Some teachers will tell you that there are hidden techniques in Kata. The techniques were hidden at the time when Karate entered the Okinawan school system so that injuries of a dangerous nature could be avoided. By hiding dangerous techniques, the students could gain full advantage of the healthy aspects of Karate. I have also Read More ...
An important point to keep in mind in Karate is the use of force! If you practise Karate solely with force, your body will tense up. Making explosive attacks or reacting to an attack will be more difficult, and the speed of your techniques will be reduced by excessive use of force (tension). Conversely, the Read More ...
Most practitioners of Karate are not paying much attention to the whole technique. I think that is a fundamental mistake. Let us take Gedan-barai as an example; in most cases, it is used as a block against a front kick. Think out of the box Try to think out of the box, think grappling Read More ...
Learning the Kata When learning a new Kata, the first step is to learn the pattern as well as the techniques in a superficial way. After the pattern (Embusen), as well as the techniques, have been learnt, they need to be refined. This will take some time. Do not speed up the learning of Kata Read More ...
Nami-gaeshi literally translates into “wave return”, a more understandable description is “returning wave”. The name of the technique refers to the movement which the leg performs. The leg movement resembles an ocean wave, rolling out and back onto the shore. Nami-gaeshi is widely used in the Naihanchi series but is also found in other Katas. Read More ...
Bunkai means “to break down”, and thus describes the whole process that lies in breaking down and understanding the application of the techniques in a Kata; we simply peel a Kata apart and take a closer look at the application of the individual techniques. The extracted techniques are called Ōyō. Bunkai 分解; disassembly; dismantling; disaggregating; Read More ...
In October 1908, Anko Itosu (1831-1915) wrote a letter, “Ten Precepts of Karate,” to draw the attention of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of War in Japan. This document is probably one of the most important historical texts written ever. This letter was contributing, perhaps decisive, to make Karate widely known. Most of Read More ...
What should we call the five basic Kata from Itosu! Pinan or Heian? Itosu Ankō, the creator of the Pinan Kata Itosu was raised in a strict home of the Keimochi (系持, a family of position, Pechin class) and was educated in the Chinese classics and calligraphy. In 1905 Itosu Ankō was a part-time teacher Read More ...
Kata is a series of movements consisting of offensive and defensive combat techniques, which are composed of former Karate masters. To create Kata was a method of remembering techniques, as you know, they did not have USB sticks or video cameras at that time, unfortunately. Kata are teaching and training methods that pass on successful Read More ...
By learning Kata, you get the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of the ancient masters. If you perform Kata with the right spirit, confidence, and humility, you will eventually understand the thinking and meaning behind these. In the past (except Kumite), Kata was the only way to train, later the concept of Kihon came Read More ...
