Kata Particulars

Mentioned this a few times and believe wrote a post on it, kata is not supposed to be static. Yes, in the beginning to build a blueprint one follows the systems basic/fundamentals yet there comes a point when you have to go outside the box, that comfort zone of where you feel you can do it with out thought. A common mistake when discussions of mind-no-mind come up. Being able to perform a kata with out thought is merely dancing. Remaining stuck in the basics of a kata are stifling.

The particulars of a kata are those that provide the brain/mind a means to reference it or its individual parts to construct on the fly an appropriate response be it verbal or physical. The brain does not file whole thoughts and idea's into a memory slot. Those entire memories are fragmented and stored where ever the brain stores them according to the process you use to learn it, i.e. like association which is a bunkai to a stance and technique, so you can begin to understand the repetitive practice need in karate-do.

Kata have stances that vary along with techniques unique to some particular strategy/tactic of combat yet it is not exclusive. If it were, as it is practiced today, then you would learn about every conceivable fighting/combative situation and never be hit BUT it is complex and there are zillions of variances to it so kata in that light would be totally inefficient but if you take the road to beyond the basics/fundamentals of the system, kata, etc. then you can see how the  brain works with pieces so if a new event occurs the brain can pieces together a response. The brain is something miraculous.

Kata particulars are not written in stone. Although the fundamentals of the system should remain intact it does NOT mean that it remains intact as you progress but becomes a living thing coupled with realistic training and practice achieves great things; or not.

A good example that has seemingly taken over a kata in practice is the "timing" issue. My perception of timing is different from others. Others tend to look at it as the time it takes to perform the kata where a particular time is provided much like the start/stop point of embusen where a person has to stop at the allotted time for a particular kata. Time over or under is used to reduce scores. This seems sporting but not realistic to effective use of kata for combative purposes.

Timing to me is what is needed to apply effective technique at a particular target point using a particular stance and technique finding the vertical axis target point and meeting it effectively and optimally to not get hit and take out the ability of an attacker to continue doing damage. There is an effective timing, much like in music, and a rhythm that can be applied to ensure it is done according to the fundamentals, i.e. momentum, distance, pose, posture, effective body alignments, etc.

Something to consider, something to think about, something to contemplate; don't you think?

Another issue to me is "rushing." Watch a kata and sometimes you see it as if the person is working extra hard to get it over with. Listen up, the most wonderful part of kata practice and training is finding the rhythm and timing according to the many facets of bunkai interpretations leaving a limiting concept of overall time constraints out of the picture entirely. It is done when it is done. It has a purpose, fluid and changing, so let the life of kata come forth and create itself in real time. It may be why Tatsuo Sensei was known to do kata a bit differently each time, it was a living thing he was connecting to his body and mind.

A symbiotic relationship development process! After all, many lost effectiveness can be attributed to a rush with basics, fundamentals, and kata training and practice. This could be many, many posts, you think?