One...Two...Three

We count a lot in karate class.  One...two...three...ichi...ni...san.

In the beginner classes, it is an easy way to keep everyone together and practice safely.  Counting/pausing gives the instructor an opportunity to view the class and offer corrections.  We practice kata to a count, we count during drills and basics and we count turns when working with a partner.   Counting becomes less evident in the advanced classes and almost non-existent in the black belt class.

There is a downside to counting.  It gives the students an unnatural beat or tempo to execute their techniques.

one...pause...two...pause...three...pause.
block down...pause...punch...pause...step...pause.

We were working on tempo this week in the dojo.  The goal was to accelerate the beat and break out of the monotone count of a kata.

one,two,three...pause...one, two...pause...one, two, three....
block down, punch, step...pause...knife hand, punch...pause...kosa, step, block down

The class noticed they had preferences and certain kata were easier for them to break free of the standard count.   The dojo will be working on this concept again next week and in the upcoming months.

A big thanks to Kyoshi Baer for the training suggestion at a recent seminar!

Tuesday Tip: Change Direction

I attend Tai Chi classes at a health club. The rooms/studios available on a Tuesday night change every few months. Last week we changed rooms again. It took a few minutes to get reoriented because the direction of the new room was different than the previous one.

There are benefits and disadvantages to training in a room with mirrors. As an instructor, it is a great tool to observe the students. As a student, I can use the mirror to observe and refine my movement. The biggest disadvantage I found was the reliance of the mirror as a visual cue in kata.

I can remember two instances where "the mirror as a visual cue" caused me trouble. The first instance was during a tournament. I was in a black belt kata division and I was demonstrating Chinto. This kata is known for its quick directional changes. I was practicing in the dojo for weeks. I stepped in the ring and began the kata. I completely lost orientation and did a kata that sort of looked like Chinto. The second example was during formal testing. Testing was held in a restaurant banquet hall. The hall was lavishly decorated with bold wallpaper. Ever wall looked exactly the same.

I learned a few lessons...

Kata needs to come from the inside. It is important to know your kata well enough to be able to demonstrate in any venue. It doesn't matter what the people are doing next to you or what noise is in the background.

Practice kata in different directions. We regularly practice kata away from the mirrors. After we know a kata pattern, we try to break the visual cues by facing multiple directions. We even practice kata blindfolded.

Tuesday Tip: Change Direction...practice your kata in many different directions.

Kata Is....

...the beginning.

These words were spoken by my instructor this weekend at the monthly black belt workout. The focus on the session was on sai and sai vs bo applications. We practiced the kata Kyan no Sai a few times. The remainder of the session was partner drills working sai vs bo.

The class explored distancing, blocks, parries, striking opportunities. We worked on various ways to hold the sai...open, closed, one open /one closed. We defended against bo side strikes, overhead strikes, pokes to the body and pokes to the face. For two hours, all you could hear was the crack of sai hitting the bo. Music to the karate practitioners ears...

It was a great session and I am grateful for the monthly training opportunities at the Honbu.


Kata is the beginning.

As a kyu rank, I remember learning a kata pattern and looking forward to learning the next pattern. The patterns came easy to me. But did I really know the kata? The answer is NO. I knew a series of movements. It takes practice and exploration to learn what the kata is teaching. Interpretation can change over time as a result of experience, preference, physical strengths, limitations or injury.

As a class instructor, I remind the students that kata is not just for a single test or promotion. Kata requirements are cumulative. Students are expected to keep improving earlier material. A brown belt student's material should be performed with brown belt level ability.

As a black belt student, I view my kata as a work in progress. I strive to explore, improve and refine. I learned the pattern of the first kata 18 years ago. There is always more to discover and something to improve.

Enjoy...Train...Discover!

“I Don’t Know”

“I Don’t Know.” I hear myself saying that in the dojo more frequently these days. We have been working on the kata Odo no Kama Ichi and Tsuken Akachono Nunte Bo. My history with these kata is something like this:

Practice – Learn – No practice – Forget – Review – Remember

I have forgotten these two kata more times, than I care to count. Why? It is simple. I do not practice them regularly. There are 30 weapons kata and 21 open hand kata in Okinawa Kenpo. The kama kata and the nunte bo kata are Yondan requirements. These kata do not often make an appearance during the regularly scheduled classes.

