power and momentum against him lies at the heart of the Sabaki method.
In 1980 Kancho Hideyuki Ashihara left the Kyokushin organization and started his own his own style- Ashihara Karate. Ninomiya directed the US region of Ashihara Karate from Denver. Over the next eight years, Ashihara Karate slowly increased in size in the US and around the world.


The basic technique in the Sabaki method is to parry the opponent's attack in a way that redirects their attacking energy away from you. You then move to your opponent's weak side or blind spot that has been opened-up by your parry and execute a strike, throw, sweep, or combination of these to put the opponent on the ground. The combination of movements involve circular or pendulum motions of the body in order to redirect the opponent's attack without meeting it head-on (meeting force with force) and to counterattack with motions that generate energy and momentum. Many of the parries and sweeps are designed to put the opponent off-balance which makes it much easier to knock them to the ground as their own body and momentum assist in carrying him/her to the ground or floor.
During this time, Ninomiya had developed strategies and ideas of his own that he was eager to implement in his training curriculum. He also wanted to develop a tournament format that would provide what he felt to be a “true” test of karate skills. Therefore, in May, 1988, Ninomiya decided to leave Ashihara Karate and start his own style. Most of the instructors and students of Ashihara in the US decided to follow Ninomiya into his new organization, providing a strong base for the new style- Enshin Karate.


== Sabaki Challenge ==
Since 1988, Enshin Karate has continued to be headquartered at Ninomiya’s honbu in Denver. The organization has grown and now includes schools in Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as in the US. Ninomiya’s idea for an open, knockdown-rules tournament that promotes the Sabaki method became the Sabaki Challenge which has been held annually in Denver since 1989.
]
Since 1989 Enshin Karate has held the Sabaki Challenge (officially called the Sabaki Challenge, World Open Tournament and often unofficially called the World Sabaki Challenge) in Denver, Colorado. The Sabaki Challenge is a full-contact single elimination tournament intended to fulfill Ninomiya's vision of a showcase of a "true," stand-up martial arts skills competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ENIDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Sabaki+Challenge&pg=PA51|title=Black Belt|first=Active Interest Media|last=Inc|date=1 February 1994|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|access-date=6 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> The tournament is open to advanced male and female competitors of any style. The tournament competitors are divided into (male) lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight, and female divisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3doDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Sabaki+Challenge&pg=PA37|title=Black Belt|first=Active Interest Media|last=Inc|date=1 August 1990|publisher=Active Interest Media, Inc.|access-date=6 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref>


The rules of the Sabaki Challenge favor and promote use of the sabaki method including use of grabs (one handed), sweeps and throws, in addition to kicks, punches, and other strikes. A competitor is able to win by knockout of their opponent or by points scored against their opponent.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xzovOWZIc8UC&dq=Sabaki+Challenge&pg=PA216|title=Sabaki Method: Karate in the Inner Circle|first1=Kancho Joko|last1=Ninomiya|first2=Ed|last2=Zorensky|date=6 July 1998|publisher=Frog Books|isbn=9781883319748|access-date=6 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref> 1 point is awarded for a sweep or takedown. 3 points are awarded for a sweep or takedown followed by a quick simulated strike to the opponent such as a punch. Hand and elbow strikes to the head and neck aren't permitted, but kicks are. Grabs are permitted to one side of the opponent's body for three seconds at a time. Since it is a full-contact tournament, ] do sometimes occur.
==References==


In addition to the annual Sabaki Challenge in Denver, schools in the US also hold Regional Sabaki tournaments for karateka to compete in full contact tournaments to gain experience and for finalists to apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge. An annual Sabaki Challenge is held in Japan called the All Japan Sabaki Challenge tournament. Japan finalists can apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge. There are also Regional Sabaki tournaments held in Japan. An annual Sabaki challenge is held in a European country called the International European Sabaki Challenge with finalists able to apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge.
Kancho Ashihara, Hideyuki. ''Fighting Karate.'' New York: Kodansha Ltd., 1985.


== References ==
Kancho Ashihara, Hideyuki. ''More Fighting Karate.'' New York: Kodansha Ltd., 1989.
{{Reflist}}


=== Books ===
Kancho Ninomiya, Joko (with Ed Zorensky). ''Sabaki Method: Karate in the Inner Circle.'' Berkeley, California: Frog, Ltd., 1998.
* KARATE Enshin Method --Toho Publishing {{ISBN|4809407233}}
* {{ cite book
| last = Ninomiya
| first = Joko
| author-link = Joko Ninomiya
|author2=Ed Zorensky
| year = 1998
| title = Sabaki Method: Karate in the Inner Circle
| publisher = Frog, Ltd
| location = Berkeley, California
| isbn = 1-883319-74-9
}}
* {{ cite book
| last = Ninomiya
| first = Joko
| author-link = Joko Ninomiya
|author2=Ed Zorensky
| year = 2000
| title = My Journey in Karate- The Sabaki Way
| publisher = Frog, Ltd
| location = Berkeley, California
| isbn = 1-58394-017-0
}}


==External links==
Kancho Ninomiya, Joko (with Ed Zorensky). ''My Journey in Karate- The Sabaki Way.'' Berkeley, California: Frog, Ltd., 2000.
*
*
*


{{Karate schools}}
''Fighting Black Kings.'' Dir. Shuji Goto. Perfs. William Oliver, Willie Williams, Mas Oyama. Videocassette. Prod. Sankyo Motion Picture Company. Dist. New Line Cinema, 1976.


