I hear that the new kata videos have finished filmed and are in production...not too long now!

We were also told last night that there a (in some cases) a number of changes to the way we do our kata. The ones we were shown were a couple of changes to bassai dai and sepai. At least one of the changes to bassai dai goes back to how we used to do it a few years ago.


Mick

Waiting eagerly!

Can't wait for the changes [sarcasm intended] : I can hear the dojos ringing with the words, "... but Shihan does it this way on the video!"

As the saying says, "Say goodbye to the neighbourhood!!" B)

It will standardise things - which will be good; but can you picture the 'instant-overnight-experts' appearing out of the woodwork? I hope they screen the sales of the senior Katas!!!

Was there any indication of how in depth the Bunkai discussion would be on the videos, and how much they will cost?

Oh yeah!! Congrats on grading to Shodan Mick! Forgot to post it elsewhere!

CraigL

Its interesting that at the Ref seminar in Perth last weekend Sensei Gavin (ZM) said that variations in Kata should be ignored when considering what score to give. The club obviously acknowledges it is a situation to be addressed.

My contact only indicated that filming had finished and that they were editing.

There will apparently be 3-4 kata per video and may be available in DVD as well as VHS video.

I have no idea how much bunkai will in the videos, or (dare I say it) how much bunkai will be practical. Ducks for cover

I also have no idea if they are going to give copies to instructors for reference to go with the instructor video or if they will decide that all instructors need to get them but pay for them also.

I see no reason they would screen sales of senior kata though. If people want to buy them they are hardly going to refuse. Besides, there are a number of people I know of who bought the last World Cup video for the reason that higher grade kata were shown in them.

Matt you kind of have to try to ignore variations in kata when scoring at tournament since not all instructors are at the same level or teach kata the same. How many times do you see variation in kata between people going to the same level at a grading?


Mick

Exactly my point.
Wasnt this the reason for making the new vids? (apart from updating the "Shihan Sullivan" bit ) -

oh....and to make a quid of course

/duck

(lots of us hiding down here eh??)

So I ask you instructors what is a student supposed to do when they attend different classes and each instructor insists on the kata being done a different way?

2 things, first do it the way the sensai you are with says to, then AFTER class see the sensai and inform them that you have been taught a differant way by such and such sensai, which is correct.

Rebecca, in theory that shouldn't happen though we know it does crop up from time to time.

The non-confrontational way is to do it the way the instructor asks you to, then speak with them later and ask if they could check with the SRI as to the correct way. It could even be that both instructors are not quite right < GASP!! >

You can also just quietly mention to them "oh, but that's how i was shown by ...", just be polite and don't say "nah you're wrong about that cos...".

In our region we (instructors) have been told that if a student says they have been taught a certain way by a higher grade instructor then to not insist they "correct" how they are doing it until the instructor has checked with the SRI on the correct way.


Mick

We were told last night the kata videos (available for students) will go up to hangetsu, but that RMs will get videos for the higher kata. Supposedly to stop students buying videos and learning too high kata when they should be working on their grade kata.

Really not much different from the old series which only goes up to empi in that respect.

I shall see what my "sources" are able to tell me. LOL


Mick

In that case, it won't takelong before a black-market in higher grade kata videos will start, and students will get their hands on them anyway.

Then the next World Cup video will be the way to go and see different people performing the different Kata.

CraigL

Apparently Shihan wants all dan grades to learn all the kata.

And there will be more vids when they get to it, but other things to do first.

Anyway I am still working on applications and will be for some time to come. Add that to other stuff I am working on and I may not be learning sochin for a bit. Not that there is any rush, gotta get these changes down first. Then correct my students back to the old ways of doing kata


Mick