Kata

Through my years of training I have always had a love for Kata. I will admit that there were times when I was younger that Kata meant a vehicle for promotion or to win a trophy. As I have matured and developed a better understanding for what Kata is and stands for, I now have many new avenues to explore. There has been a group of black belts that I have been training with now for the past six months that have been doing just that.  I love to participate in kumite, but it is only opens a part of the knowledge. The rest lies in the study of the katas. It seems sometimes people see themselves as either a kata practioner or a fighter. I know until I began training with Master Seiber there were times I leaned one way or the other. With Master Seiber there wasn't a choice, but to be a well rounded martial artist. It has been this direction that has changed my understanding and love for the entire art. Kata is the key to understanding and developing good technique. There are several ways to learn a kata and most teach them as they were dance with no understanding of the moves. It is here where the interest and understanding of the art of Isshinryu are found. We teach the moves and immediately explain the meaning and implications of the moves for a better understanding for the student. I must say I enjoy learning and as long as I keep an open mind I will continue to do so. Form and exact movement is our saying when teaching and learning Kata. This alone is a life time study that I enjoy and welcome the challenge. There a several interpretations of the Kata and I believe we should not get wrapped up between right and wrong, but focus on what works and what doesn't. I can remember being a brown belt and trying to teach techniques that I was not doing correct and there was a whole lot of fighting taken place that was not necessary. This I found through training and having a better understanding of the technique. I know sometimes students get bored with there Katas and we would all be liars if we said we didn't at least once. I try to teach and create a variety of learning situations to keep interest and understanding of the true meaning of Kata. We focus on teaching Kata by reinforcing our self-defense and even Kumite. That's right Kumite. If you can apply the Kata in the ring you can apply them anywhere. It is the repetitive motion in the Kata that allows you to react without thought. Like the old saying goes there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is definately more than one way to train a Kata.