Katas Taigyoku Shodan, Taigyoku Nidan, Saifa and Bassai Dai descriptions have all been made available here under the kata videos section for some time now.

Now available is a complete description of Seiunchin.

Katas Empi and Sepai (and videos of all others) to follow shortly.....

I notice that at the end of your description, you add the disclaimer "this is how this kata is performed in region 28. In other regions, check with your sensei". This is an interesting point, and one which has been the subject of much recent debate.

To be honest, the moves of our kata are unequivaocal - there's no argument. We don't start our first kata with a gedan barai, and you with a goju block for instance. However, because GKR prides itself on mastering the refinements, where there's even greater room for interpretation, you'll often see the moves performed in quite different manners according to the understanding, philosophy and priorities of the senior senseis, and regional senseis.

In recognition of this fact, GKR has now amended the tournament competition rules to say that judges must not judge the small details of a kata, rather they should focus on the big stuff, like the pattern, and the stances. I've always argued this case myself, but I also think that there should be a definitive GKR interpretation of every part of every kata, which should be clearly demonstrated by shihan in the videos.

I sometimes find it frustrating when a student has watched the videos, and the stuff in there is significantly different to the current teaching. I accept the likelihood of evolution to adapt kata to our western physiques, to say nothing of greater physiological understandings that may enhance their performance, but as many of our kata were developed over hundreds of years, perhaps we should not be so quick to dismiss their original execution.

Well put.
The trouble in the past has been that even in little old Perth katas and techniques were being performed with differences between the regions, and changed constantly (usually with a change in regional manager).

First kata and its head movements is a classic example. In the time since I learned it head movements on the 180 degree turns have gone from over left shoulder, to none at all, to now looking over right shoulder. Probably the most changed kata is Saifa......especially the movement of the hands after the first 6 moves. Its been clashing of cymbols, open handed chuge-uke, top hand straight down and bottom hand up in a kake uke type block, and now back to almost open handed chuge uke again, but with a smaller arc!

After seeing the championship in Melbourne with students from Australia and NZ I saw many different interpretations yet again.

Perhaps the point of redoing the videos is to finally make a standard. A kata is still of course open to interpretation in the way it is performed, but it would be good to finally know the correct movements and start from there.

Yes there were in some cases quite significant differences in how kata was taught between regions and even between dojos.

Now the RMs train together to get themselves doing kata the same, and the BB classes have been doing a similar exercise so that it filters down more quickly there is more similarity and less difference between regions.

If you look at the videos which are now quite a few years old there are differences between what is on the video and how we do it now.

Differences between dojos stems from varying levels of knowledge and effort in self-correction between senseis and so presumably differences between regions has the same root.

I'll stop now before I get up on my box with some of my pet hates lol


Mick

I was enjoying what there was of this thread. Especially in light of my recent super-dojo-hop to Perth. I didn't get to watch kata, but got to perform it in Susan's class and was astonished at the difference in timing. I didn't get to see if the techniques themselves were different though.
Unfortunately, due to the fact that we had a fabulous basics class at senior training we didn't even get time for kata - didn't notice we had been training for an hour and a half either! I did find some differences in basics there, very minor ones, and would have loved to see more (not that I didn't enjoy the training).
I wonder if the RM's ever did get all the kata differences ironed out...?

What quite surprised me, was the fact that - when training in different regions - my kata didn`t get picked on much, basics, yes - but kata - no.
But what I did notice was the level of student ability between the different dojos - and quite often they were in the same region.
I think some instructors value one of the three core subjects ( Basics, kata, kumite ) more than the others and this obviously filters down to the students - But I`m drifting a little with this - I`ll put together a more detailed arguement soon

Which kata's/parts?

We went through 1st and 2nd, saifa and bassai... as to which parts? Hmm. Couldn't really say, except that I seemed to be doing different things to the rest of the class at odd times! Maybe Susan (since she got to stand still and watch ) can shed some light...

eek....
sorry nooms, i was mainly focused on those due for grading...

Frankly I think it's appalling that there are differences in timing between different states. Not to mention between different countries. Everyone should lift their game!
It shouldn't be that hard, should it?


Mick

I went "dojo hopping" not long ago and I think the students in the class I went to were on speed or something! They just tore through the katas as if they just wanted to get them done NOW and move on to some good stuff. There was no meaning in anything they did, no pauses, no slow movements, no indication that they even knew that there is more to kata than moving. It was horrible. The standard was shocking as well. No refinement to technique although it was hard to see at the speed they were going. I overherd the sensei say after class he was going to send on of the students to grading because the student had done the minimum time. I always knew students were graded just because they could perform a kata but now it looks like they really do grade just because they have been training for a pre-set number of weeks. Thats just wrong.

Sionagh said "Now the RMs train together to get themselves doing kata the same, and the BB classes have been doing a similar exercise so that it filters down more quickly there is more similarity and less difference between regions." It didnt help very much did it?

I hate it when people fly through their kata. Especially when you do it "full focus/own timing/staying together in a group". Do they honestly think that getting through 20 moves in 7 seconds is a good thing?



Kata DVD's?

Hehe that was something I said more than two years ago... Wonder if they're still doing it? Though to be fair most of them couldn't really tell you what any particular kata is for anyway.


Mick

For a belt of course. Silly billy!

Kata in GKR is pretty meaningless, which is a pity.

Im still at a loss to explain the differences. GKR says it has an unfiltered line of tuition down from Bob and lil'Stacey..so presumably they go out their way to teach different things to different people.

Either that or the whole GKR instruction system-line doesnt work.

Hmmmmmm

In case anyones wondering, yes i am in a foul mood.

Situation normal eh Rancy?