Beginning Group Kata Study

I found that group kata performance is a powerful way to indoctrinate students into the study of their karate.

 

Long ago I decided to start with a number of simpler classic kata from a variety of systems as a way to prepare my students for the study of Seisan kata. I was in no rush to teach them and wanted to use the time involved to better prepare them for Seisan, which I consider the core of their eventual black belt examination.

 

While as beginners I exposed them to a different number of very short mini-kata, from 4 to 8 movements long, to get them to understand what kata were. That always proved successful. Then they all began with my Isshinryu-ized version of Fyugata Sho (which I called Kata Sho not to give them a chance to play on the name.

 

Within a few short weeks they would learn the basic movement required for the form.

 

They when the entire class performed the form together (a regular practice) the benefited working with the others, as they felt anyone watching would not have their eyes on them.

Another benefit was they were then able to do the kata with all the others, realizing everyone had started in the same place, and if the others could learn, in turn they could learn. When performing the kata with more advanced students, their own performance would grow ever stronger, as if they were able to absorb the technique from the more advanced students.

 

We frequently opened class with kata sho and then closed the class with kata sho. Every time by the end of class they were stronger in their performance.

 

Then there were the other uses I put my Kata Sho too.

 

1.      Among them a close order drill with everyone attempting the kata with the smallest techniques they could do. All shoulder touching shoulder, Chest touching back ahead of them. The purpose was to have everyone perform the smallest technique execution while staying together.

2.      Kata Sho with basic multiple striking.

 

a.     

3.      Kata Sho done with an opposing partner.

 

a.     

 

What this did was to force the students to get more familiar with the kata, and of course engage their other senses. The multiple striking practice was to set the stage to have them proficient by black belt, in that it is never to early to begin something.

 

And of  course I have written about such things before. Here are some of my posts from my blog.

 

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/search?q=group+kata

http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2018/05/the-beginnning-with-some-views-of-kata.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2018/02/paired-kata-what-i-learned.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2015/12/varaties-in-kata-training.html

 

Sanchin from the John Lennox Book

There are so many layers to Isshinryu ‘knowledge’ that no one discusses.

 

When I had to move to Arizona that meant I made many choices to what books I could keep and which one I had to leave behind. Apparently I did not keep my copy of John Lennox’s book “Isshinryu”, or if I did keep it I can’t find it now.

 

 

I believe the only place I have seen this described was in John Lennox’s book “Isshinryu”, I believe published in 1980. There was a page that had a cartoonish drawing of a man it I believe it described an order of 1 places to tighten the body for Sanchin. What I remember most was the 5th place was the anus.

Let’s leave the jokes aside.

 

Scans from the John Lennox book provided by Christine McNulty Saxon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

Christine McNulty Saxton It does not say anywhere to tighten the anus, but in understanding the kata as I do, so far, all parts of the body hold tension. As a female, there is no pushing with the privates, just a contraction and release of the pelvic area

Way beyond School Boy karate

Admit it, you have all heard experts proclaim that real karate is not school boy karate.

 

But I think it unlikely they ever considered the words of the expert who actually taught the young in the schools os Okinawa.

 

I am referring to Shirmoa Shimpan.

 

Shiroma Shimpan (1890 – 1954)

Born in Tera village, Okinawa, Shiroma received his first Karate-dó instruction from Anko Itosu. He opened his first dojo in 1915 at Shuri First Elementary School. Shiroma was referred to as warrior Shiroma and devoted most of his energies to the teaching and promotion of Karate-dó.

 

He contributed a large section titled “Explanation of Kata and their Meaning”. In the 1938 book collecting karate experts  “Karate Do Taiken”.

 

I am referring to the section - The Two Sides of Karate-do Training

 

“It is only natural to assume that dedicated training in Karate-do requires that one must train in the technical, as well as the mental and spiritual, aspects of Karate-do. One must keep in mind the mental and spiritual aspect of training in Karate-do not only while doing kneeling meditation (seiza mokuso) but also during the actions of one's  daily life. You must continually train yourself. Put simply, it is a huge mistake to think that training hould only occur whiles you are in the dojo.”

 

“However if we look at the technical side of Karate-do training, we can see that it is not simply for training technique. It is through the technical aspect of training that we are also trained in the mental and spiritual side of Karate-do. These two sides brought together, the mental and spiritual along with the technical, allows us to train in true Karate-do. Focusing on the technical aspect of Karate-do results only in brutality and violence, while focusing only on the mental and spiritual aspects of Karate-do takes away our ability to defend ourselves then it is necessary.”

 

“Therefore those individuals practicing Karate-do must aim to train both their mind and body through both the mental, spiritual, and technical aspects of Karate-do. It is through this training that the goal of perfection of character can be attained. “

 

There after he goes into a lengthy discussion on the use of karate technique.

 

Personally I have found very much the same is true. Especially the Spiritual dimension of karate. Without belief that you can use it, little is possible no matter how long you train.

Perhaps I will follow eventually with further observations on his suggestions how karate technique could be used.

 

* “The Karate Do Taiken” It has been translated into English by Mario Mckenna and is available in many versions through Lulu Press.

Titled in English “An Overview of Karate-dó”  © Mario McKenna

 

 

And from these roots modern Karate was born

This photo is from the time when instruction for school kids on Okinawa was new.

It was so different an idea from today.

 

Those who studied karate were not doing it for cool uniforms.

They weren’t doing it for belts.
They weren’t doing it to become a Black Belt.
Testing was not part of the instruction.
Their instructor did not run a karate school for a living.

 

They were just doing to study karate, something their parents never had a chance to do. And from their efforts a new dimension to karate study sprang forth.

 

 

Naha ,capital de Okinawa en el 1900 , hace 114 años

Naha, Okinawa Capital in 1900, 114 years ago

 

I saved this photo on Face book 5 years ago, and can’t source it or guarantee it’s authenticity but I feels right all the same.

Take a Hint, this is what old time arts were about

 

When discussions turn to the potential use of karate, an entire sub-category of lower body techniques are rarely discussed.

 

For one thing there is a whole series of lower body maneuvers based on the style of stepping in one’s system when used as sweeps of reaps of the opponents leg, to down them, or to destabilize their base. Both prior to an attack, or as the conclusion to an attack.

 

Then there are very specialized kicking attacks aimed at toes, atop the instep, ankle, thigh and so forth. Different versions applicable for the shod foot and the bare foot. Each of which are far above the basic kicking standard of most systems, because greater body control of course is needed.

 

A very different sort of class comes from the use of stepping. Where the stepping foot is placed atop the toes of the attacker. This use is commonly applied as a press, to apply pressure to the separation of the opponents lead foot toes, and/or use of the step to apply pressure to the instep of the attackers foot.

 

When this is done, besides any secondary pain that results from that step, it’s primary use is as a force enhancer to force their foot into the ground. Then when the upper body is attacked that step comes into play by forcing that foot to pin it to the ground. So when the opponent is forced down, or has his balance destabilized the pinned foot causes the ankle/knee to become hyper-extended resulting in more pain unto extreme destabilization.

 

The following examples show how that is done. The first photo is of Funakoshi Ginchin using this. Then Kise Fusie does the same thing in a different way.

 

 

 

 

This is not just found in karate. Arts such as Aikido also have this. And many other arts in many other countries.

 

 

The Sai of It

 

Now that I am but a shadow of my forms self, one of the things I miss most is that I am no longer able to work the Isshinryu Kubudo kata. O’I still work kata, and various short non-standard kobudo kata. But I no longer had the strength or dexterity to work them any longer. In  fact I left those weapons behind for my students to use.

 

Now in my life I never ever needed to use them for any defensive reason.I competed with Sai two times, mostly competing with Bo in my completion yeas.

 

Back in 1978, learning I was to travel for a conference in Philadelphia Charles Murray told me I should find a martial arts store and purchase a pair of sai and a bo, because I would be starting them I purchased my sai there and a stout bo.

 

Those sai lasted me for a lifetime. They weren’t perfect and had the golf tape wrapped around the handles, Their balance wasn’t too bad, and they were the longest length the store sold. When held the tip extended 1” past my elbow. By no means perfectly balanced.

 

But in time with hard practice they became perfect for me as I learned their feel. In fact more that perfect because whatever imperfections they had, practice had acclimated those sai to me, and for anyone else they would not have the time to develop the same touch with them. A definite plus to my way of thinking.

 

Charles had studied Chantan Yara No Sai while training at the Agena dojo. In turn that is where he began my own kobudo training with Chantan Yara No Sai. I bet so he has someone to run that form with also.

 

Then in the next year or so he blasted the remaining Isshinryu kubudo kata into me. Far faster than one should be introduced to so many forms. But he did, I did and that was that.

 

When a brown belt I first competed with sai in a kobudo division. After that I mostly competed with bo, realizing that was what most competitors were doing. Only one other time, when driving to a tournament in Delaware, did I  compete with Sai, It went very well but judges were more impressed with bo.

 

Then about 15 years would pass before I had students advanced to the point I would introduce them to Sai. I did a whole lot of practicing by myself in those 15 years. But at that time I introduced Kusanku Sai first, Chantan Yara No Sai came later. But my students were also long term students so it probably made little difference.

 

In the early 2000;s I began to realize the true value of  the kobudo study. To become long term force enhancers to supplement karate. Not seen by short time students. But with decades of work those kata did their job and as age was naturally occurring ,the weapons practice added to the karate to make it stronger. Something impossible to explain to younger students who had not spent those decades at work.

 

If there is such a thing as karate secrets, that is surely one of them.

 

I remember so many years ago watching a karate tournament judge examining a competitor’s sai.

 

I wonder why and it was explained to me that for some people winning was the only thing. And some had custom made Sai crafted for themselves. Those sai were hollow so they could move them faster. So in those days the weapons were examined to see they weren’t tricked out. I don’t know that was true or not but that was how I heard it.

 

Of course now being bereft of so much power, I wish I had a pair of those hollow sai.

 

 

Then again back in the mid 1990s Charles once again found himself on Okinawa where the USAF had sent him for a TDY. When he returned be brought me back a Manji Sai as a souvenir, That sai I kept with me.

The question becomes how I saw use of Kata Seisan

I am probably going to bore you, but coming out of an era where no kata applications were studied, I became obsessive about what you could do with Seisan kata.

An early compilation of some of what I saw Seisan potential could be is shown in the following two videos.

Seisan Applications 1991

 

I went much further as time progressed. And meeting Sherman Harrill and John Kerker added other dimensions to my study.

 I attempted to catalogue some of my ideas on my blog, and the following blog entries suggest.

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2014/06/random-notes-on-seisan-ness.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2018/12/seisan-clinic-in-early-2000s.html

The Use of Kata Technique – the Opening of Seisan kata

Section 1 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html
Section 2 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-ii.html
Section 3 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-3.html
Section 4 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-4.html
Section 5 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-5.html
Section 6 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-6.html
Section 7 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-7.html
Section 8 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-8.html
Section 9 http://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2010/12/use-of-kata-technique-section-9.html

Then as time passed I put my efforts on other Isshinryu kata, but continued to think about ways to use Seisan.

What I have come to accept is there is no simple answer as to what can be done, even with a single movement. The purpose of the study is not to pick and chose a best answer  when you need it. Rather to reach toward the understanding whatever movement you select can be inserted into any attack and end that attack.

Of course that is the goal as I see it.