Dan Training – Opening Movement Opeus 1

 

I found this in my files from over a decade ago, but it is a fair statement of what I believed.

 

To know where Dan training will go you first have to understand where the kyu program has taken the student. So first a quick overview of kyu training at 50,000 feet.

 

From the Kyu -

 

With time limitations in my students lives, at the point the student enters sho-dan training, they have completed initial study of the following kata, most at our basic level of practice.

 

Isshinryu – Seisan, Seiunchin, Nihanchi, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, SunNuSu, Sanchin

 

Others – Fyugata Sho, Annaku, Saifa, Lung Le Kuen, Nijushiho, Bando Hidden Stick ½ .

 

They have additionally completed study of a small number of self defense techniques that can layer into their abilities as they have acquired some skill in their usage.  They are a series of hand and kicking applications, grab counters and a range of Aikido Wazza.

 

 

As well as many technique studies, two person drills, etc.

 

They have also been exposed to some of their technique study application potential, but the structural reason why their technique execution has been developed and a much larger study of  technique application potential hasn’t started.

 

Into the Dan –

 

What I think is most important isn’t a set of exact standards, study a, then b, then c till you get to d. My accumulation of study would suggest that the underlying principles behind their basic (kyu) training are the first study, so the Dan can understand why our underlying structure was chosen, and to learn the options this presents their future study.

 

Underlying Principle Study

 

More specifically we have focused on a specific movement set behind our technique and kata studies.  The total focus on the complete crescent step motion 100% of the time. The study of the underlying principles, the use of breathing inter and intra technique, the compression  and expansion of energy in motion, and more specifically the opening study as to how alignment affects power, energy release are developed through a thorough program of study I’ve crafted in my studies.

 

I don’t see kata practice as steady state. Timing, breathing patterns, etc. can be varied, and regularly reset both to explore the options they offer and to reset one’s potential to keep from become stale. Even the definition of a kata sequence can and should be changed to explore new options it presents, and to push oneself.

 

These studies are first done with extensive work on our simplest kata, and once the lessons take hold, then a 2^nd kata, such as Seisan is explored. This is not a short term study, rather a long term goal to understand why we’re directing the student to higher levels of execution. Simply doing a kata harder and harder with more and more repetitions does not give itself to what I’m trying to develop.

 

Thus at more advanced levels of training, 2 different individuals really working Kusanku for 15 years might have entirely different explosive versions in detail, because of individual advanced study.

 

Outside of exploration of the basic tools, the long range direction must be individual.

 

Technique Application Potential Study

 

In kyu study I demonstrate but do not extensively focus on the study of kata and technique application potential. I believe more focused study on a smaller body of knowledge builds better basic skills to use in Dan study.

 

Where I choose to begin is to take one technique, any one technique, such as the first section of Seisan kata, and begin to explore fully how it can be used. Link this technique study to the underlying principles behind each study, so you’re building the foundation for the rest of their lives.

 

Now by study I’m layering this as follows.  For that one technique section (as defined by the instructor) they must really sell it first against hard focused static attacks. Then they must go to the next step, taking that sequence and learn how to sell it against any random attack.

 

This can only be done when they first can execute the static skills accurately, otherwise slop begets slop.  In fact this goes hand in hand with the earlier principle studies. For here you must be applying those principles when stressed, the goal higher levels of development.

 

At one sense does anyone really need more than this?  The primary goal is to really develop a tool. And depending on the needs of the student, it might be an individual choice, or a group choice.

 

When adequate progress is made (clever how I leave this ambiguous) then a more complete study of the application potential of one kata can be made.  The underlying principles becoming more important than the actual applications. Part of the learning how to fish theory.

 

So you find the application potentials, underlying theories, study where to strike, grab, pull ,prod, poke, etc. coming from those same studies, and how to move and fit them into random attack, which also means learning how to set up a random attack to fit your response.

 

This is not a short term study either. And in the long term we have the studies I shared with Sherman Harrill, the studies I’ve made in Shotokan and Chinese arts, and my own analysis of Isshinryu and all to draw upon.

Kobudo Study

 

At Dan the student also begins the program kobudo study.  Most likely they would begin with either the Bando Staff set or Tokomeni No Kon, and then onto the complete Bando Short Stick form and the unstudied staff set.

 

Attendant with them would be bo to bo kumite drills, including the standard two person bo drill.

 

There are stick to stick drills, stick locking technique studies, stick disarms, etc. And stick as another empty hand art of application is studied too.

