Kata
The purpose of learning kata is not just for the sake of learning them. The purpose of learning kata lies in tempering and disciplining oneself in mind body and spirit.
Kata training with the correct instruction contains everything you need to know about karate techniques and how to apply them. Each move in a kata provides a snap shot of a technique. That snap shot should be corrected by your instructor so you develop into the best karate technician you possibly can.
Philosophy
Always remember karate form and practice is about the physical. Karate-do encompasses both the physical and the philosophical aspects of the art. As Funakoshi Gichin Sensei said:
"True karate is that in daily life one's mind and body be trained and developed in a spirit of humility, and that in critical times, one be devoted utterly to the cause of justice."
Another earlier commentary on the correct overall development of karate-ka both physical and philosophical comes from Bushi Matsumura:
“To all those whose progress remains hampered by ego-related distractions, let humility, the cornerstone upon which karate rests, serve to remind one to place virtue before vice, values before vanity and principles before personalities”
Sokon Matsumura known as Bushi (warrior) Matsumura was the karate teacher to both of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei’s principal teachers Itosu Sensei and Azato Sensei.
Like all good philosophies the philosophy that underpins karate-do is that you must try to become the very best person you can become.
“If you do not intend to hit don’t move. If you do not intend to hurt don’t hit”
Kyoshi Wayne Williamson
What should the thought process be when practicing kumite drills?
There are many lessons to be learnt from the correct practice of kumite drills. There are things that may not be immediately obvious to the uninitiated or to karate-ka not exposed to these principles. A short list of benefits to be obtained by the correct practice of kumite drills include:
Mental readiness.
Learning your correct combative engagement distance (Maai). This is a critical point.
Correct breathing.
Correct use of hips in defence and attack.
Correct width and use of stance both for stability and as a defensive and an offensive technique in itself.
Correct stepping to put your opponent in the most vulnerable position.
Learning to centre your attack and counter attack, and
How to correctly use your reach out or covering hand in defence, to name but a few.
You cannot practice good karate without having good basic techniques and stances and knowing how to apply them.
Your stances are the foundation from which you draw your strength. A bad foundation will cause your technique to be ineffective just as a bad foundation in a building will cause that building to fall given the right circumstances.
Are blocks, kicks and punches just blocks, kicks and punches?
Although karate is primarily an art that relies on punching, striking, and kicking it also contains throwing techniques, joint locks, grappling techniques and the means to restrain an opponent. These things are not taught or even known by all instructors.
Here are just a couple of examples to get you thinking when you practice kihon and kata.
Is gedan barai only a simple down block used to defend a kick or punch? Or does it have other uses like these demonstrated below?
