Blog Article/Post Caveat (Read First Please: Click the Link)
Thanks to Andreas Alamen who posed these or similar questions on Ryukyu Martial Arts wall on October 14th, 2015. These are my comments and my beliefs on the questions and the subject.
Q: While performing a kata, do you visualize applications?
Answer/Comment: This is not a yes or no question for me as it depends. I do visualize but it isn’t always the bunkai. I also don’t have set bunkai so I can visualize something different each instance of bunkai visualization. More importantly and more often than bunkai visualization I use visualization of principles. What I mean is when doing kata I also spend a lot of time focusing on the application of principles within the kata.
Is my structure, balance and alignment optimal? Am I wasting energy or am I generating and transferring energy properly through my body toward power and force in the bunkai of the moment? Things like this are visualized, tested and applied during basics, kata practice and into drills - sparring is a whole nother topic with a lot of variables within that practice as well but I do work toward applying principles regardless of the technique/bunkai.
The goal here is to apply models of attack/defense methodologies, i.e., “Actual tactics and attack methodologies of impacts, drives (pushes), pulls, twists, takedowns/throws and compression, etc.”
Initially, teaching newbies, I tend to have them focus first on the various techniques, then on rhythm and cadence, then on possible bunkai once they have the pattern down well and add in as I go the principles of physiokinetics to make sure they are applying the kata from principles and not just ROTE learned patterns. I would rather they learn one good kata in this manner and build on that until proficiency allows them to assimilate other kata in a matter of days then try to build up a quantity of kata just so they can qualify for a grade, etc.
In short, kata are tools to teach principles and those principles teach how to reach goals in conflict and violence without trying to memorize and encode technique based response. It is like the old saying I read the other day on a blog, “Teach your students, not just subject matter.”
Q: Do you always visualize bunkai or is your kata used as a moving meditative application, etc.?
Answer/Comment: This is what is so wonderful about kata practice. They are forms of exercise, they are forms of moving meditation and they are tools that teach us principles of which include both self-defense principles and principles of the chemical cocktail. Add in theory, technique and philosophy and you have a “One wholehearted and Holistic” model and discipline.
Because of this wide range of applicability in karate or any martial discipline it provides a means of heathy and fit goals that it allows a practitioner to practice way into the age of our winter years. This is one reason why martial artists tend to age well and practice into their eighties, ninties and even into the hundreds in some cases - Okinawans are known to have more people living past one hundred years in a health and productive way (not just from MA but a combination where movement and diet are key).
Q: Do you view formal kata as a meditative exercise, or a strictly practical one?
Answer/Comment: As stated already, both and more.
Q: Does your answer change for different kata?
Answer/Comment: No, the kata itself actually makes no difference. The different kata are just manifestations of other karate-ka’s personal perceptions and beliefs that are implemented and show that to others. It is still the same and identical principles that are found within all those so-called different kata and systems that are important.
Remember, this is my seat in the auditorium and there are many other seats so take it all with a grain of curiosity and interest.
Bibliography (Click the link)
No comments:
Post a Comment