It does. It's almost like starting training all over again.


Why? *ducks*

From a been-training-for-some-time perspective, all this makes perfect sense, of course. From a just-started perspective, it makes none whatsoever. Imagine trying to learn some complex patterned kata as a white belt? Blow the applications, the concept of moving hands and feet at the same time would be bad enough. The idea of taking *this* part of the kata and making it useful would be so beyond people. "I lift my knee, it must be for a kick". There is an inability to think outside what you have actually learnt. To think of different applications for a technique. To see things in a different way.

Melrose - it was a good ramble and welcome aboard.

To be honest, my students don't really seem to have a problem with it. I teach them from day one that movements in kata embody principles and I give them a small number of examples that clearly demonstrate at least some of the relevant principles. They grasp the idea with little difficulty generally.

Maybe it helps that they never pass through a stage of thinking of a fixed singular application for each movement?

All that said, it doesn't mean they're any faster at getting better at either the movements or the applications:-(

Mike

Sometimes it is demonstrated that a kata sequence can be applied for some particular purpose and sometimes we do partner drills which are drawn from kata. Sometimes it's pointed out but often not. And sometimes someone makes the connection themself without being told.

When this happens it's unlikely they'll forget it though they might if they were just told "this is from..." and it highlights that kata can be for more than just grading.


Mick