]

]
==Related Links==
]

]
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]
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*

Latest revision as of 21:21, 17 June 2024

Style of full contact karate
Enshin
Country of originUnited States United States
CreatorJapan Joko Ninomiya
Famous practitionersMichael Ninomiya
ParenthoodAshihara Karate, Kyokushin Karate, Judo, Jujutsu
Official websiteenshin.com

Enshin kaikan (円心会館) is a style of "full contact karate", or knockdown karate, founded in 1988 with dojo and students in various countries around the world.

Overview

The core emphasis in Enshin is use of the Sabaki Method, a system of techniques employed with the goal of turning an opponent's power and momentum against him or her and repositioning oneself to the opponent's "blind" spot to counterattack from a more advantageous position. Although Enshin is a "stand-up fighting" style that includes kicks, strikes, and punches found in most other styles of karate, it also utilizes numerous grabs, sweeps, and throws often associated with Judo or other grappling styles of martial arts.

Enshin was founded by Jōkō Ninomiya who directs the Enshin organization from the honbu in Denver, Colorado. The organization is noted for its annual tournament, the Sabaki Challenge, a full-contact, no pads/no gloves, knockdown karate rules competition held annually in Denver and open to advanced martial artists from any style or school.

Meaning of name

Enshin is derived from two Japanese words or kanji: "en," meaning "open or unfinished circle," and, "shin," meaning "heart" or "inner." "En" relates to the circular movement inherent in the Sabaki Method. However, the circle is "open" or "unfinished" to suggest that studying Enshin and Sabaki is a continuous journey, i.e. a process and not an end that is most important. "Shin" signifies that the Enshin students are not adversaries, but members of a mutually supportive family. "Kaikan" basically means "organization."

History

Joko Ninomiya (二宮城光, Ninomiya Joko) was born on January 27, 1954, in Yawatahama City, Ehime Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan. At age 12 Ninomiya began training in a Judo class taught by a teacher at his junior high school. After turning 14, Ninomiya did extra Judo training at the local police station gym on weekends and holidays. It was there that he met the man who would become his teacher and mentor in karate Hideyuki Ashihara. One year later, in 1969, Ninomiya began training in Ashihara's Kyokushin karate dojo.

When Ninomiya was 17, he was chosen to compete in the 1971 All-Japan Tournament as the youngest competitor. Ninomiya subsequently competed in the 1972, 1973, and 1976 All-Japan Tournaments and the 1975 All-World Tournament, making it to the later rounds in all of them. Ultimately, he won the 1978 All-Japan and then retired from tournament competition.

In 1973 Ninomiya was selected to go train at the Kyokushin dojo in New York City. He stayed on in New York City as an instructor for several years. In 1977 he moved to Denver and opened his own Kyokushin dojo.

In 1980 Hideyuki Ashihara left the Kyokushin organization and started his own style Ashihara Karate. Ninomiya joined Ashihara's organization and directed the US region of Ashihara Karate from Denver. Over the next eight years, Ashihara Karate slowly increased in size in the US and around the world.

During this time, Ninomiya states that he had developed strategies and ideas of his own that he was eager to implement in his training curriculum. He also wanted to develop his own tournament format that would provide what he felt to be a “true” test of karate skills. Therefore, in May, 1988, Ninomiya decided to leave Ashihara Karate and start his own style. Most of the instructors and students of Ashihara in the US decided to follow Ninomiya into his new organization, providing a strong base for the new style Enshin Karate.

Since 1988, Enshin Karate has continued to be headquartered at Ninomiya's honbu in Denver. The organization has grown and now includes schools in Asia, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East, as well as in the US. Ninomiya's idea for an open, knockdown-rules tournament that promotes the Sabaki method became the Sabaki Challenge that has been held annually in Denver since 1989.

Technique

The techniques or kihon of Enshin include many of the same or similar kicks, punches, strikes, blocks, and parries found in most other karate styles. However, in contrast to many other karate styles, Enshin also includes sweeps, grabs, throws, and takedowns most often found in judo, Jujutsu, and other grappling styles. The core emphasis in applying all of these techniques is through the Sabaki Method.

