"... And I've been doing it wrong all this time?"

You'd think after almost 2 decades of doing something, you would be somewhat proficient at it.

I've had numerous conversations with black belts, some of which have done karate longer than myself. We all seem to have had a moment of frustration with a 'light bulb moment' when you find an answer to something you have struggled or battled with, or get shown a new idea you agree with but can't do.

You ask questions like "Why have I even bothered?" or "Why was I not taught this before?"

It's demoralising.

It is at this moment that I must clarify that this is not a criticism of any Sensei, Karate ka, style or association. The purpose is to offer an answer to this state of mind.

My instructor always spoke of the old JKA symbol 'moon and sun' and described their circular nature where a beginner follows the path to become a blackbelt, then returns to their roots or beginning.

Jesse Enkamp speaks of this as 'Shoshin' in his blog on the 4 mindsets to karate (well worth a read).

So what is this mindset?

Its the idea that karate is a lifelong study. As an enthusiast - even more so as an instructor - I find this most important.

What prompted this blog was a small basics class that I taught to a few black belts and a white belt. Usually I try hard as an instructor to differentiate for people at different stages and grades, but for these, this was a new take on the kihon that they had already learnt, and what the white belt was learning. At times, the black belts' superior form shone over the inexperience of the white belt, where as at other times, the freshness and receptiveness to this way was more accepted by the white belt and hindered for the others by previous habits.  

It was at that momentmone of the black belts had a "light bulb moment." They progressed, they found answers to their problems and therefore improved because they questioned, experienced something different and experimented - just like a beginner.

That is not to say turn your back on your Sensei, your roots and your experience. But sprout new branches and leaves, because of the good foundation of those roots.  

That is also not to say that everything new you try is better than what you know. By being receptive to new ideas, it strengthens your understanding of what you know, either by justifying or reinforcing your ideas, or developing them into something different. That, in itself,  some reject as it makes them question why they have bothered. I find the opening of this 'can of worms', to quote Grace Nicholls,  "Fearful and reassuring", (Hurricane Hits England). 

So why have you even bothered? To get better! What's the point in trying if you are stagnant and getting no better in one way or another? 

My Sensei always gave the anecdote of a student asking his instructor to teach him the way how to improve. The instructor's response - "go find the way". 

Kata in the bigger picture #1: Bassai Dai.

During my training since last summer, I have questioned the relevance of each individual kata in the grand scheme of the martial art. Any black belt will at this point surely be screaming at their computer screen that all kata teach us each technique and that is why in Shotokan we practice 26 (+ Kihon). Having trained with Sensei Iain Abernethy and his approach to bunkai, I considered the perspective that any single kata is sufficient in teaching a karate ka to defend them self. Which brought me to the thinking that each kata must have a purpose in the bigger picture of perfecting oneself and technique.

So why kata?

In this series of blog, I am intentionally not focusing on bunkai and other aspects of the martial art. Although I agree with Sensei Abernethy in the importance of bunkai, as well as Jesse Enkamp, who outlines the inability to split it from the kata itself in his Bunkai Blueprint (a very good read), my focus here is on the perfection of technique which I would argue, is equally important.

On the assumption that sufficient practice of the 5 Heian kata (as well as kihon) give a karate ka the means to be competent in the martial art, I began to question whether the other 21 "black belt kata" add something specific to the bigger picture of one's own training, as well as the bunkai and techniques.

For me, this hypothesis started with Bassai Dai, thus the title of this blog.

Having done the kata X-amount of times since about 2004 the one thing that always screamed out to me was the hip twists from the initial 8 movements, and how to do them correctly. By changing from completely off-square to on-square followed by on-square to off (movements 2-5 in the video) as well as the twisting from natural stance (movements 8-13), I began to think more about hip movement in order to perform the kata correctly, which made me question everything about my front stance. 

Long story short (without getting into the details of this thought process), my conclusion is that this kata teaches a black belt how to twist and use hips correctly to generate power.

But how do I add 'more hip'? 

For years I found that just twisting my upper body over and over again to the correct place was not generating an increase in power due to my body not working as one unit or entity. I only felt like I could do this once I made a change to my stance.

Contrary to typical JKA Shotokan, I started to adapt my stance transitions by pivoting on the toes/ball of the foot opposed to the heel (click here for how), similar to Wado Ryu/Shito-Ryu styles, after training with Sensei Luca Valdesi & Jesse Enkamp. This in turn allowed me to relax my leg muscles in stances and not have the heel of my back leg rooted to the floor, which made my back leg rigid. I found that this relaxation allowed quicker and easier movements, and more hip to be applied to techniques because of the position of weight on my toes. Although there are other particulars in making an effective stance (which I am not going to include here), practicing Bassai Dai with this in mind has helped me to move quicker and develop the use of my hips throughout my karate techniques.

I am aware this is not the only way to create better hip use, or the only foci that Bassai Dai teaches.
Please share your ideas/thoughts/comments below.

What do you think?

      

Strive to be a scholar

Specialist, Academic, Intellectual

Yesterday I started reading Funakoshi Gichin's The Essence of Karate, which not only started to be an interesting read, but also eye opening in terms of my own training.

Funakoshi in this book mentions the contrast between his two teachers's principles: Master Itosu, who said that someone hitting you should be "taken in stride and forgiven" if it causes you no harm, whereas Master Azato said that "if you provide someone with an opening strike, you should assume the worst". Funakoshi emphasizes Itosu's tolerance and confidence, and Azato's persistent awareness.

The difference in attitude and approach suggests that we as scholars should not be rigid in our training and study, but seek our own perspectives through learning extensively and diversely. Karate scholar Jesse Enkamp suggests Ri (going beyond what you are taught), to gain the perspectives of others and study our own training, in order to perfect our own individual Karate.

That being said, that does not mean that you should be unfaithful to your Sensei. Whoever He/She may be, they have gotten you thus far, and will continue to help you with your study. Therefore you should show them respect and train for them regularly. My Sensei, Cyril Cummins often tells us a fable of the student who asks the master how he should improve his Karate. The Master replied "go and find the way."

Funakoshi also mentions the instruction Master Azato received in horse riding, wooden swords and archery, which he incorporated into his training. Funakoshi states that Azato never tired of his studies. This attitude is what made him a master: the fact he was always willing to learn and improve.

It is easy to turn up to training, do some Kihon, Kata and Kumite and leave content thinking that you trained hard, oblivious to the fact you haven't thought about how it works or how you are/should be doing it.

What is important I find important is looking into your own training critically, as well as other people's methods. Think, question, re-evaluate your techniques and discuss your findings with like minded Karate-Ka. You may not agree with their way entirely, but being aware of it will only better your opinion.Then, not only will you think independently, but also study and perfect your own techniques.

Karate is both a spiritual and physical martial art and therefore in my opinion should be treated as such. Therefore as well as mind and body strengthening hard sessions in the Dojo, you need to think about and look into your own martial art, move for move, technique for technique.

Then, and only then, you will be a scholar and "find the way"

Just like the Master himself: 

O-Sensei Funakoshi in 1957 pictured with an open book. Even into his later life he was still reading, studying, learning.

What are your thoughts?
Leave your comments below.