When to teach the applications?

[Mr. Precision]

It's perfectly clear to me that the vast majority of karate and non practitioners, certainly the sub black belt ones anyway, don't get kata[1]. I didn't get it a month ago either, now I do and everything changed.

I do vaguely recall being taught applications from my previous incarnation at my club when we got to around purple/brown belt but at the time I still didn't link the kata and the application in my mind.

So my question is... Should the applications be taught right from white belt or is it important to get the basics sorted first?

[1] And does this go back to when practice had to be completely secret?

[AngelaG]

I think applications need to start right from the beginning. For example at my club usually straight away they are shown kihon kata. We show them the kata a couple of times and then we explain what a kata is, and then usually we show them an application for gedan barai (it being one of the basic moves of karate). Usually it's just a simple application like removing a wrist grab - but it lets them know why they are doing the kata etc.

There are other times they may turn up and their is a more advanced lesson planned and they may get something a bit more indepth.

Anyway, my point is, people should be introduced to what it's all about right from the beginning. In my opinion there's no use moving the goalposts halfway through, it just confuses the issue.

[Sionnagh]

We do applications right from the beginning. Sometimes things are just done as self defence or sparring drills and linked to a kata later, sometimes they're done during kata instruction and sometimes done after and related back. Each way appeals to different people.


Mick

[random]

I believe that the application reinforces the technique. Before you ask someone to do it, it is demonstrated. Therefore application is very important in providing a reason for doing what at first might appear a strange thing to be doing, and should happen straight away, even I it is the most simple of explanation, gets the brain working.

[Aefibird]

Application shpould go hand in hand with the kata. Being shown an application or three can really help someone to 'get' a kata that they've been truggling with. We start white belts off with Kihon kata (Taikyoku Shodan) and being able to demonstrate and explain at least one application for it is one of the requirements that Sensei has in order to let people test for orange belt. There's many different ways of applying Kihon kata - if people get it into their heads right from the beginning that kata IS a great training and learning tool then they will be less flummoxed when it comes to learning kata and applications for the so-called more advanced kata.