thomasaaron
08-01-2003, 08:07 AM
I have an interesting experience to relate to you. Back in college (15 years ago or thereabouts), I was practicing a Karate style called Ko Sutemi Sei Kan (not sure about the spelling). It was basically an offshoot of Shotokan, but it was an attempt to return to the more martial roots.
One day in class, we were working on a palm/slap block. A lot like the karate kid's "painting" blocks.
Anyway, at home, I closed my eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and visualized somebody throwing a variety of punches at me, more or less slowly. Physically, I would slowly, and in a relaxed way, block the imaginary punches.
At the next practice in the dojo, I found that I had MASTERED that block. Nobody could get a hit in on me. The slap blocks were lightning fast and hard hitting. Other students even complained that I was blocking too hard. But it was all reflexive.
15 years, and several martial arts later, I STILL can't help but apply that block to most attacks!
So, while I'll not argue that Kata is a miracle cure, kata-like practice, if done relaxedly and with good visualization, can be nothing short of miraculous.
Here is my view on Kata. It is more or less an encyclopedia of techniques, footwork, and body mechanics. If you break it down and practice the individual techniques properly and with visualization, and adapt the techniques to realistic attacks, then kata is well used.
"STOP THE VIOLENCE!!!!" Ghandi (or somebody)
One day in class, we were working on a palm/slap block. A lot like the karate kid's "painting" blocks.
Anyway, at home, I closed my eyes, took a couple of deep breaths and visualized somebody throwing a variety of punches at me, more or less slowly. Physically, I would slowly, and in a relaxed way, block the imaginary punches.
At the next practice in the dojo, I found that I had MASTERED that block. Nobody could get a hit in on me. The slap blocks were lightning fast and hard hitting. Other students even complained that I was blocking too hard. But it was all reflexive.
15 years, and several martial arts later, I STILL can't help but apply that block to most attacks!
So, while I'll not argue that Kata is a miracle cure, kata-like practice, if done relaxedly and with good visualization, can be nothing short of miraculous.
Here is my view on Kata. It is more or less an encyclopedia of techniques, footwork, and body mechanics. If you break it down and practice the individual techniques properly and with visualization, and adapt the techniques to realistic attacks, then kata is well used.
"STOP THE VIOLENCE!!!!" Ghandi (or somebody)