During the last two weeks, we have focused on kama and nunte bo. My husband and I were taught these kata at different times from different class instructors. Our kata are slightly different. We know there have been some corrections to these particular kata through the years. Is it a pivot step back or a shift step back in kama? Is it an overhead on guard or an overhead strike in nunte bo? In kama, is it left over right or right over left? How much rotation on the hook in nunte bo?

Details…Details…Details

I love the details.

It is ok to say “I don’t know”.

View it as an opportunity for discovery.

Practicing Kata - Slow

When learning the pattern of a kata, we are accustomed to executing the techniques at the same speed. The kata is monotone. Called out by the instructor, we hear and follow the count "one, two, three" or "ichi, ni, san". It is similar to the beat of a metronome. When I teach a kata, I start off by describing the technique "kosa step --then step out in nai hanchi stance with a right hand strike". Once the students can follow along with the pattern, I use a count. If the students know the pattern, a count is no longer needed to keep pace in a group.

In the dojo, we practice kata in several ways: technique, power, speed and kime. Last week in the dojo, we practiced our kata very, very slow. We worked on the kata Pinan Nidan. It was a kata that everyone knew and covered many of the basic blocks, strikes and stances. I wanted the students to watch and feel their techniques. We performed the kata slow and deliberate.

It was an excellent drill. One of the hallmarks of Okinawa Kenpo is rotation. The blocks and strikes rotate during the last six inches of the technique. When we performed the kata at a very slow pace, proper rotation and hand position could be observed.

The students perception of a technique can vary depending on where a student is standing in the dojo in relationship to the instructor. A student often gets the beginning position and the end position of a technique correct. It is the middle position or how we get from point A to B that sometimes gets confused.

Take for example a right knife hand block. In Okinawa Kenpo, the beginning position for a knife hand block is elbow to elbow, right hand high palm facing the ear, left prep hand pointed to the direction we are moving with palm facing down. The end position has the left prep hand withdrawing palm up and the right blocking hand facing palm out clearing the body, arm bent at a ninety degree angle with a fist distance under the arm.

But...how did we get there? How does the hand move from the beginning position to the end position. Doing the kata in a very slow manner allowed the students to closely examine the middle position. The hand is supposed to cross center line as the right hand moves across the body. Think "windshield wiper".

In some cases, the students discover they were using a "slicing" motion. The right hand sliding down the left prep arm, flattening out and rising to the end position. Think "the letter U". The beginning position was correct. The ending position was correct. However, the middle position was functionally incorrect. Moving the hand in this manner from point A to B does not cover center line and will inevitably result in getting hit.

It was a useful exercise. However, as we continue our kata training, we need to leave behind the count and the monotone. We each need to find our own kata rhythm that reflects our personal experiences, body type and bunkai.

Look Like You

When I was a kyu rank, my class instructor was talking to me about roundhouse kicks. He said "Your husband is good at roundhouse kicks...so I guess you are too." I still wonder why he thought there would be a correlation between my husbands kicks and my own. My husband's best kicks are the hook kick and the roundhouse kick while mine is the heel kick to the chin.

Every body is different. We all bring with us unique physical attributes. I am 5' 7" with a reconstructed ACL, two shoulders and a hip that occasionally pop out of joint, and double-jointed elbows. My husband is 5' 8" with a repaired knee, shoulder, thumb, ulnar nerve transposition, cervical fusion in the neck and back problems. This changes over time due to injury, recovery and aging. In addition to our physical attributes, we all bring a set of experiences, goals and beliefs to our training.

Students often express "I want to look like X" or "Why don't I look like X"? My response is always the same. I tell the student that "You should look like you." This is one of the beautiful things about martial arts. Okinawa Kenpo is a traditional martial art. We strive to keep the kata the same. I teach the form as I was taught it by my instructor. However, each practitioner should strive to make the kata their own.

