Topic: Focussing on one kata

[Lloydie]

For a while I have been struggling a little with the idea of learning kata "for the grading".  This is as opposed to learning the kata "in-depth".  The interest in bunkai that is shown, when the higher grades demonstrate application, is intense amongst the students, or so it seems to me.  Why then do we not do more of this?  Well, I suspect time is one factor!

 I have read in various books recounting the early days of karate on Okinawa, that the main teaching of karate was kata and the applications of the moves.  I read some time ago Elmar Schmeisser's book on the application of the Tekki katas, which are brutal, devastating techniques "hidden" in the kata itself.  However, needing to learn the required kata for grading has meant neglecting these elements.

It was interesting, therefore, to read Bill Burgar's article in the latest SKM, about how he spent 5 years looking at just one kata.  I intend to get this book, but I wonder what other people think about "focussing on one kata" for a long time, perhaps working to a depth of inderstanding that we currently do not generally do?

lloydie

[Jewels]

Thats a lovely idea lloydie yes, but 5yrs.. 5 YEARS lloydie?  Watching the Dan Grades in Edinburgh performing there Katas was utterly superb... made the hair on the back of my neck stand up....and i could quite happily spend endless hours absorbed in breaking down Katas, learning to perfect them and watching people do them properly...well weeks and mths
at least..we used to have the odd Kata session here and there devoted to this dident we?  can we ave some more than?

[Susan]

I would rather do just one or two kata than focus on a lot - it's just too much to concentrate properly on.

The way we sometimes practice kata is to break it down into about four or five chunks. At the end of each bit, stop for a few seconds. That way you're not thinking about the hard slog ahead, but on putting everything into a few techniques. Eventually you just put the whole thing together and you find you're putting more into each individual part. We did this last night with kankusho  (all evening) - which is normally an absolute killer. It worked for me. It was a lot less taxing yet we probably put about 10 times as much into it.

[Hi Seas Drifter]

I guess everyone everywhere reduces the kata down into manageable sections  to learn them, but an annoying thing we do here in Funakoshi club La Spezia(Italy) (www.funakoshiclub.it) is to do short sections of the kata and intersperse them with hard/fast sets of excercises. Its fun and gives a  good workout but doesnt lend itself to memorizing the kata!
  I definitely prefer the Seki way, in chunks but usually to completion.



Gareth

[Jewels]

The Kata that i think i need to focus on is the one for my next grading..having said had that once i've done the grading i then feel like i can begin to learn it properly, having let go of the anxiety attached to it, and most of all i like going back and learning them properly.. when i first started and was trying to learn Kehon Kata it seemed to take forever to get the hang of it   ... none of them since have been so hard, i still value this Kata a lot, whenever i think i've managed to grasp something i always practise Kehon Kata, its a bit of a yardsick now.

[Huw]

having said had that once i've done the grading i then feel like i can begin to learn it properly, having let go of the anxiety attached to it, and most of all i like going back and learning them properly...

Well put Jewels, I feel the same. Once I've done the grading I feel I can relax 'into' the kata and concentrate on the techniques, the sequences, and their applications.

[Mushin]

Don't waste time.
Five years is too long
Learn quickly
Be Prepared
Time is short
You never know when the time comes

[Moley]

Duhhh I must be dim, It's been 30 years now, and I'm still doing Kihon Kata (Oh and a few more)
Still enjoy the Kata though, I'm NEVER bored when I have to do it.
Each time I try that little bit harder to give it that "Something" that makes Karate "Special". Sometimes I concentrate on Smooth transition. Other times I think of it as a performance and try to make it look good. Most times I just go "Apeshit" and think of it as  fight using all my speed and power. Sometimes it's just an aerobic excercise and sometimes just for fun. I never get tired of it.
I suppose I now do Karate because I like it whereas I used to do karate because I wanted to learn how to fight.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Duhhh I must be dim, It's been 30 years now, and I'm still doing Kihon Kata (Oh and a few more)
Still enjoy the Kata though, I'm NEVER bored when I have to do it.
Each time I try that little bit harder to give it that "Something" that makes Karate "Special". Sometimes I concentrate on Smooth transition. Other times I think of it as a performance and try to make it look good. Most times I just go "Apeshit" and think of it as  fight using all my speed and power. Sometimes it's just an aerobic excercise and sometimes just for fun. I never get tired of it.
I suppose I now do Karate because I like it whereas I used to do karate because I wanted to learn how to fight.

Moley,

Well Said !

Kata - especially Kihon/Heian Katas need to be perpetually "revisited" as one's ability/perception/viewpoint/understanding of Karate changes and, after all, they are our most basic library of techniques and training drills.

Don't know what it's like at your club but it saddens me to see (or not see as maybe the case) how few (make that none) coloured (or black) belts are ever seen practicing anything other than their "next" Kata for grading purposes.

I for one regularly work through all the Heian Katas (including Kihon) as part of my personal warmup routine - first slowly with maximum stance/extension etc. and then fast - in whatever fashion takes me at the time (elegant/real etc.)

Come to think of it its very rare to even see someone practicing their "grading Kata" !!!!!

JTH

[Moley]

True story :

Someone was sent to fetch The late Great Master Kase to escort him to the Dojo as it was time for Master Kase's lesson. The Karateka was amazed to see Master Kase coming from his room already covered in sweat and quite out of breath. As master Kase was already quite elderly then the Karateka asked quite concerned;
 "Are you alright sensei "?
Sensei Kase answered; "Oh yes I'm alright, I've just been doing my Kata, I do my Kata every day"
"Oh" the karateka exclaimed "Which one" ?
"All of them of course" Master Kase answered.

[JimmyTheHoover]

Moley,

Thanks for reminding me of that story.  

I would do ALL the Kata but I'll just have to stick to the ones I know I suppose  

Cheers,

Jim

[iac]

Kata?  5 years?   Yes!   This is very important, I have studied application, I have practised many times, I have even used Kankusho at competitions for the last 5 years.  It is your own development in your technique that progresses you to the next stage.  Learn a Kata look into it think about how it can be used outside not in the Dojo then you will get an idea of Bunkai.  Kata should be preformed with passion all these opponents attacking you defend yourself !

[Moley]

In the end there can be only Kata !

[hughsie]

I must admit, I'm looking forward to when I can actually enjoy the flow of the kata, and not get too hung up on trying to remember all the facets of the kata such as stance,speed,power etc.

I think it just goes to show how valuable it is the practice all the katas and not just concentrate on the one "for the next grading". I found myself doing that last night, and spent so much time concentrating on the Heian Nidan that I completely botched my Heian Shodan (twice) and was extremely angry with myself for doing so.  I seemed to have a complete mental block.

However, I sometimes liken learning the katas to learning to drive - I never thought I'd ever manage to smoothly operate the pedals, gear, steering wheel and associated levers and switches simultaneously - but it comes in time.   I just hope I never get too complacent with my katas like I do with my driving!

[Moley]

Well said

In the end there can be only Kata !