Topic: What do you think about?

[Moley]

What do you think about when performing Kata?
Do you worry about what move comes next? Or do you imagine you are fighting an imaginary opponent?
My theory is that if you are thinking what comes next, you heven't practiced that Kata enough. You should attempt to do the latter and imagine you are fighting.
Bruce Lee said in Enter the Dragon
"Don't think......Feeeeeel"

O.K. then as you perform the Kata..Feel the blocks working, feel the Kime and feel the Kicks and punches make contact.

       

[Huw]

Kata's really develop with experience. When I started just remebering which way to go required 100% concentration!!

A year later the whole idea of kata has become much more natural - which gives me time to at least think about 'performance'.  

Oss

[gizmo]

Huw - I have it on good authority that Badgers are a protected species. It looks like you're just going to have to stick to your Calvin Kleins and your lice

[gizmo]

The most satisfying kata practices I experience occur when I am able to consistently maintain the image of the opponent throughout. This doesn't happen all the time and it depends on a number of factors.

Firstly it depends on how familiar I am with the kata. Being able to maintain the imaginary opponent only really happens when the physical movements have become automatic.

Secondly it depends on how familiar I am with the kata bunkai. I tend to experiment with bunkai. Most karate movements have several possible applications so why limit yourself to one. I have a feeling that being able to experiment with bunkai and to recognise a variety of stimulus response alternatives can transfer to kumite. Imagery is a very powerful learning medium that has no rules or boundaries and is largely ignored.

Some people (even senior Japanese instructors) say that the maintenance of an image is uneccessary, rather you should just concentrate on the feel of the kata. My personal opinion is that this attitude devalues kata and relegates it to the status of mere physical performance. Of course the movements and feel of the kata are important, especially early on in the learning stage but the practice of kata offers an opportunity for so much more.

[Moley]

Sometimes I can really "Get into" a Kata and actually get "Carried away" with the fight that goes on between myself and the imaginary opponent. I first noticed this in Heian Nidan. You know that move after the four Shuto Uke, The Uchi Ude Uke before the Kickand  punch ? Well I really give that some welly and almost feel the contact with the opponent as I block and throw his attack out of the way so that I can Kick.
Which reminds me, Some people don't put enough Welly into their blocks !
You can dance up and down the Dojo like a puppet and wave your hands and feet in the air, but if you don't give it Ooooomph, then you're not doing Karate.

[mad frankie]

For me, the best thing about Karate is the Kata but I think we tend to concentrate too much, on the half a dozen needed for the gradings. It would be good to learn a few others and add them to the repertoire, on a regular basis. As a yondan once told me "use it or lose it " I won't say to what he was referring. We need to regularly practise the grading katas but others would add spice to life.

[Mole Bach]

Mad Frankie:
For me, the best thing about Karate is the Kata  but I think we tend to concentrate too much, on the half a dozen needed for the gradings.

I do agree to some extent, however, with the workload for gradings being as heavy, we do tend to concentrate on Kata for the gradings.  Should you be able to stay for the last class, Kata there (although slightly advanced) is taught in-depth and at a reletively slow pace.

Personnaly, I have found that I perform Kata better when I compleatly shut off, this is usually when under stress from personal/work related matters.  When I have been able to do this, my Kata possesses that certain something (yes, that word again), although I may not look (I actually may, for I cannot possibly see myself performing...."use the force Luke") powerful/proficient/graceful etc. I do FEEL something.

[dogberry]

Recently my perception of KATA has changed moreso having witnessed GWYN and PAUL breaking down certain KATA into sections involving an actual opponent.
This helps you to imagine 'the opponent' being there, this then takes away any thoughts of what comes next and you concentrate deeper on 'your opponent' and the rest comes naturally.
Obviously when you first learn a kata you have to concentrate initially on what comes next before you can sort out your opponent.
RECENTLY I have had to help LORNA learn the TEKKI SHODAN KATA, I could only do this by learning it myself.This was done with the aid of KAWASOE's videos and an actual printout of the moves on paper.

This took me a couple of hours over a couple of evenings and this then gave me the patience to teach LORNA.

I did notice that what I LEARNT off FILM and PAPER differed slightly in different places when it was broken down by SENSEI GWYN. Is this the KATA evolving with time or is it simply 'LOCAL TRAITS,AMMENDMENTS' made by the SEKI CLUB. I would imagine its the KATA evolving as MASTER KAWASOE has to approve of what he sees during the gradings.

There is no way that you can accomplish KATA merely by watching film and reading books, this I quickly realised having watched LORNA as she was adjusted and corrected in the DOJO.

And more importantly you do not get the 'FEEL' from the film and book this I think only comes with your imaginary opponent and lots and lots of practice.

dogberry

[Moley]

The best way to REALLY learn a Kata is to HAVE TO TEACH IT !

[Shari]

I was having trouble with Bassi Dai I asked Gwyn if I could take a video camera in and tape Gwyn (Ive also got Mole Bach doing one) I found it very helpful I was able to brake down the Kata bit by bit (slowmo a good thing.) I have a very rough copy of Kawasoe, but found it better watching Gwyn and Alun, as  I am used to their way.  

I found tring to learn a new Kata at home( after being shown in the Dojo) with out any other form of referance, was bad for me I was either not in the correct stance or doing something wrong  and having to be corrected in the Dojo, once practicing the move the wrong way I found it hard to brake the habbit to do it correctly. Having that extra eliment in my eyes can not be a bad thing.

( Now is your time to get into the movies Gwyn, make a video on Kata. )

[Lloydie]

I rather like the idea of getting some of the Seki instructors doing their favourite kata on tape.  A certain dept of the Uni are about to get a new digicam and editing suite, I believe.  I wonder if they might be interested in "testing it out"  
We could put some of the stuff on the site, providing the Divine One is an agreement.  Also might be good resource for promotional stuff etc.

what think you, chaps?


lloydie

[Shari]

( Now is your time to get into the movies Gwyn, make a video on Kata.  )

 I only made the last comment as a weak joke, but if the club could make money out of it, it may be worth looking into it.

Sell it to club members.

[dogberry]

( Now is your time to get into the movies Gwyn, make a video on Kata. ).............................................................
Sell it to club members.

WHY NOT?...........It could help us at KYU level to practice at home.................and it would be a good point of reference .............................and once GWYN MOWLL is a HOLYWOOD star our 1st editions will be worth millions!!!.    .........hurry up GWYN so I can retire!!!!!!!!!!!  

DOGBERRY

[Moley]

( Now is your time to get into the movies Gwyn, make a video on Kata.  )

 I only made the last comment as a weak joke, but if the club could make money out of it, it may be worth looking into it.

Sell it to club members.

SELL is a Dirty word in the SEKI why can't we change it into GIVE ?

[Shari]

 SORRY  free to SEKI  sell to other clubs.