Hard, Soft, and Quick: Three Amazing Martial Artists.

Here are three short videos of three very different and equally remarkable martial arts women who inspire me in my own practice of Shotokan Karate. The first is Hikaru Ono, competing in the recent 2017 Paris Open in kata (forms). This is a long kata, with very slow and powerful moves and then very forceful and fast moves. She puncuates each attack with an astonishing precision. Her feet plant hard in the ground each time she changes stance and she never wastes a single movement. Her opponent Sandy Scordo doesn't even come close (probably beccause she also performs a much less advanced kata.) 

And this too -- Naka Sensei, the nominal head of JKA Shotokan (my style) has been visiting other fighting styles -- sharing information, and learning a lot. (I love this cross pollenation). He has been filming these encounters -- and this is my favorite -- a class with Chinese kung fu master--who is lithe and lethal. Gorgeous to watch the flow of her body. (I'm still trying to track down her name -- it's only here in Japanese. )

And finally, Rika Usami, also an international champion in kata. And what speed and precision she has -- none sharper. So I present this wonderful and cheeky film of her. (And you can see more of her on youtube...also wonderful to watch!)