We were working on the kata Gojushiho Ni in class. In the one sequence, the right hand executes a mid-level outside block, left hand posts at the mid fore arm of the right hand, right hand re-establishes under left, then move into the throw. There were two black belts in the class. A student asked me to go over that move because the black belts did not look the same. The other black belt and I review the technique and yes, we were doing the move the same. Why did we look different? It was due to the bunkai. We each were throwing our opponent but he was using an arm lock while I was throwing at the elbow. Our bunkai manifested itself in our kata. Our technique was the same but our interpretation was different.

As we navigate through our martial arts journey, it is important to remember to be true to ourselves. It is not necessary to look like someone else. Do the kata to the best of your ability. Don't compare yourself to others.

Look like you.

Kata and Kumite

In my previous post, I discussed the importance of evaluating kata. I study traditional Okinawa Kenpo and there are fifty-one kata (21 open hand and 30 weapon). BobSpar, the author of the Middle Aged Martial Artist blog, asked the following question.

"When you spar, how close do you think your execution is to the form you strive for in kata?"


Hopefully...very close. The techniques used in kata should be of the same caliber as the ones used in sparring. The techniques should be clean and technically correct. A punch or kick done properly will generate more power and be more accurate. The practice and study of kata develops timing, precision, control of center line, distancing, two foot movement, removal of target, angles and turning. During kata we strive to remain level and connect our body movement. For example, the power of a punch is not created by the arm alone. The body is connected to the floor and the power is generated through the hip and out the arm to the target.

After my initial reaction to the question, I began to think of the best fighters I know. I ran down the list in my mind. Each and every one of them are excellent kata practitioners. I think of the students in this dojo where kumite is part of the curriculum. We practice kumite but the most of the classes focus on kata, kobudo or application. The students love to spar and sometimes compete in tournaments. The students do extremely well in kumite even against fight focused schools. Good basics and good techniques are the key to their success.

When I watch people spar, I look for their kata. I see it in the way they move and how they cut angles. I look at their techniques and often find pieces of kata. Some examples are the parry reverse punch from Wansu, the rolling back fist from Pinan Yondan or a block back fist from Pinan Sandan. A simple inside forearm block becomes a parry strike when using the prep hand as the block so the block becomes the strike. We read our opponents by picking up cues from the body. Movement in the shoulder or hip can telegraph a punch or a kick. Kata practice helps eliminate the extra body movement.

In my opinion, kata training is the core of my kumite.

What do you think the relationship is between kata and kumite?

Kata "Stuff"

Have you ever seen "stuff" creep in to your kata? This happens all the time. It may be a natural process the gives us the opportunity to improve. "Stuff" comes in many forms: extra moves, odd angles, extra body movement (this seems to be the most prevalent), similar techniques from other kata, space constraints, or modifications due to injury that remain after recovery. I am not speaking of major movements or pattern problems. "Stuff" is subtle. I am referring to the refinements that can take your kata to the next level.

Some students may think that I am too picky. On the contrary, it is my obligation as an instructor to guide the students along their karate journey. Teaching and learning the pattern of kata is the easy part. A close examination of the techniques and how they function is when the real studying begins. For example, when I am looking at my own kata, I feel when something is awry long before I see it. There is a punch in Passai that is executed off the left hip. It felt wrong. After closer examination, I realized that I did not chamber the technique properly. A subtle correction can make a huge difference in function.

As students learn kata, they must remember to bring along the kata they already know. New students often seem surprised that rank testing is cumulative. The current material includes all the material you already tested for and passed! The earliest material must grow stronger with each rank. The first kata in Okinawa Kenpo is Nai Hanchi Shodan. A brown belt level student demonstrating Nai Hanchi Shodan should do so with brown belt level ability.

I encourage a close examination of kata. You can ask an instructor, work with a training partner or even self-evaluate.

Enjoy the process!

Focus on Basics

In the dojo, over the last two months, we were focused on black belt testing material. We worked hard on kata, weapons and bunkai. The kyu rank students had a brief opportunity to work on a more advanced curriculum. Now, it is back to basics. I love to teach basics ...strikes, blocks, movement and drills. Last week we spent thirty minutes on how to move in the first kata. A few years ago, I taught a class that included several teenage brown belts. After warm-ups, we would begin each class with moving drills. They would groan and I told them that they would thank me one day. They had a particularly rough black belt test but passed with no problem. One of the students came up to me after he received his belt and thanked me for the all the moving drills we did in class.