Perhaps due to Ninomiya's background in Kyokushin, most, if not all, of the Kyokushin striking techniques are found in Enshin. The kicks include front kick, knee kick, roundhouse kick, axe kick, side kick, back kick, and spinning back hook kick. Groin and front-knee-joint kicks are taught for self-defense purposes, but, for safety reasons, aren't used in sparring (kumite) or tournament competition. The arm and hand strikes include forefist straight punch, hook punch, forefist underpunch, knifehand strike (the classic “karate chop”), and elbow strikes. These strikes can be delivered in a variety of ways. For example, a roundhouse kick can be directed at the lower, middle, or upper areas of the opponent's body.

The arms and legs are also used for various blocks and parries. These include the upper block, middle outside parry, lower parry, shin block, and foot stop.

Several throws, sweeps, and grabs are taught and often employed in combination with each other. The grabs are either with one or two hands to the opponent's head, neck, shoulder, arm, or leg. The throws include forward-rolling throw, front throw, back throw, and over-the-shoulder throw. The sweeps include foot sweep, inside thigh kick, and back-of-knee-joint kick.

Many of the principles of the Sabaki method were developed by Ashihara. The Sabaki method aims to employ all of these strikes, block, parries, grabs, sweeps, throws, and takedowns in a way that puts the opponent on the ground as quickly and efficiently as possible. Once on the ground, the opponent is “finished-off” or knocked-out with a strike to a vulnerable part of the body such as the neck or head (finish-off moves are simulated in Enshin training or tournament competition). Sabaki strategy combines rhythm, timing, position, and distance to parry and counterattack in one continuous motion. The ability to turn defense into offense by using an opponent's power and momentum against him lies at the heart of the Sabaki method.

The basic technique in the Sabaki method is to parry the opponent's attack in a way that redirects their attacking energy away from you. You then move to your opponent's weak side or blind spot that has been opened-up by your parry and execute a strike, throw, sweep, or combination of these to put the opponent on the ground. The combination of movements involve circular or pendulum motions of the body in order to redirect the opponent's attack without meeting it head-on (meeting force with force) and to counterattack with motions that generate energy and momentum. Many of the parries and sweeps are designed to put the opponent off-balance which makes it much easier to knock them to the ground as their own body and momentum assist in carrying him/her to the ground or floor.

Sabaki Challenge

Michael Ninomiya competing in the Sabaki Challenge

Since 1989 Enshin Karate has held the Sabaki Challenge (officially called the Sabaki Challenge, World Open Tournament and often unofficially called the World Sabaki Challenge) in Denver, Colorado. The Sabaki Challenge is a full-contact single elimination tournament intended to fulfill Ninomiya's vision of a showcase of a "true," stand-up martial arts skills competition. The tournament is open to advanced male and female competitors of any style. The tournament competitors are divided into (male) lightweight, middleweight, heavyweight, and female divisions.

The rules of the Sabaki Challenge favor and promote use of the sabaki method including use of grabs (one handed), sweeps and throws, in addition to kicks, punches, and other strikes. A competitor is able to win by knockout of their opponent or by points scored against their opponent. 1 point is awarded for a sweep or takedown. 3 points are awarded for a sweep or takedown followed by a quick simulated strike to the opponent such as a punch. Hand and elbow strikes to the head and neck aren't permitted, but kicks are. Grabs are permitted to one side of the opponent's body for three seconds at a time. Since it is a full-contact tournament, knock-outs do sometimes occur.

In addition to the annual Sabaki Challenge in Denver, schools in the US also hold Regional Sabaki tournaments for karateka to compete in full contact tournaments to gain experience and for finalists to apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge. An annual Sabaki Challenge is held in Japan called the All Japan Sabaki Challenge tournament. Japan finalists can apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge. There are also Regional Sabaki tournaments held in Japan. An annual Sabaki challenge is held in a European country called the International European Sabaki Challenge with finalists able to apply to compete in the World Sabaki Challenge.

References

  1. "Sabaki Challenge Draws 2,000". Black Belt. Active Interest Media, Inc. 1 August 1988. Retrieved 6 July 2017 – via Google Books.
  2. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 38. Retrieved 2015-08-11 – via Internet Archive. Enshin karate. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. "Black Belt". Active Interest Media. February 1974. p. 37. Retrieved 2015-08-11 – via Internet Archive. Sabaki Challenge. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 February 1994). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 6 July 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. Inc, Active Interest Media (1 August 1990). "Black Belt". Active Interest Media, Inc. Retrieved 6 July 2017 – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. Ninomiya, Kancho Joko; Zorensky, Ed (6 July 1998). Sabaki Method: Karate in the Inner Circle. Frog Books. ISBN 9781883319748. Retrieved 6 July 2017 – via Google Books.

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