2-8-2002
Sometime I wander into interesting conversations on the inter-net. Among the most passionate are those decrying the value of kata training in the martial arts. The lines of disavowal proclaim:
Only actual fighting really matters,
Today’s attackers are too sophisticated for the techniques of kata (which are centuries old) to actually work. Nobody attacks that way anymore,
Being worthless except for exercise only a few kata are needed for that anyway,
If kata are needed, only a few are needed anyway, after all how can anybody Master more than that anyway.
And so forth……until the inevitable “Cause Bruce Lee said so!”…..
Its interesting how people pick and choose their ‘justification du jour’ to make their case.
A great deal has been written regarding the fringes of kata, what’s right, what’s wrong, how much is or isn’t taught. Then as I review my library and research notes, I find that very little substantively has been written about kata in Okinawan Karate.
I don’t mean he description of forms, such as in “move here, block there, punch and strike after this”. Rudimentary movement descriptions abound, supplementing an instructors efforts, and occasionally providing inspiration for somebody to try and capture the form described on their own efforts.
Likewise I wasn’t referring to the cataloguing of who studied what kata, of which various records abound.
What I see as missing is an inquiry into the depth of kata training.
My perception on Kata’s Okinawan Genesis
I believe there are several reasons why the long term role of kata has not been discussed in depth, openly. First among them being the fact that Karate developed in a culture choosing a non-literate method of transmission. Historically this was done by direct physical instruction and accompanying oral transmission of the arts. There is nothing to suggest that an instructor felt there was any additional value by having a student read accompanying material.
When the first ‘Karate’ texts did appear in the 1920’s and 1930’s my opinion was they were geared as much to be a justification of karate’s nature for the Japanese Martial society, as for a basic reference for students. They were more basic how to texts, with in-depth instruction to be provided under the direction of the senior instructors (the old fashioned way).
I don’t believe things (prior to WWII) changed a great deal on Okinawa, with the Seniors remaining in charge until the next generation took over in the passing of time. On the other hand, in Japan, looking from a distance, instructors seemed to spring up with scant years of training, new styles sprang into existence and the nature of kata in training began to deviate from the Okinawan origins.
I’m not referring to the ‘changes’ which took place in kata, stance, etc., IMO, that is Karate’s nature, to flow through the human culture, but a shift in Kata’ emphasis took place, it wasn’t the springboard for application, instead sport became the driving force for execution. And/or Karate without sport and without application, an even different creation from the Okinawan origins.
It would be presumptuous for me to believe I fully understand the changes which took place. Most of my knowledge came from my reading, and I’m very aware how faulty the scholarship in martial matters has been in too many texts.
Instead I would offer my personal view on the place of kata in lifelong training, the myriads of opportunities which present themselves (more than any of us can fully attempt) and offer this as a trade off against various martial trends of which I am aware.
On The Historical Relationship of Kata to Training
Collectively the Okinawan systems of training which are classified under the label ‘Karate’ retained the study of kata as their primary core. In plain speech, if they didn’t study and practice Kata they weren’t doing Karate. In that sense, Karate and the study of Kata become synonymous.
At a very high level of abstraction, the Okinawan stylist admitted to training in basics, and studying kata, and involving decades of study in that vein. With so much of the history of a Karate lineage passing orally, we have no simple recourse to believe otherwise.
The Karate historians who try to pin down kata’s sources find many contradictions in most of the stories, such as Kata which were believed to be imported from China in the late 1800’s, were actually publicly performed (and documented) in the mid 1800’s.
It is exceptionally difficult to know who taught whom what in those classical (pre 1900) days. On the other hand, should one find reference to ‘Many instructors knew only one or two forms’ many are willing to take such simple words as justification that only the bare minimum of forms are necessary for karate. So un-creditable words by unknown sources are sufficient justification for present decisions? [Too often an example how people pick and choose material to justify their answers.] Whereas if one’s instructor only did teach one , one or two forms, then it is an accurate transmission from Senior to Junior. But one really has to work to find a contemporary Okinawan system that does so. [With no slight to the Ueichi group schools, who actually came from a tradition of 3 (and then often became 8) kata. But then I’ve not found the Ueichi system disbelieving kata’s purpose or existence either.]
Among the ‘evidence’ we have is that of Funakoshi Ginchin, who wrote he spent his first 10 years studying the three Nihanchi Kata, a long time later, he took an official syllabus of 19 kata to Japan and documented them as his system. But his students studied other kata (from other instructors) and eventually many made their way into many Funakoshi derived groups.
With such surprisingly little documented Kata history, we can safely make some wide understanding how kata was used.
One with only oral and direct transmission of kata from instructor to student, and no outside template to compare against, an instructor could view kata as fluid as he wished, keeping it unchanged, or modifying it as often as he felt necessary. [My use of he isn’t an attempt to fight politically correct speech, but rather a reality check as in those past years, it was the men who were the instructors. Today things are quite different, but it doesn’t change the past either.] It is only when books and movies became available that comparison (time binding) was directly a possibility, and not necessarily the best one.
Without the bother of worrying about a ‘template’ the instructor could focus on structuring the students use of form (kata) as directly as possible to their individual needs. In those days the purpose of an instructor wasn’t to keep a large bunch of students correctly lined up in practice. Learning one kata for three years, meant three years of one to one, constant instruction, shaping the student toward their maximum, not the outline of a template.
Application wasn’t the primary purpose of training. Perhaps a range of simple responses were taught to the newer students, after all no instructor wants ones students to loose a fight, but as Okinawa really wasn’t a terribly violent place, the purpose of training wasn’t to try and turn out an instant warrior either.