There were several students that attended the 2008 Annual Training. They returned to the dojo inspired and enthused. Several kyu rank students watched black belt testing for the first time. They saw for themselves the level of commitment required to do well. The instructors have explained the process many times but it was not until they saw the testing that they truly understood.

In August, I will focus on the basics but not just in the dojo. There is much work to do at home. I spent the better part of the weekend school shopping with my daughter. I am exhausted from shopping. I am lucky that she wears a uniform to school every day. I can not imagine taking her shopping for back to school clothes. I have enough trouble finding shoes and a backpack. It took us three trips to the mall to find the perfect backpack. This is the first year that she did not get a Disney Princess or Fairie backpack. We bought a backpack with wheels because of the amount of books she is required to bring home each day. She weighs 60 pounds and last year she was carrying 12-15 pounds of books. I actually put the backpack on the scale!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

2008 Training Camp

I have been at a loss for words when trying to write about the 2008 Annual Training. It is not because there is nothing to say. It is because I could not find the words that would do it justice. There was something special about this years training. I felt it and I heard others remark on it. I tried to identify what made it special but I could not isolate the source. I soon realized that it was the combination of inspiring instructors, training, friends and accomplishments.

I am fortunate to belong to a Federation that promotes the sharing of information across styles. Hanshi and Kyoshi invite amazing guest instructors; Hanshi Miquel Iberra - Aki-Jujitsu, and Kyoshi William Hayes - Shorin-Ryu Karate and Kobudo. I cannot say enough about these instructors. If you ever have a chance to attend their seminars…take the opportunity. There were many outstanding sessions focused on Okinawa Kenpo taught by Hanshi and Kyoshi Heilman. Several Federation Kyoshi ran excellent sessions on kobudo and bunkai.

I am proud, yet often feel unworthy, to be a member of the Renshi-Kai. This is a Federation advisory board of licensed instructors. The Renshi-Kai comprises the formal Yudansha Testing Board. It is a privilege to be part of the testing board. I see the testing candidate’s hard work, determination and perseverance. There were several triumphs this year at testing. One candidate was victorious over a serious illness and another demonstrated true warrior spirit.

There is a strong sense of camaraderie at the training seminars. I only see these martial artists a few times each year. Even though we do not see each other often, we fall into the natural rhythm of friendship. We are there for the same purpose…to learn… to share… to train. We are in the moment.

It was an amazing weekend.

Trying To Stay Calm

Take a deep breath in.

Hold for 8 seconds.

Exhale.

Repeat.

I am having an extremely stressful week. My daughter is involved in a local children’s theater. She has been practicing for the last five weeks – four days a week – three hours a night. There is so much work done behind the scenes such as advertising, ticket sales, raffle, costumes and set construction. Parents are recruited to help. Therefore, I have been cutting apples, painting hay bales, moving tables, and working stage left. There are five performances and I will be at the theater all weekend. I am very proud of her because she has worked so hard.

Here comes the stress. On Thursday, I went to the post box to collect the mail. When I shut my car door there was a loud crunching sound. My car window fell into the door. The car was at the mechanic last week and I need a wheel hub sensor. I decided not to get this fixed but rather trade in the vehicle. This was the first used car I ever bought. I only had it six months. I went to a reputable dealer and it was a certified pre-owned car. In the past six months, it needed the following repairs: passenger window regulator ($405.00), right wheel hub sensor ($549.00), directional tires were installed backwards ($75.00), left wheel hub sensor ($549.00), and now driver side window regulator ($405.00). This does not include the molding falling off, the headliner falling down and a piece inside the trunk falling off. I can envision myself driving down the road as my car slowly falls apart leaving behind me a trail of debris.

I made numerous calls to the service manager and sales manager. I explained to them my busy weekend and the need I had for my car. They propped up the window using a wedge and packing material. On Monday, I have a meeting with the original salesperson and the sales manager. When I bought the car, the salesperson told me that the car belonged to his daughter-in-laws father. At the time, I believed him but maybe it was just a sales technique.

