Hi all.

Every time (and I mean every time) I finish doing first kata, I always end up a few feet behind where I started it. Having questioned the senseis about this, they said that I should end up approximately where I started.

Then I found this: http://www.gkrkarate.org/pages/Kata/kata1bdf.html

I am just confused. Logically, the mechanics of the kata are such that I am finishing in the correct spot. Yet nobody else seems to be doing it as badly as I do. Now that I am yellow belt and showing white belts how to do it, I need to fix this one way or the other.

HALP!

Ken.

Well now, it does seem clear that to finish on the spot you started then you'd need to fudge the length of your stances going up and down the middle eh! I wonder what happens if you map out the kata using >2 shoulders width for the length of the front stance? Since the emphasis is on length and often seems that they ask for longer and longer stances, beyond just the 2 shoulders width it's commonly described as...

But back to the original question, if you have your stances right you're not going to finish back on the same spot unless something else is wrong.


Mick

Next time you see some higher belts doing first kata take a look - I'll bet at the end after the bow out they always take a step forward

As people have said if you finish 1st or 2nd kata on the same spot you started you have fudged up, however unlike common myth this has absolutly nothing to do with the 3 steps up the middle, its the 1st turn where you have ended up 2 shoulders back from where you started so when you step forward to punch which is where you also finish the kata you are at least (if done correcctly) 2 shoulder lengths back from where you started so when you step back to bow out you end up behind where you started.. See nothing to to do with going down the middle.....

:thumbwink:

Excellent Omega - It seems so simple now but I would never have worked that out.

I agree with you omega and thanks for putting it so nice

KIM

basicly...
i think what every one is trying to say is, YES, you are probably doing first kata correctly if you are finishing off a couple of steps back from where you started.

if you dont, the likelihood is you either: shorten your stances towards the end of your kata due to tiredness; or you are not stepping out with width in your stances on the first four moves (or any of the turning moves for that matter)

keep up the good work karate-dad

KarateDad, When you go for your grading you will see that every-one ends up like you and you will pass grading because you cant stop at the same place even if you are a black belt

KIM

Cos to finish on the start point means you've cheated somewhere.


Mick

Thanks all.

What makes me rather conscious of this is that I am tallish and my long fighting stance is long. When I do it with the kids (if I don't run them over first), I finish a long way back and it looks very messy. It would be neater if kata's were designed to finish where you started, but that's life I suppose.

Toodles.

Ken. :thumbwink:

I agree, 'KarateDad'. I have longer legs than most that I train with, and always end up ahead in a line when doing kata. I keep thinking that either I've majorly stuffed up or the rest of the class has.

I have legs that go on 4eva and with the little ones next to me when i do a kata i have to make sure they dont get in my way and under my feet.

KIM

KIM...
i think that should read

you will pass grading becasue you can't stop at the same place especially if you are a black belt

lots of people finish in the same (wrong) place
this goes away with practise and experience in the kata.

BUT if it's the black belts finishing in the same (wrong) place, then there is something wrong with that black belt