Book review of:
'Four Shades of Black, Gavin Mulholland'

By Tony Terranova

Gavin Mulholland is a 5th Dan in Goju Ryu Karate and Chief Instructor of Daigaku Karate Kai (DKK) in London. He has over 30 years experience in martial arts which includes periods of training in Thailand, Indonesia, China and Japan which add an authentic depth to his studies. His 15 years of working as a doorman in pubs and clubs served to pressure test and calibrate the system that he presents in Four Shades of Black. His work as a former university lecturer in psychology and instructor for a leading bodyguard company served to develop the necessary mental skills and insights into human behavior associated with violent confrontations. His resume as a martial artist is complete in terms of practical, psychological and street combat experience. Upon meeting him you will also find that he is friendly, refreshingly open minded and willing to share his knowledge.

When karate was first introduced into mainland Japan from Okinawa it needed to find its own niche market as other martial arts were already well established. It achieved this by concentrating on punching and kicking and in the process lost some original fundamental parts. Subsequently during the last decade or so Karate has to some degree been receiving bad press. The following are only some of the reasons for this: (1) the evolution of combined arts in the form of MMA (UFC championships) which appear to offer more variety; (2) some 'traditional' Karateka have neglected key areas of impact development with pad and bag training used in other full contact systems; and (3) the sporting element of Karate has diluted the need for reality and impact training with the focus being on match point scoring. This has resulted in Karate sometimes being incorrectly labeled as "not practical for self protection or full contact purposes". Four Shades of Black goes into considerable depth to prove that if Karate is correctly understood, it is in fact a complete and effective self protection system.

The book provides an interesting step by step presentation of Goju Ryu Karate with practical illustrations intelligently combining the origins of the traditional system with newer more familiar ways of martial arts training. Gavin manages to preserve the heritage of the Goju Ryu system while unveiling a training format entirely applicable to the 21st century. He also adds a subtle credibility to the effectiveness of his training methods by the fact DKK students have successfully competed in MMA events such as Cage Rage - and the system has also served him well during his 15 years as a doorman in the street combat arena (where there are no rules). We can therefore conclude that his training methodologies and strategies work as the art is in the effectiveness of the technique.

The contents of the book provide useful and practical information for all martial artists (irrespective of the styles they practice). For this reason the review only briefly mentions the 4 kata's (presented as the Four Shades of Black Belt) to assist those not practicing Karate to see the value of the book from the contents of this short review. For the benefit of those practicing Goju, the Kata's discussed at length in the book are as follows: Gekisai-Dai-Ichi (hard attack and pound techniques); Gekisai-Dai-Ni (advanced attack and smash utilizing enhanced balance); Saifa (disengaging and anti-grappling); Seiunchin (grappling with close quarter combat techniques). The Kata's are presented as the logical learning steps for students providing an all-round fighting system which incorporates the practical techniques found in many other martial arts.

We often hear that Kata is the map for Karate and yet in practice Kata to some extent can be seen to ignore some techniques such as grappling and anti-grappling methods. The originality of this book is that Gavin shows that Kata actually is the ordinance survey map if we only take the time to explore the detail. The book should be read carefully as the detail is presented in a well thought out and chronological manner. The following randomly selected sections provide some specificity for this book review.

(1) The three elements of striking and their parallels with western boxing

• Elements of western boxing style techniques that are either lost or not noticed, are actually in the kata. These include conventional Jabs and Crosses (long range techniques), hooks and uppercuts (for short range striking).
• A discussion of full-contact arts such as western boxing and kick-boxing with a review on the 3 elements of striking correctly defined as the trigger, release and impact.
• Highlighting that punching into thin air only develops the trigger (when the punch is initially fired) and that therefore the other two phases also need to be trained.
• There are benefits in using a partner or pads for striking instead of thin air as it is common place to over compensate when kicking thin air.
• The importance of using a real guard to protect the head in combat with chin tucked in and using the shoulders and arms hands held high (as used in boxing).

(2) The principles of blocking defined as attacking techniques

Pages 36 to 37 provide a review on the classical Karate forearm rising block and evolution of 'blocking' which is often misunderstood and incorrectly practiced.

