Kata Practice

**Gene Williams** · 05-01-2005 15:47

This is a workout I consider mainly for seniors (sandan and up) but any dan should try it. At least once a week, instead of doing repetitions of kata, breaking them down into various components, or practicing bunkai with a partner, go to the dojo ( or a quiet place you like to train where passersby won't gawk at you) and do this: do each kata once and once ONLY! No starting over, no going back over parts of it physically or in your mind...just do it once, with all your spirit, and then let it go. Move on to the next one. Do the same. Don't spend much time between kata, just finish, do some light breathing or sit seiza for a minute (no longer), then move on. Do every kata in your syllabus this way. Pick a time when you aren't hurried, turn off the cell phone, take the other phones off the hook (try to find a place where there are not any phones), and just be there with the kata. Once you are through, bow and leave. Don't go over them in your mind, don't stay and do basics or hit the maki. Just do 'em and leave. If you make a mistake, keep going...DO NOT STOP AND START OVER! If you have thoughts about the kata, don't dialogue with them, just let them go. I try to do this at least one workout a week, usually twice. The rest of the time, I train like always, repetition, break it down, fine points, bunkai, etc. But, if you want to begin to understand kata as moving zen, try this for a while (like years).

**TonyU** · 05-01-2005 16:25

On occasion I do that also.
Questions, how many kata do you do? (# wise), and how long does it take you to complete them all?

**Gene Williams** · 05-01-2005 16:37

I usually do 15 and it takes 30 minutes or so. I've done 20 in a session like that, but fifteen is a better number...it just feels right after I finish. While we are at it, my ryu's kata list: Fukyugata Sho and Ni
5 Pinan
3 Naihanchi
Matsukaze (Wankan)
Jitte
Jion
Kosokun Dai (Kushanku)
Kosokun Sho
Seiuchin
Sanchin
Rohai
Bassai Dai
Bassai Sho
Seisan
Seipai
Chinto (Kyan version)
Kururunfa
Gojushiho
Suparimpei

**TonyU** · 05-01-2005 16:45

Well since we're listing them. Here goes:
Kihon 1, 2, & 3
Fukyukata 1, 2, & 3
Naihanchin 1, 2, & 3
Pinan 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
Passai Sho
Passaic Dai
Kusanku Sho
Kusanku Dai
Chinto (Itosu's version)
Gojushiho (Iju's version)

and just recently added 'Gorin" which is of Nakazato's making.

P.S. When I practice my katas on my own I start from the Naihachin's. I don't do the kihons or fukyukatas.

**Gene Williams** · 05-01-2005 16:50

I don't do kihons with kata, but I always do Fukyugatas. I like 'em.

**Sochin** · 05-01-2005 16:55

Hi Gene,

I noticed you called Matsukaze, WanKan.

Our Matsukaze is the same as in the clip at http://www.shitokai.com/movies/matsukaze.php and we call it WanKwan. Our WanKan is quite a different kata.

**Gene Williams** · 05-01-2005 19:17

Wankan is the Okinawan name for Matsukaze and means, "King's Crown." It comes from the village of Tomari, and we do it like in the video link you posted. Nagamine calls it by its Okinawan name, and Mabuni began calling it Matsukaze after he moved to Osaka in 1929. There are some latter day kata that borrow the old names, a number made by Chuzo Kotaka. I have seen a Wankan that is some long old thing with techniques obviously developed to be pleasing to tournament judges' eyes. This kind of thing was a bone of contention between Kuniba and Kotaka, hence Kotaka left and formed Kotaka ha Shito-ryu, which includes a bunch of his modern kata. He teaches great karate, is quite accomplished himself, but he is an innovator. Anyway, to the older Shito-ryu, Matsukaze and Wankan are the same kata.

