Beginner versus Advanced

 

From a personal perspective I don’t see the study of karate as anything but that.

 

Advanced/Beginner are but points on the path. Many systems follow very different paradigm yet work and reach the same point.

 

It is not sport but can be used as sport.

It is not an exercise program but can be an exercise program.

It is not ‘self defense’ but with sufficient skill can work in instances occur permitting one to defend themselves.

 

It is up to you and the instructor to guide you in the way they instruct and then to guide your steps onward.

 

From my perspective the applications of the kata  are not formally studied before black belt level.

 

Prior to that  other methods are guiding the student to acquire skill entering, retreating or shifting on an angle into an attack. And other methods develop the skills at being able to use techniques and principles.

 

Then at new black belt a study to learn 50 or so ways to enter and disrupt an attack using the opening section of Seisan kata are studied. The goal is not just to bridge the application potential to application utilization, but to also come to understand the principles behind each application study.

 

Only then does the larger application study of kata potential begin.

 

In random order do other kata movement application potential become studies, both in application potential and the application realization.

 

Every study from those taught to the beginners are able to work to successfully end an attack.

 

But the larger study is to keep the mind engaged, always questing and obtaining answers.  Keeping oneself engaged as life progresses,

 

Toward perhaps the ultimate goal being able to disrupt and attack whit any technique from any kata. No longer tide to a set answer.

 

The freedom of infinity and beyond.