• The true meaning of blocking is defined as: "Interruption of normal physiological function". Interrupting a strike makes it a preemptive move and not a defensive one (note, preemptive striking is proven to be effective).
• Karate blocks can be too stylish with not enough time spent on covering and blocking like full contact fighters.
• The illustration on page 36 is actually a multiple attack technique, with the block and free hand both simultaneously striking (interrupting the attackers intended movement before it is fully executed).
• The illustration on page 36 can also be seen in other arts, for example the effective posting/jamming techniques employed in Muay Thai.
• The illustration on page 37 is a modified rising block which can also be seen in other arts, for example the classical boxing cover guard and slip.
• An emphasis on realising the many ways in which the same block can be used depending on range, angle and strategy required for any given scenario.

(3) Stances and the importance of balance

Pages 42 to 45: reflect the effectiveness of Karate stance with the following points;

• Comparison on the efficacy of Karate's focus on stances against boxing's focus on footwork
• Questions why so much time is wasted using so many different Karate stances when boxers only spend a limited amount of time on this subject.
• Functionality of stances is reviewed in terms of efficacy and necessary transition from striking to clinch/wrestling.

(4) Understanding the difference between sparring and street fighting

Page 55 presents the importance of knowing that sparring (kumite) is very different to self defense/street fighting. Sparring does not represent a real fight (as there is no dancing around needed to get a strike in). Most street fighters have limited skills and use only one or two techniques - becoming experts at delivering them at short range as preemptive strikes using deception in the process.

(5) The importance of specificity in Bunkai

Pages 66 to 67: Considers bunkai application and generic training;

• Bunkai is mentioned as mostly being misinterpreted with application (with the exception of some teachers such Iain Abernethy).
• For effective Bunkai there must be specificity to the Kata; for example on attack and smash drills gekisai dai ichi kata would be used.

(6) Combat conditioning and understanding striking power

Pages 68 to 72: Pad and combat conditioning work with the following insights;

• Throughout the book Gavin's conditioning and impact development drills take into consideration how power is developed. His conditioning regimes consider two salient factors; (a) static and explosive strength and (b) the importance of good kinematic chains by utilizing the correct levers and no unnecessary movement.
• When impact training with pads/bags he advocates focusing on hitting hard and drilling until you find your own shape as this develops good spirit. With constant drilling good technique will develop and it conditions your hands for real combat.
• Impact development can also be used as an exhaustion technique to loosen up the joints which makes the movements smoother and more efficient.
• Partner work should not be just limited to sparring but also to work on your weaker skills to improve them.
• The fact that pads, bags and makawari boards don't hit back does not negate their use. Rather, the use of a variety of combat conditioning methods is recommended and the mix of static and dynamic training is the key to developing the fighter.

(7) Closing the distance to clinch Pages 106 to 107 consider the importance of becoming familiar with grappling;

• " It is possible that in a street fight scenario things can go wrong and the fight goes from stand up to clinch. The importance of getting used to gripping up with an unwilling partner is explained as this desensitizes and prepares you for when the distance. closes
• " Students should work on their weakness as well as their strengths otherwise false progress is made.
• " Suitability of person to Kata is presented. This is an important point as no two snow flakes are the same and this also applies to human beings. It makes sense that we should practice on a Kata that best suits our own bio-mechanics so that we develop our fighting ability in all ranges. For example in Kata Saifa the goal is to escape to a stand up position which is good practice a lighter individual trying to escape a larger opponent.

(8) Hard grappling under pressure

Page 143 reinforces the necessity for hard grappling as skill and movement take time to learn, understand and perfect. This section makes reference to the misconception that Kata/Karate does not contain grappling when in fact it does.

Closing comments

Whilst there are many different martial arts systems, there is one common thread that runs through all of them - that is; "nothing happens until you move". Martial arts are basically movement of the body combined with an attitude of intent. Good instructors know how to teach correct body mechanics (movement); combat specific conditioning and how to change state from passive to controlled aggression with massive intent. They also understand that power development depends on; correct leverage, strength (working the nervous system to activate the musculature to deliver power) and use of good bio-mechanics.

The training drills and information presented in Four Shades of Black provide information on all these key elements of the martial arts. It is a valuable addition to any martial artist's library.

Acknowledgments by Tony Terranova:

A thank you to Steve Griffith my friend and loyal student who also studied Four Shades of Black and provided me with comparison notes to my observations of the books contents.

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