**jakmak52** · 05-01-2005 22:02

Originally Posted by Gene Williams

This is a workout I consider mainly for seniors (sandan and up) but any dan should try it. At least once a week, instead of doing repetitions of kata, breaking them down into various components, or practicing bunkai with a partner, go to the dojo ( or a quiet place you like to train where passersby won't gawk at you) and do this: do each kata once and once ONLY! No starting over, no going back over parts of it physically or in your mind...just do it once, with all your spirit, and then let it go. Move on to the next one. Do the same. Don't spend much time between kata, just finish, do some light breathing or sit seiza for a minute (no longer), then move on. Do every kata in your syllabus this way. Pick a time when you aren't hurried, turn off the cell phone, take the other phones off the hook (try to find a place where there are not any phones), and just be there with the kata. Once you are through, bow and leave. Don't go over them in your mind, don't stay and do basics or hit the maki. Just do 'em and leave. If you make a mistake, keep going...DO NOT STOP AND START OVER! If you have thoughts about the kata, don't dialogue with them, just let them go. I try to do this at least one workout a week, usually twice. The rest of the time, I train like always, repetition, break it down, fine points, bunkai, etc. But, if you want to begin to understand kata as moving zen, try this for a while (like years).

Oh, I like that idea, Senior

**Gene Williams** · 05-02-2005 13:19

Jack, It ain't all its cracked up to be

**jakmak52** · 05-02-2005 14:25

Originally Posted by Gene Williams

Jack, It ain't all its cracked up to be

Well Gene, according to the Federal government, we're not technically seniors until age 62

**CEB** · 05-02-2005 14:29

It's not the age. It's the mileage.

**jakmak52** · 05-02-2005 14:33

Originally Posted by CEB

It's not the age. It's the mileage.

It's both

**Gene Williams** · 05-02-2005 14:46

"It ain't the miles I travelled, it's that muddy road I took."

**Gene Williams** · 05-02-2005 14:48

When you said senior, I thought you were referring to being senior in the MA

Hell, ain't nobody as senior in mileage as Ed

He left Sanchin tracks out at one of the Smithsonian digs

**Gene Williams** · 05-02-2005 14:51

National Geographic is still digging for his birth certificate and they've already dug past Peking Man, Lucy, and three T Rex.

**Gene Williams** · 06-11-2005 16:09

I really did not want to work out this afternoon. I went to the dojo for an hour or so this morning, but had told myself I was going to work Seisan and Sanchin this afternoon. So, after a big breakfast, sitting and reading for a while, and a nap I was not in exactly high gear. Then, it started to rain, so I said what the Hell I'm going to work out in the rain. I went down to my sandy area by the lake, stretched a little, then did Seisan three times and Sanchin twice. It was a constant drizzle, I was soaked, but after Seisan I was in the zone. I ended up staying for over an hour and working on Seiuchin and Gojushiho, as well. I felt great! It reminded me that it is important to make yourself train when you don't feel like it. Good things can happen.

**Gene Williams** · 07-24-2005 20:27

Today was Pinan day. That's all I did, just Pinan kata for about an hour and a half, then I did Kosokun Dai a couple of times. I have decided that I would rather give up Kosokun Dai and Sho and keep the 5 pinan if it came to choosing. The Pinan are just great kata...Itosu was a genius, kinda' the Mozart of kata, I guess. Now, I'd also trade Kosokun Dai and Sho for Chatan Yara Kushanku, which I put aside years ago because at that time Motobu ha Shito ryu did not do it. THAT is the real Kushanku. So, if any of you Shorin guys are ever my way and feeling generous, there might be a Naha kata in it for you...or a bottle of single malt, whichever.

**Erik** · 07-24-2005 23:00

Grrrr... I went to a Sambo practice and they had kata-esque drills that helped my game out a lot.

I'm almost ready to eat my words about kata but not yet....

**LJS93** · 07-24-2005 23:46

I hated kata.

**Gene Williams** · 07-25-2005 06:07

So, what are you doing reading a kata thread?

Thread: Kata Practice

Thread Tools

Display

Kata Practice

Seisan/Sanchin as a jump starter

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions