For those who don't know me I've been involved in martial arts since 1978 (ish). Originally from the UK I've lived and trained in Okinawa and Japan and currently live in California. Over the coming months my goal with this blog is to share thoughts and ideas in regards to training, training theory, and perhaps even training philosophy.
Don't be Duped by Kata
Yes, don't be duped by kata or those who would use kata to control you; Kata is here to serve you, not to enslave you. While it is important to work diligently to become competent at the solo movements do remember that kata is simply kihon (fundamentals) that is teaching your body to move in a variety of planes, generate force with the limbs and body, how to breathe, how to gaze, how to visualize, and so on...you get the picture. With this in mind solo kata is an incomplete practice that may be made whole by pursuing the concurrent practice of kata bunkai (drilling the combative applications with partners).
Using myself as an example and thinking about just one aspect of kata, could it be that deeper (and more "ascetic" looking) stances are the result of "over training" one's kata? For many many years I was drilled (and drilled myself) to perfect each and every movement of a kata. It is only more recently in my training that I have rejected this in favor of what I would consider a more balanced approach that involves gaining deeper insight into the "why" of kata training.
The oft repeated promise of "secrets" being revealed through the unending pursuit of perfection of form and movement seem a somewhat naively optimistic fallacy that excuses real research and intelligent reflection (to me anyway).
Hi Derek, great to hear from you. We miss you too.
Hello, Sensei! So great to see you launching this blog. I’ve loved reading the first two posts already, and I look forward to all of your thoughtful and insightful posts to come. Miss you all!