What does this post have to do with karate? I need to stay calm and karate will help. I may need to take a few extra deep breaths over the next few days. I am going to make time to visit the Honbu on Saturday for a workout. I will need to stay focused, determined and levelheaded. I am planning to leave the dealership on Monday with a different car.

If the stress gets too bad, I might have to practice Sanchin a few times. Maybe sparring would work better?

Does karate help you manage stress?

Black Belt Testing

Federation Black Belt testing is around the corner. The usual testing schedule for black belt candidates is summer and winter. The summer testing occurs at the yearly training camp sponsored by the Federation. It is an intense three day camp with guest instructors. It includes formal testing and a banquet. Testing requirements may vary within dojo or styles. In our dojo, there is a comprehensive in-house test before candidates are presented to the Federation. At the Federation level, the testing candidate demonstrates their material in front of the Federation President and a board of licensed instructors (Renshi-Kai).

How do you prepare for black belt testing? It depends on the individual and the criteria. When I tested for Shodan, my training partner and I practiced combinations, bunkai and take downs two hours a week for six months. This was in addition to attending class three days during the week and group workout on the weekend. I was at the dojo all the time. I must mention that I am married to a black belt and our daughter was not yet born. Our life was work and karate. It was during this time that my husband opened up his own dojo. He would teach at his new dojo and I would go to the Honbu to train.

When students ask me what to expect at Federation Black Belt testing, I tell them to be prepared for everything ... open hand kata, weapons, basics and bunkai. Federation testing is pass or fail. I tell the students that if they do not have good basics such as stances and proper weapon handling ... they will fail. Testing is at least three hours long. Two hours into testing, it is sweaty and humid and your arms feel like they are going to fall off. That is just about the time that the board asks to see the nunchaku kata.

I let the students know that they will make mistakes during testing. The test is how the student handles the mistake. A student should correct the mistake and keep going. I have seen students fall apart after they made a mistake. Being a bit of a perfectionist, when I make mistakes, I am harder on myself than anyone else could be. During one in-house testing, a student that made a mistake walked off the floor, put on their shoes and left. Shocking! As students progress through kyu ranks, they need to constantly be reviewing the earlier material and bring it up to their current level. I have seen students leave behind material once they learned and passed their test. With each subsequent promotion, all the material up to their current rank is tested.

My last test was in 2006. Five weeks before the annual training camp, I was notified by my instructor (head of the Federation) that I was testing. The first thing that came to mind was "I am not ready". Five weeks!!! It was a different training experience for me. I was used to at least six months preparation. A year would even have been better. Five weeks!!! After the shock wore off, I just decided to do my best. I figured that I am "testing" each time I walk in the dojo. I will not be eligible to test again until sometime in the next decade. Thank goodness.

How have you or will you prepare for black belt testing? How much notice are you given? Are there fitness requirements? Sparring? Self-defense?

You Can't Like Them All

I suffer guilt regarding the kata Sanchin. The trouble is that I do not like this kata at all. I appreciate what this kata is teaching and understand the importance of proper breathing. I know that a Sanchin stance provides stability in both directions. I really want to like this kata. I feel I should like this kata. My guilt stems from the obvious cringe that crosses my face when this kata is mentioned.

The unfortunate situation is that most people know my feelings towards Sanchin. About a month ago, I went to a training session at the Honbu. My instructor taught a fabulous session on Sanchin. It is because of this session that Sanchin has been on my mind. (I had a "light bulb" moment with this kata due to the manner in which the information was presented.) After class, a fellow black belt stopped me and said "I thought of you when we were working on Sanchin". He then proceeded to tell me the story of his Nidan testing. He ran into me in the hallway after the kata portion of his test was over. He asked me a question about a comment that was made on his Sanchin. Unfortunately, I did not have an answer for him because I did not hear the comment. I did manage to tell him "I don't like Sanchin".

The Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudo system that I train in has 51 kata. There are 21 open hand and 30 weapons kata. Maybe I am expecting too much of myself to like them all. I have my favorites: Chinto, Kusanku, Passai, Wansu, Tokumini Nokun Ni, Shima Igiri Bo Ichi, Odo No Tunfa Ni, Odo No Sai Ni and Odo No Tekkos Ichi. There are also a few I do not like: Sanchin, Nakamura No Sai, Odo No Kama Ichi and Kobo. Looking at the list I can tell you that the kata I do not like were the ones most difficult for me to learn. I am sure there is a correlation.

In my attempt to rid myself of my Sanchin guilt, I have promised myself that I will review the kata in every one of my classes. I have included Sanchin breathing exercises and drills as part of the warm up. I am going to stop saying "I don't like Sanchin".

Is it necessary to like all the kata in a system? I am going to try for a feeling of neutrality when it comes to Sanchin.

Maybe, you just cannot like them all.

11 Months – Time for a Jump Kick

Today marks eleven months since my ACL surgery.

Monday nights are black belt workouts in the dojo. We decided that we were going to work on open hand kata, sai and bo. The open hand kata we focused on was Chinto. This kata has all the elements of ACL difficulty. There are pivots, heel kicks to the chin, spins, quick directional changes, kosa-dachi, a one-leg kneeling position and a jump kick. We performed the kata together and then took the floor for individual demonstration. I asked the other black belts to watch my kata and look for disparity in my movement. In the past few months, I would walk through the jump kick part because I felt I was not ready. Well, last night I was ready to try a jump kick. It was not my best but it was a jump kick

When I finished the kata, I waited for my review. I was told that there was one spot (the kneeling spot) where there was a noticeable knee issue. A comment was made regarding my kicks. My new ACL is kicking higher than my other leg. It is not a flexibility issue rather a support leg issue. I am not comfortable doing heel kicks to the chin using my new ACL as my support leg. I am thankful that there are black belts in the dojo that will help me fine-tune my kata.

I think my knee has been physically ready to do a jump kick for a while. The issue was that I was not mentally ready to do a jump kick until last night. This injury has proved to be more of a mental challenge than a physical one. Having the surgery and working hard at rehab is the easy part. The hard part is being able to trust my knee again and letting go of the fear of re-injury.

Pushing My Knee

Lately I have been too focused on what my knee is unable to do. I decided it was time to push my knee to find out what I am capable of doing.

This week in karate class, I spent time on my movement. Classes were high energy and more physically demanding. We ran through kata at a brisk pace and it felt good. I am able to pivot and transition much better. I find it difficult to hold positions such as a cat stance where my right leg is slightly bent. I have been working hard on my step but I still do not see any major improvement.

I have also been working on bounding. I am able to do jumping jacks, jog, hop and skip. My daughter likes to join in on these activities so we are jumping and hopping around the house and dojo. I have assembled a small exercise trampoline in the garage and I try to jump each day. These are the exercises that I fell behind on due to a hectic work schedule last fall.

Last night I may have pushed my knee too far because it is a little sore today. We have many kata that drop down on one knee, stand up and step forward in seisan. I finally have enough strength to stand up from this position ...slowly. I think I practiced this skill a few too many times.

Kata

The last few weeks we have been focusing on self-defense, bunkai and sparring. Tonight we worked on open hand kata. During the two hour session we ran through the first six kata. I have always loved practicing kata but since my ACL reconstruction I have an even greater appreciation of it. The movement and body mechanics have always fascinated me. It is amazing how a slight deviation in position makes the move functional or not. A slight change in position could open up new possibilities and discussions about bunkai. There have been so many times that a question about one move in a kata would lead to a two hour discussion on bunkai and function. It is important to study kata and dig deep for its meaning.

I used to drive my physical therapist crazy (not really). I would spend time watching myself walk in the dojo mirror. I would then go to my PT appointment and discuss my body movement. I would tell her what I saw in the mirror and ask her to help me fix it. My PT was familiar with the demands of karate, the stances and body movement because I taught her children for a few years. I would ask her to show me exercises that would help with certain karate stances or movements.

Kata still does not feel like it used to. I can feel the difference in my stance between my left and right leg. My center of balance has also changed. The most notable change for me is the way I maneuver through directional changes and transitional movements in kata. This is will require much more practicing. Overall, a great night of karate!