 

The intent isn’t weapon as weapon, but hand, arm and upper body conditioning, as well as full body usage. All of our technique are done with the same empty hand principles they are studying too. Most especially the manner in which we practice our empty hand kata is the basis for the way we use the bo.

 

I’m quite contrary to the opinion, empty hand makes bad weapons. I believe sound movement principles work equally well with empty hand and with weapons and we practice that way.  Of course I and the group are 100% certain we will never use our Isshinryu kobudo in reality. At the same time the stick principles might have a shot if necessary.

 

Kata Studies

 

Once upon a time I though boy I’ll teach Dan’s another 30 or 40 kata. Not real however.

 

In addition to the lifetime they will spend with their kyu kata studies (I’m convinced most will not get to the levels of execution I would like them to get Chinto and the advanced kata too until they’ve completed 15 years of study on them individually) there are a small core of other kata studies they will be exposed to, use for common Dan drill, often using techniques not found readily in the others.

 

Depending on the season, year, etc. I alternate between Patsai, Tomari Rohai, Tensho, Uechi Sanchin or several others. They are studies not to keep the mind fresh. Most are not extremely long, but they create fresh diversion to keep one’s art fresh (though I doubt anyone needs that in the program, much).

 

As the schedule of these trainings varies, where long term kata study goes becomes very individualistic. Some will not learn more kata. Others may gravitate to a single advanced study from different disciplines.

 

Drill Studies

 

Just a quick note, we have a series of advanced drills, two person sets, studies in other lower body techniques, the use of turning as a weapon, etc. that are also layered into Dan training.

 

Into Intermediate Study

 

As much of this, beyond the basic principles, is very individualized, where a student may direct their training depends on the work they put into their art, as well as their own interest.

 

Where they advance the study of other systems is possible, as the better you understand what others do  the better you may counter it.

 

We might offer studies in Goju, Uechi, Shotokan and even a touch of various Chinese arts to consider.

 

Specific study in various disciplines is available. Aikido, Tjimande, Northern Eagle Claw.  These to build more obscure layers of ability and to in turn understand how those studies are already present in Isshinryu, to add more advanced study of technique application.

 

Kobudo offers layers. The entire Isshinryu curricula is available, and for the very advanced, much more.

 

The Nature of Advanced Training

 

In the long run it all becomes self directed. One will train to the level they wish to invest in their lives. It might be for high level skill. It might be for permanent part time activity. Dan training is accepting the long quest, and accepting your own responsibility.

 

Because all my current Dans’ have also had occasion to train with my instructors and those who’ve shared with us, each individually understand where they are and where they could go. In practice they define how far they will go. They know how much time they can spend, how much they will or won’t accept to follow the path.

 

Dan training is conducted separate from kyu training on the whole.  But advanced dans might participate in new dan training, because the need for continual skill re-evaluation and study does not end with age, but increases. The training will most often have people working on different layers of study at the same time.

 

Well this is the more  structured approach to Dan training I’m exploring, to help guide the instructors when their own programs reach this level. All of which are based on the last 20 years of study I’ve undertaken.

 

The Dan Instructor

 

So take this course of instruction, it still falls on the instructor to guide, to use uncertainty to keep each class honest and fresh, yet still retain hold on the program framework.

 

The instructor must track and adjust the training for the student.  It has to be on a one to one level. Use of group drill must be focused to enhance the skills. Just allowing group drill to fill time and space is not the goal.

 

The time will come when the students participate as fully as the instructor in the course direction. You can’t share with them what they won’t believe and practice, no matter whether it works for you or not. You can only guide, share, try and chip away the rock leaving the statue hidden inside.

 

Closing thoughts

 

My program was developed to meet the needs for youth and adult development where I live and practice.  In a different location, with students that have different needs, or in different times the program would adapt to those locations. A different level of skills would be studied and trained.

 

I believe it is too simple to say there is one size that fits all. Shimabuku Sensei adapted his training program to the time constraints of the USMC, and the further you go back in karate history, the more you find reference that training was individualistic in nature, designed to the student and the place.

 

Because I’ve always kept my programs small the mixture of skills we study, the time frames involved, and where the students can go with it, depends on their attention as much as my instruction.

 

My program is not designed for your circumstances, though perhaps elements of it may be addressing common concerns or potentials.

 

Victor

 

I apologize if I’ve left you unclear how I see Dan training.  I’m still working on crafting its structure more concretely.

 

I just see all versions of kyu study only the title page for a vast encyclopedia spanning more than any lifetime of study. To keep a mind fresh, a body explosive and controlled, takes great commitment.

 

I am continually humbled by the memory of those who’ve shared with me. I try and take their lessons to heart.