QUOTE
In This Issue
> Understanding The Principles Of Kata
> Start With The End In Mind
> Ensuring Every Class Is What You Want
Within the kata we can find many highly effective fighting techniques and principles. However, we can only access those techniques and principles if the kata is of a sufficient standard. As an analogy, if some information is written down with great care such that all the spelling, punctuation etc is correct, then that information will be easily understood by anyone who reads it. However, if the information is poorly recorded (words spelt incorrectly etc.) then the information will be lost in whole or in part. It is the same with kata.
We need to ensure that the kata are correctly practised and taught if information is not going to be lost. It is also important that the kata are correctly ‘recited’ so that they can be fully understood. A major part of kata is the thoughts and emotions that should be honed and experienced during practice. If kata has to be correctly learnt, performed, understood, interpreted and expressed, it will reveal its secrets.
The founders of karate created the kata in order to pass on the techniques and skills needed to protect us from violent assault. Kata does bring the karate-ka many other benefits besides effective fighting skills. These benefits include such things, as improved health, greater mental and physical control, a greater understanding of self, enhanced self-confidence, discipline etc. but these benefits, worthwhile though they may be, are not the primary purpose of kata. Remember that all kata have attacking or defensive applications to them, but some people do not care for this view and talk of how the performance of a perfect kata can be an end in itself.
A Rolls Royce that does not start up may look beautiful, but it could not be described as ‘perfect’ because it cannot perform the task it was designed to do. Likewise, the kata were designed for use in combat and, therefore, I fail to see how a kata that cannot be used in combat can ever be described as ‘perfect,’ regardless of how visually pleasing it may be. Gichin Funakoshi in his book ‘Karate-Do Kyohan’ states, “Once a form has been learned, it must be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a form in karate is useless.” If a karate-ka is unable to use the kata effectively then, in my opinion, what they are practicing is not fit to be called kata.
Everything that is needed to survive a violent assault should be rehearsed and refined during kata practice. This includes not only the techniques themselves but also the correct mental attitudes. All too often we see great emphasis being placed on ensuring that the limbs etc are in the correct positions whilst none is placed on what the student should be thinking and feeling. This type of practice leads to kata that are hollow and this must be avoided at all costs. The kata should be complete mental and physical exercises that enhance the student’s fighting ability every time they are practiced.
The first step to being successful in any endeavour is, knowing your desired outcome. When you have this you are already ahead of the average person on the street.
Any worthwhile journey is absolutely, undeniably bound to have some dark periods. When people do not have an end in mind, they ultimately quit when one of these dark times hit. In karate, it might be a niggling injury, a lingering flu, the feeling where improvement had ceased etc. If you go along each week simply for your enjoyment, then your days are likely numbered. Having an end in mind doesn’t mean you can’t keep going along enjoying yourself. And it doesn’t mean you have to start training 7 days a week. Truth is, NOTHING has to change…bar your long-term focus. All that changes, is when a dark period hits, you persist through.
Now what if you are the person who says, but if I only want to do it for enjoyment, why not just quit when dark times hit? Simple, because dark times are temporary! Just like night follows day and day follows night, you dark period will end and you will be back on your way enjoying yourself before you know it again. To quit however, well sure you are running away from a dark period…but to go where? To the couch, watching TV! That’s escapism and something inside will keep telling you, “I’m not happy. I’m not fulfilled”. Some inevitably, you are running from one dark period to another.
The key is to ride out the dark periods of any journey. Whether they be for a day, a week, or even a couple of months, when you see them through you come out a better person; stronger, more confident and more fulfilled. But the only way to see through a dark period is to see past it.
A giant Oak tree starts out as a tiny seed. What are you going to grow into? It’s not what or where you are right now that counts it’s what you believe that will make all the difference to the end result. Decide what you want for yourself and your future and then keep chipping away at it until it is achieved.
Make your dream for the future bigger than any obstacle that may stand in your path and you will overcome them. The obstacles and challenges make achieving the dream even sweeter as we rarely appreciate the things that come to us easily.
There are those students who love a kata filled class, others who love kumite, others love plenty of explanation and others still love to walk out dripping with sweat.
Firstly you need to appreciate that you may not get the class you want, but you likely did get the class you need. While you may love sparring, it’s likely you needed to work on your kata, or while you love to walk out dripping with sweat, you likely needed an explanation filled class.
Building your appreciation for different types of classes is merely the first stage, but it doesn’t take away the fact we don’t get what we really want. So let us look into a way we can ensure we always get what we want.
The best method to ensure every class meets your criteria is to utilise the minutes before and after class.
Those Who Love A Sweat Session
Ok, so your instructor did a lot of explaining tonight and you haven’t sweat. As soon as class finishes, go over to the side and do some of your own training. You can go through basic or kumite combinations, kata, push-ups, sit-ups, shadow sparring the list is endless. A simple ten minutes of high intensity work will ensure you leave sweating.
Those Who Love A Kata Class
Before and/or after every class, take ten minutes to work on kata. Ask your instructor or a higher grade for some feedback.
Those Who Love Their Kumite
Find a fellow student and spar for ten minutes. If it is before class, keep it light and don’t do any kicks until you are warmed up properly.
Those Who Love To Seek Understanding and Knowledge
Take advantage of your instructor by getting to class early to pick their brain. Furthermore, you can ask them questions after class.
Remember, not every class is going to be exactly what you want, but it will be what you need. For the classes where you don’t get all you want, take advantage of the before and after class minutes and ensure you leave completely satisfied.
