I've enjoyed watching ballroom dancing for a few years now with the advent of shows such as "So You Think You Can Dance?" and "Dancing With The Stars". One thing I've learned is for a routine to be successful there has to be a lead partner and a compliant partner. The lead is in control: spinning, throwing and moving the partner in synchronization to the music. The compliant partner accepts the lead's direction and moves in harmony with the lead. Together they perform a moving "work of art", which can touch all emotions depending on the music and choreography.
How does this apply to kata? I think the answer is in thinking of yourself as the lead when practicing kata. You are in control. You are moving your "partner" at will. You are "choreographing" your "dance". Of course there's one slight problem: your partner isn't compliant - at least not initially. That's where decisive, aggressive action comes into play. By "taking the lead", the initiative, you are controlling the situation which will either lead to a compliant partner ("I give up!"), or at least a temporarily disabled partner, allowing you to "dance away" to safety.
I had thought about naming this post "What Do Kata and the Waltz have in Common?" since the waltz's basic step is a 1-2-3, 1-2-3.... It's a relatively simple dance for learning the basics, but can be extraordinarily complex when performed by expert ballroom dancers. In self defense though simpler is almost always the best course of action to take. Gross motor skills are effective and easier to learn, so keep this in mind when interpreting kata techniques and keep sequences short thinking combinations of 1-2-3 (evaluate on-the-fly) 1-2-3. Remember all you need to do is enough to give yourself the opportunity to escape.
Well that's all for now.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Single Track Training for Kihon in Shotokan Karate
So far, it's been a great season for outdoor training in Shotokan-style karate.
Currently I have five outdoor locations where I practice my flavor of Shotokan karate. My current favorite though is the canal park about a mile down the road from where I live. I walk and run the single track trails; I also use them for warming up with dynamic stretches and movements, as well as fundamental kihon practice. It's great training, in my opinion, dealing with the nuances of the trail's terrain: grass covered, hard pack dirt, light gravel, mud, leaves and rocks - it's all part of the mix. Strong attacks into forward stances must be tempered by allowing immediate shifting and sliding while maintaining balance and forceful movement.
Much is learned when practicing with a variety of surfaces and terrain: better shorten your stances if the ground is slippery from mud, rain or gravel. Learn which stances are best when facing up or down hill, when the ground is deeply deformed or when you are moving from one surface type to another. Learn how to use the terrain to your advantage: position yourself on the high ground, on the sure-footed surfaces, with the sun at your back, with an escape route available.
Another spot I've recently discovered is along the gravel trail between the Betzwood picnic area of Valley Forge National Park and Pawlings Road. This spot a flat dirt packed piece of ground under an ancient deceased tree. Today I worked Tekki's Shodan, Nidan and Sandan keeping in mind the surrounding plants, branches, rocks and other obstacles on the ground. It's a great spot - kind of like a magical "dojo in the woods". A 20x20 foot piece of real estate made for karate training: level with a forgiving surface.
Possibly the best part of the canal park is the small glade of mature hardwood trees spread about a quarter of an acre: perfect for kata training - shaded level ground. On another note, I've decided to dedicate the rest of July to Bassai Sho and Hangetsu, with other kata interspersed of course. Grass is such a great surface for exercise: it's typically a bit forgiving if the ground isn't too hard packed. It offers just enough slipperiness in the right circumstances to make it challenging and also challenges based on it's height and thickness.
So I encourage you to get out and train your martial art outdoors. It's healthy and fun!
Well, that's all for now.
Currently I have five outdoor locations where I practice my flavor of Shotokan karate. My current favorite though is the canal park about a mile down the road from where I live. I walk and run the single track trails; I also use them for warming up with dynamic stretches and movements, as well as fundamental kihon practice. It's great training, in my opinion, dealing with the nuances of the trail's terrain: grass covered, hard pack dirt, light gravel, mud, leaves and rocks - it's all part of the mix. Strong attacks into forward stances must be tempered by allowing immediate shifting and sliding while maintaining balance and forceful movement.
Much is learned when practicing with a variety of surfaces and terrain: better shorten your stances if the ground is slippery from mud, rain or gravel. Learn which stances are best when facing up or down hill, when the ground is deeply deformed or when you are moving from one surface type to another. Learn how to use the terrain to your advantage: position yourself on the high ground, on the sure-footed surfaces, with the sun at your back, with an escape route available.
Another spot I've recently discovered is along the gravel trail between the Betzwood picnic area of Valley Forge National Park and Pawlings Road. This spot a flat dirt packed piece of ground under an ancient deceased tree. Today I worked Tekki's Shodan, Nidan and Sandan keeping in mind the surrounding plants, branches, rocks and other obstacles on the ground. It's a great spot - kind of like a magical "dojo in the woods". A 20x20 foot piece of real estate made for karate training: level with a forgiving surface.
Possibly the best part of the canal park is the small glade of mature hardwood trees spread about a quarter of an acre: perfect for kata training - shaded level ground. On another note, I've decided to dedicate the rest of July to Bassai Sho and Hangetsu, with other kata interspersed of course. Grass is such a great surface for exercise: it's typically a bit forgiving if the ground isn't too hard packed. It offers just enough slipperiness in the right circumstances to make it challenging and also challenges based on it's height and thickness.
So I encourage you to get out and train your martial art outdoors. It's healthy and fun!
Well, that's all for now.
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