Physical Skill in Budo

Martial Technique

 

Kata

Within true Budo, skill and technique are the crux of the training and are taught and practiced in a couple different ways, most of which involve Kata.

Some believe that Kata is a spiritual practice with a hidden path towards enlightenment; it has been described as 'moving meditation'.

While some do use it in this way, in reality Kata was originally never intended to be so deep, it started as something much more straightforward. Kata is an extremely effective way to teach, learn, remember, train and perfect techniques while keeping it relatively uncomplicated.

A Budoka could attempt to remember hundreds of individual techniques, between ten and thirty self-defence scenarios, or they can learn just one or two Kata.


There are several different ways to practice Kata both on your own and with a partner. A Budoka must be proficient in all ways to truly understand the Kata as a whole.


There are three main ways to practice Kata on your own:

The first is the obvious, to learn the 'embusen' (floorplan) and getting the techniques correct. Unfortunately, many people only practice this and fail to put any focus on the other two, but there is not much point in only learning the pattern.

The second is to imagine the bunkai and the practicality of the techniques. This is a part of not only 'Physical Skill' but also 'Martial Technique Practically' and 'Martial Understanding', as the bunkai is truly the primary purpose of the physical side of Budo training. 
I will go into more detail on Bunkai and Technique Practically in future posts.

The third way of practicing Kata on your own is to focus on 'Mushin', to complete the whole Kata exactly and without thinking. To know the Kata well enough to switch your mind off and perform the Kata effectively is an important thing to learn as this is the mindset of and effective warrior in a real self-defence situation. This also comes under multiple facets of Budo training, including 'Physical Skill', 'Martial Technique Practically', 'Martial Understanding' and 'Polishing of the Spirit'.

Kata on one's own.

There can be many different ways to practice Kata with a partner, but there are three ways primarily.

The first is to work together and watch each other. The idea is that you would correct each other’s techniques and discuss your strengths and weaknesses of the techniques and understanding. Obviously this is what your instructor does, but there is nothing wrong for you do this with your peers also.

The second is to test each other’s Kihon. To make sure power is focused in the right place, muscles are tensed and relaxed correctly, testing stance stability and ensuring timing and strength is correct. Kata like Sanchin & Tensho are perfect for this. 

The third way to practice Kata with a partner is to practice the bunkai and make sure the techniques work and are practical. This can be done one section of the Kata at a time over and over. Another way is going through the whole Kata in one go, one person basically doing the kata and the other doing the whole bunkai. As mentioned before, bunkai is not only 'Physical Skill' but also 'Martial Technique Practically' and 'Martial Understanding'.

Kata with one's partner

 

 

Kihon

Another part of 'Physical Skill' and 'Martial Technique' is learning and practicing of the individual Kihon techniques. While Kihon is not directly related to any one Kata, its purpose is to enhance your abilities and make all Kata better. Originally there was only Kata, Kihon is only a relavitly recent addition to Budo (within the last 150 years or so), it devised for beginners to learn basic concepts in a straightforward way.
The idea is that the individual techniques are split up and made easy to follow and learn.

This doesn't mean that Kihon practice is only for beginners, it is also important for advanced Budoka so they can gain a better understanding of the subtleties of their skills and continually improve. 

 

Speed, Power and Accuracy are the foundation
of all effective Kihon Technique.

There are many principles that make up both the basic and advanced concepts that we work on improved during Kihon practice.
Some examples of this include:

Eliminating extra unnecessary movements

Keeping hips tipped

Keeping the elbows in

Correct foot placement & knee position in each stance

Timing of different movements when inhaling & exhaling

Timing of different movements with other moves or muscles

Maintaining good posture, head up, shoulders down

Keeping the thumbs in and the hand tight

Gripping the floor with the toes

Seeking to improve the speed/power/accuracy of each technique
(Separately and at the same time)

Finding the ‘flow’

Utilising core strength

Knowing when to relax and tense particular leg muscles

Utilising muscles like the Latissimus Dorsi (Lats) and the Trapezius (Traps) the correct way

Utilising the rotator muscles in the arms in the correct way

Orienting the shoulders above the hips

Weapons are used as an extension of the body

Correct hand placement on weapons

Turning on the ball of the foot (or the heel) at the right time in the right way

Developing the Okinawan principle 'Gamaku'
(Using strength in the body, correct posture helping provide power and stability)

Developing the Okinawan principle 'Muchimi'
(The concept of sticky hands)

Developing the Okinawan principle 'Shishee'
(Utilising the entire body correctly to generate power)

Developing the Okinawan principle 'Chinkunchi'
(Muscles, tendons and bones working together correctly)

Finding the smallest amount of energy and most efficient effective way of completing each action


These are general principles and don't apply in every single case, but it is to gain skills like these that Budoka should always practice Kihon, even if they think they can already do the 'correctly'.

It is the practice to prefect these many different skills that makes Kata strong and effective and therefore makes general skill and technique strong and effective.



Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have.  :)

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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