Post by AngelaG on Mar 30, 2005 7:30:27 GMT
In another thread Charmin wrote
"Personally I only remember bunkai as long as necessary for grading.
I find extracting applications from kata slightly meaningless when it's easier to perform the same moves without the restrictions of calling them "bunkai". Bunkai consisting of sequences of moves I discard especially quickly, such as the backfist/low block/reverse punch bunkai from the gekisai kata.
I find this interesting, as if this is someone's point of view why bother to do kata at all? If you feel that kata does nothing to promote self-defence then what other reasons would you do it?
My Reasons:
Fitness/stamina - kata is good exercise. However if it was just about getting fit and toned I could go take an aerobics class.
Balance - Especially as you progress kata can help the individual build good balance and body control.
Breathing - Kata helps me learn when the best time to breathe is for maximum affect. (Breathing when hitting increases the power). We should be learning to breathe in everything we do though, including kihon and kumite.
Flow/fluidity - kata trains how to flow from one technique to the other - hopefully preventing brain log-jam in the event of a fight. This could be trained with partner work, using flow drills etc.
Grading - Kata is in the grading syllabus, you can't be promoted without knowing it. This is not the best reason for doing it, nevertheless it is a reason.
I enjoy it - I like performing kata. It relaxes me and I feel a sense of achievement afterwards - I also like the feeling of being in control of my body.
Tradition - Kata is an integral part of karate. In my opinion if we drop kata then we aren't really doing karate any more.
All the above are some of the reasons why I feel, I do my kata. However the number one reason for me would be the self-defence aspect gained from learning what the moves are for, training them by performing the kata, and practicing them with a partner. After I have done that I have a greater understanding of my body, and a partner's body and I can start deciding what I can discard bunkai-wise, because it doesn't work for me. Alternatively I can see what comes naturally to me, and can practice it more. Kata is a useful way of storing a database of techniques, and eventually I came to an understanding that perhaps it is more about principles than actual techniques. I noticed a lot of the moves where quite similar when worked on with a partner, and maybe it was more about breaking down why it works than worrying about the shapes of the moves. You can then use the understanding of the principles when practicing the kata. I would suspect even if you learn all 26 Shotokan kata throughout there would still be too many "techniques" to remember ina fight - it is much better to remember principles. (i.e. If I use a fulcrum there and push just here they fall over, whaddya know we have a balance point...)
Finally, I like the mental aspect of kata. I like researching the kata and its bunkai. I feel that this more educated aspect is what sets us apart from the averag fighting thug on the street.
Hope this isn't too rambling!
Angela
"Personally I only remember bunkai as long as necessary for grading.
I find extracting applications from kata slightly meaningless when it's easier to perform the same moves without the restrictions of calling them "bunkai". Bunkai consisting of sequences of moves I discard especially quickly, such as the backfist/low block/reverse punch bunkai from the gekisai kata.
I find this interesting, as if this is someone's point of view why bother to do kata at all? If you feel that kata does nothing to promote self-defence then what other reasons would you do it?
My Reasons:
Fitness/stamina - kata is good exercise. However if it was just about getting fit and toned I could go take an aerobics class.
Balance - Especially as you progress kata can help the individual build good balance and body control.
Breathing - Kata helps me learn when the best time to breathe is for maximum affect. (Breathing when hitting increases the power). We should be learning to breathe in everything we do though, including kihon and kumite.
Flow/fluidity - kata trains how to flow from one technique to the other - hopefully preventing brain log-jam in the event of a fight. This could be trained with partner work, using flow drills etc.
Grading - Kata is in the grading syllabus, you can't be promoted without knowing it. This is not the best reason for doing it, nevertheless it is a reason.
I enjoy it - I like performing kata. It relaxes me and I feel a sense of achievement afterwards - I also like the feeling of being in control of my body.
Tradition - Kata is an integral part of karate. In my opinion if we drop kata then we aren't really doing karate any more.
All the above are some of the reasons why I feel, I do my kata. However the number one reason for me would be the self-defence aspect gained from learning what the moves are for, training them by performing the kata, and practicing them with a partner. After I have done that I have a greater understanding of my body, and a partner's body and I can start deciding what I can discard bunkai-wise, because it doesn't work for me. Alternatively I can see what comes naturally to me, and can practice it more. Kata is a useful way of storing a database of techniques, and eventually I came to an understanding that perhaps it is more about principles than actual techniques. I noticed a lot of the moves where quite similar when worked on with a partner, and maybe it was more about breaking down why it works than worrying about the shapes of the moves. You can then use the understanding of the principles when practicing the kata. I would suspect even if you learn all 26 Shotokan kata throughout there would still be too many "techniques" to remember ina fight - it is much better to remember principles. (i.e. If I use a fulcrum there and push just here they fall over, whaddya know we have a balance point...)
Finally, I like the mental aspect of kata. I like researching the kata and its bunkai. I feel that this more educated aspect is what sets us apart from the averag fighting thug on the street.
Hope this isn't too rambling!
Angela