Kata were recognized as the source of martial knowledge, but as it is really difficult to teach one to actually use the depths of kata’s potential, I honestly believe that mostly basic applications were taught (when a new move was shown) and those basic applications formed the basis of a students abilities until they developed a consistently high level of kata technique. Once that occurred (maybe 2 or 3 decades into training) where the student actually performed a technique correctly, then would the other potential be addressed.
I believe this was based on realistic assessment of advanced skills. You can teach a technique to anybody, very quickly, but if they don’t have the ability to sell the technique correctly they can’t use it for defense. And if they really can’t use it why waste their time.
I believe this is the underlying principle why sport kumite didn’t develop out of Okinawan Karate. Having students try to fight with little technical ability, leads to developing only a portion of martial skill, and there are other tools to hone those abilities. On the other hand taking the time to develop higher skill, the student has less need to contest because their skill training has become so consuming.
The record would seem to indicate instructors taught out what they knew, and if the opportunity arose to learn more, most often they seem to have taken it. Individuals like Mabuni and Taira appear to have taken it to its further heights in Karate’s Traditional period (1900 to 1950), by infusing large number of kata from many sources into their teachings. They had the opportunity and took advantage of it.
With even these few examples it is easy to see there is a wide range of practices on can pick and choose to be the ‘Example’ to follow. But enough of Historical Musing. As my argument needs I’ll return to these examples and others. Instead let’s move onto Kata as a Life Long Potential
KATA – The Life Long Potential
Before I begin to delve into kata practices, I feel I should define my understanding of ‘KATA’.
Kata, or Form, is the rock pattern on which Okinawan Karate is built. It is a tool to help shape the new karate-ka’s abilities. It may be one technique or it may be a sequence of techniques that shape the martial potential of movement. It is a goal of focusing your energies to totally involve every aspect of your existence in practice. It is the opening movement of taking those techniques and gaining skill in combat, and it also represents a glimpse into the infinite potential of every aspect of Karate’s capabilities.
It is not meant to represent a mindless, repetition of technique to drive automatic response into a nervous system. It is not meant to be a group drill solely to hide behind ‘good’ group performance. It is not a thing to be mastered. It is not a restriction of what can be done.
The fullest study of kata involves much more than the kata itself, it involves actually learning and applying the movement against structured attacks and moving to applying the same techniques against random, spontaneous attacks.
It represents an unlimited wealth of opportunity in application, and the utter surety that dwelling too deeply in that depth of knowledge can yield absolutely nothing at the same time. While that may sound absurd, it really isn’t. Against an unlimited amount of movement potential, any system takes a piece of that potential as its bedrock. The goal isn’t being able to reach infinity, but to know how to use what you possess and make it work.
A life time of study yields but a scratch on the surface of technique and knowledge. Against such weighty words let me try to bring my thoughts to life.
First, let us recognize that vastly different potentials of kata are best used at different levels. That which is appropriate for the novice, is not the same which is appropriate to the advanced beginner approaching ShoDan. That which is appropriate for one gearing for combat, is entirely different from the mature karateka with say 30 years under the belt. And the Senior Researcher or Senior Instructor have entirely different aspects to consider.
It is necessary to understand how the tool kata is being used to make sure it is being used wisely.
Kata Studies for the Novice
Regardless of whether the system teaches 3 kata, 8 kata, 20 kata or 50 kata, every path starts with the beginner. There are numerous approaches that I’ve seen used to introduce people to the study of kata. I’d prefer to characterize them into two rough categories (with many layers in-between).
The one approach is to start small, and work the student to trying to perfect each movement before progressing onto the next one. In this approach every small detail is stressed from the beginning and the student is focused on approaching perfection in movement, ASAP.
The other side of instruction is to start large and work small. Permitting far less than performance in the beginning, and once the student learns the roughest shape of the form, continue to refine their movements as their physical and mental potential advances. This approach is what I use and am an advocate for.
In part, from the earliest Kata, one step and a block or strike, on to combination movements and finally to kata study I have not seen either approach turn out instant perfection. If you take a period of time such as 10 years, you will find both systems are adequate at turning out technicians. But it is my contention that accepting far less than perfect performance from the beginning, and patiently guiding the student’s development over the years allows the student to more naturally enter the shape of the kata.
Any kata can be taught in scant hours, and if the student has the focus of mind, they can remember it and continue its practice immediately. Does that mean they have an advanced understanding behind the movement, no! That isn’t the intent. Advanced skill allowing one to focus every aspect of their body in union, the real direction behind kata study, has no short cuts. By having them learn the pattern (embusen) early and not focusing on all the incorrect details, as you clean them up, one by one, you’re also cleaning up future kata studies before they begin. The student has the advantage of feeling the accomplishment of acquiring the shell knowledge, and if they’ve been shown how far their studies have to go, it can help them focus towards the ever growing goals.
Now I take some guidance from my instructors, some from what I understand happened in Okinawa in the past, and no small part from my own study and my working with my students.
Notes:
Modern need for instant gratification: such as if Bunkai exists, then I have to have my kyu’s studying kata Bunkai.
Impetus of actual combat
Military
Police
Dangerous Local Circumstances
Variety of practices.
Two Person Practice
i. advanced Two person Practice
Controlling the body
Bow’s and alignment
Stance and movement
Keeping both hands (and other extremities) alive
The Study of Application Potential
Methods of transmission
Very very slowly
Medium speed
Fast speed
Small Focus
Large to Small Focus
e. Kata with ½ stepping, advancing/retreating
No comments:
Post a Comment