> Understanding The Principles Of Kata
> Start With The End In Mind
> Ensuring Every Class Is What You Want
Within the kata we can find many highly effective fighting techniques and principles. However, we can only access those techniques and principles if the kata is of a sufficient standard. As an analogy, if some information is written down with great care such that all the spelling, punctuation etc is correct, then that information will be easily understood by anyone who reads it. However, if the information is poorly recorded (words spelt incorrectly etc.) then the information will be lost in whole or in part. It is the same with kata.
We need to ensure that the kata are correctly practised and taught if information is not going to be lost. It is also important that the kata are correctly ‘recited’ so that they can be fully understood. A major part of kata is the thoughts and emotions that should be honed and experienced during practice. If kata has to be correctly learnt, performed, understood, interpreted and expressed, it will reveal its secrets.
The founders of karate created the kata in order to pass on the techniques and skills needed to protect us from violent assault. Kata does bring the karate-ka many other benefits besides effective fighting skills. These benefits include such things, as improved health, greater mental and physical control, a greater understanding of self, enhanced self-confidence, discipline etc. but these benefits, worthwhile though they may be, are not the primary purpose of kata. Remember that all kata have attacking or defensive applications to them, but some people do not care for this view and talk of how the performance of a perfect kata can be an end in itself.
A Rolls Royce that does not start up may look beautiful, but it could not be described as ‘perfect’ because it cannot perform the task it was designed to do. Likewise, the kata were designed for use in combat and, therefore, I fail to see how a kata that cannot be used in combat can ever be described as ‘perfect,’ regardless of how visually pleasing it may be. Gichin Funakoshi in his book ‘Karate-Do Kyohan’ states, “Once a form has been learned, it must be practiced repeatedly until it can be applied in an emergency, for knowledge of just the sequence of a form in karate is useless.” If a karate-ka is unable to use the kata effectively then, in my opinion, what they are practicing is not fit to be called kata.
Everything that is needed to survive a violent assault should be rehearsed and refined during kata practice. This includes not only the techniques themselves but also the correct mental attitudes. All too often we see great emphasis being placed on ensuring that the limbs etc are in the correct positions whilst none is placed on what the student should be thinking and feeling. This type of practice leads to kata that are hollow and this must be avoided at all costs. The kata should be complete mental and physical exercises that enhance the student’s fighting ability every time they are practiced.
The first step to being successful in any endeavour is, knowing your desired outcome. When you have this you are already ahead of the average person on the street.
Any worthwhile journey is absolutely, undeniably bound to have some dark periods. When people do not have an end in mind, they ultimately quit when one of these dark times hit. In karate, it might be a niggling injury, a lingering flu, the feeling where improvement had ceased etc. If you go along each week simply for your enjoyment, then your days are likely numbered. Having an end in mind doesn’t mean you can’t keep going along enjoying yourself. And it doesn’t mean you have to start training 7 days a week. Truth is, NOTHING has to change…bar your long-term focus. All that changes, is when a dark period hits, you persist through.
Now what if you are the person who says, but if I only want to do it for enjoyment, why not just quit when dark times hit? Simple, because dark times are temporary! Just like night follows day and day follows night, you dark period will end and you will be back on your way enjoying yourself before you know it again. To quit however, well sure you are running away from a dark period…but to go where? To the couch, watching TV! That’s escapism and something inside will keep telling you, “I’m not happy. I’m not fulfilled”. Some inevitably, you are running from one dark period to another.
The key is to ride out the dark periods of any journey. Whether they be for a day, a week, or even a couple of months, when you see them through you come out a better person; stronger, more confident and more fulfilled. But the only way to see through a dark period is to see past it.
A giant Oak tree starts out as a tiny seed. What are you going to grow into? It’s not what or where you are right now that counts it’s what you believe that will make all the difference to the end result. Decide what you want for yourself and your future and then keep chipping away at it until it is achieved.
Make your dream for the future bigger than any obstacle that may stand in your path and you will overcome them. The obstacles and challenges make achieving the dream even sweeter as we rarely appreciate the things that come to us easily.
There are those students who love a kata filled class, others who love kumite, others love plenty of explanation and others still love to walk out dripping with sweat.
Firstly you need to appreciate that you may not get the class you want, but you likely did get the class you need. While you may love sparring, it’s likely you needed to work on your kata, or while you love to walk out dripping with sweat, you likely needed an explanation filled class.
Building your appreciation for different types of classes is merely the first stage, but it doesn’t take away the fact we don’t get what we really want. So let us look into a way we can ensure we always get what we want.
The best method to ensure every class meets your criteria is to utilise the minutes before and after class.
Those Who Love A Sweat Session
Ok, so your instructor did a lot of explaining tonight and you haven’t sweat. As soon as class finishes, go over to the side and do some of your own training. You can go through basic or kumite combinations, kata, push-ups, sit-ups, shadow sparring the list is endless. A simple ten minutes of high intensity work will ensure you leave sweating.
Those Who Love A Kata Class
Before and/or after every class, take ten minutes to work on kata. Ask your instructor or a higher grade for some feedback.
Those Who Love Their Kumite
Find a fellow student and spar for ten minutes. If it is before class, keep it light and don’t do any kicks until you are warmed up properly.
Those Who Love To Seek Understanding and Knowledge
Take advantage of your instructor by getting to class early to pick their brain. Furthermore, you can ask them questions after class.
Remember, not every class is going to be exactly what you want, but it will be what you need. For the classes where you don’t get all you want, take advantage of the before and after class minutes and ensure you leave completely satisfied.
Thoughts and comments are welcome as always!
