“Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breathe in through nose, out the mouth. Wax on, wax off. Don’t forget to breathe, very important.”

Do you remember? I hope you do. And if you don’t know what I am talking about, please do me a favor, and watch (the original) Karate Kid movie series. 1980’s, I know, I know, but still worth watching it.

Mr. Miyagi, portrayed by late Pat Morita – who by the way didn’t know any Karate at all – is definitely a Master we all dreamed of as kids. Or not, especially if you want to learn kicks and strikes, but instead a martial arts school it seems you joined an home improvement company. 

Shaolin monks carried water and chopped the firewood, and there were practical reasons for that.

Poor Daniel-San was polishing cars and painting the fence – and as you can see, there was a reason for that, too.

Of course, movie, entertainment, but – some important lessons can be learned, too. One of my Masters said that virtually ALL blocks are either inside or outside circles – bigger, smaller, longer or shorter, but – either inside or outside circles.

From PHK perspective, the blocking techniques “taught” by Miyagi Sensei are:

• Sand the Floor – “Threading Bridge” (Chyun Kiu)
• Wax On, Wax Off – “Circling Bridge” (Hyun Kiu)
• Paint the Fence (Up and Down) – Lifting Bridge (Tai Kiu) and “Sinking Bridge” (Cham Kiu)
• Paint the Fence (Side to Side) – “Horizontal Bridge” (Waang Kiu) and “Lifting Bridge” (Tai Kiu)

How about “Jacket On, Jacket Off” technique?

Fighting or not, there are more “practical lessons” in the Karate Kid. Watch it, and don’t forget that the bad guy will sweep the leg, and that the “Crane Kick” DOES work (see Machida or Silva in UFC).

Pavel Macek Sifu, Practical Hung Kyun

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