Martial Understanding

What to Do & What Not to Do

Simply having the skills/knowledge and how to apply them is not enough for a real life situation.

A good Budoka knows exactly what to do and when to do it, both physically and legally.

Technically, 'knowing' the right thing to do and the right time to do it would be covered by 'Character Development', as a good person knows when it is absolutely necessary to hurt another person and not.

However, 'Martial Understanding' is more about the actual techniques and when to use them.

Every situation is different and requires a different course of action. Most of the time a good Budoka should be smart and talk their way out of the situation, but a situation may arise where it could be as serious as life or death.


The seriousness and danger of the techniques can be separated into four categories to suit any martial situation:

Level  I – Completely Passive.

Each picture is from the Bubishi

Talking your way out of a situation, not being there, running away or using simple defensive techniques, for example, as the opponent attacks simply parry the attacks to one side or stepping out of the way (without a counter attack).

'Not being there' or 'running way' is the most obvious thing to do. The best and most successful 'defence' is not being there or leaving before anything happens. Many situations are avoidable by simply being observant and not walking past the group of street thugs or down the dark alley alone.
Even skilled martial artists tend to let arrogance get the better of them and fail to avoid a situation, thinking their training will protect them, but why risk it?
It's always best to be smart, aware, observant and don't be in a situation that you might regret.

If you can't avoid the situation entirely, it's always best to 'talk your way out of it'. If you wish to talk your way out of the situation, you need to be able to read your opponent. You need to know their motivation for confronting you.

What you say to them would differ, depending on their reasons for being there. Are they attempting to mug you out of desperation? Are they drunk and/or angry? Are they just showing off to friends? Are they possibly on some drug and don't know what is going on?
It's important to determine the mindset of the opponent, from their body language and how they're acting.

'Completely Passive' is exactly as it sounds, to end the situation without violence.
Taking whatever action that is necessary to end it before it escalates. The 'less-evolved' people of our society would call this cowardice, but that is a petty, immature and egotistical mindset.
A real Budoka has nothing to prove.
This level should be the goal of all Budoka! It should only become physical when there is no other choice.

Level  II – Defensive De-escalation.

This involves the most straightforward joint locks, holds or grabs to end the opponent’s attack quickly without causing them injury. The idea is to put the opponent in pain but not cause any damage.

This is only slightly more 'aggressive' than talking your way out of it. It's just simple techniques to show the opponent that you're serious (but still not causing any actual harm).
It's about giving them the hint that they picked the wrong person to attack and you're giving them the chance to change their mind before you decide to use either level III or IV.

If you have any skill and/or control, the majority of physical encounters can be ended with this level.

This level is appropriate to use for young idiots showing off to mates or drunk yobbos that are out to prove something. The minute they are in pain from something like a joint lock, they know they made the wrong decision and won't want to persist. If they do persist, you then have the choice to escalate to level III or IV (or not).

Level  III – Aggressive De-escalation.

This involves ending the situation as quickly as you can without causing permanent injury. Techniques may include striking vital points, simple throws, dislocations, breaking various bones, knocking out or choking out the opponent.

The idea is to end it as soon as you can, with the appropriate action. The opponent hasn't got the hint from any verbal warnings and/or any level II tactics, you see no way to end the situation without one of you being hurt (or worse). It is about one simple decisive appropriate technique to ensure it doesn't become a long drawn out fight.

The majority of Bunkai from the Kata would probably suit this level.
This is the last resort, as deciding to escalate to violence has risks. Even a simple throw or strike can go very wrong, either for you or the opponent.

A true Budoka avoids this unless they 'have to' and if they have no choice, they end it as fast and as simply as they can with no hesitation.

"No hesitation" is important, if it's clear that action is required, hesitation can make the situation 'messy' and dangerous for all involved.
If you must act, then act!

This level is appropriate when being mugged by someone out of desperation, or if confronted by several people drunk and/or young idiots at once (in this case you may need to use level III on one or two of them as an example to the others, then maybe level II or III if the others don't get the point...of course, it depends on the situation)

 

Level  IV – “Life or Death”.

This involves doing whatever is necessary to survive the situation. This includes anything that will stop the opponent as you know any other option will lead to your permanent injury or death. Techniques may include strikes causing lasting internal damage, complex breaks (especially knees, feet, shoulders, elbows or hands), hard throws or anything that overcomes the opponent completely and ensures they aren’t able to get up to follow you.

The idea is that there's no chance for warning or giving them 'hints'. It's obvious that if you do anything other than stop the opponent, you (or someone you care about) will face permanent injury or death.

There is no such thing as 'appropriate technique' in this level, do whatever works.
There's is no if's or but's, it's them or you, end of story.

This type of situation is extremely rare, it's easy to mistake a situation that would suit level III for a level IV. A simple break or a broken nose will stop most people, but there are those very rare times when a person won't stop.

If the opponent is on some sort of drug (like PCP or ice), it doesn't matter what sort of 'hint' you give them, even if you break something, it won't be enough. You need to do something that will ensure they physically can't keep going. An example of this is; if you completely shatter a knee, it makes it pretty hard for them to chase you (whether they feel it or not).

The obvious time to use level IV is when you know your life is in danger. This is when you do anything to stop the opponent.




There is a hypothetical ‘Level V’ which involves the death of the opponent, as some techniques done without control could result in the opponent's death, but of course there is no situation or reason that would ever warrant killing another person. 

All four levels have one thing in common, control. Both control of yourself and control of the situation.
If you are aiming to use a level, but lack control, you might accidentally go too far or not far enough.
You need to be observant and know immediately what the best course of action is.

If you underestimate the opponent or the situation, you will probably wake up in hospital (if you wake up at all).
If you overestimate the opponent or the situation, you might walk away but face lawsuit, be arrested for assault or even manslaughter (possibly murder) 

As soon as any situation arises that would warrant the use of any level, the key is to take control. If you know the situation is serious enough, don't wait for the opponent to take the 'upper-hand' and leave you in a purely defensive position.
Take control and de-escalate it using the appropriate level.


Understanding the best possible way to use the techniques both physically and legally, while using the least amount of energy and time is the key to being an effective martial artist, this should always be part of a Budoka’s ultimate goal.

As with everything, this is a lot easier said than done.



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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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Martial Technique Practicality

Bunkai  分解

Iain Abernethy is one of the
world’s leading authorities on Bunkai

'Bunkai' (meaning 'disassembly') is the Japanese word we use for the analysis of Kata to find the practical purpose of the techniques. The old Okinawan word is 'Tichiki' which means 'what the hand is doing'.
We might practice Kihon and Kata on our own, but the reason we practice them is so we can use them to defend ourselves against another person, if need be. It is the idea that the techniques have to work against an aggressive opponent, this is the point Bunkai... and Bunkai is the point of Budo.


It has been said that kata can be likened to a car and the Bunkai is the motor.
You can polish it, repaint it, do up its body and make it look as nice as you want (it may even win awards if it looks nice enough), but without the motor you are unable to use the car for its true purpose, transportation.


The same is true of Kata and Bunkai. Bunkai is the true purpose of Kata training. Without the Bunkai you might as well be dancing, as Gichin Funakoshi said "You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do."

Simple knowledge of what the Bunkai should be is not good enough.
To be proficient in the practicality of the techniques, a Budoka needs to practice with a partner many times, repeatedly. Having a partner is important as there are techniques and understanding that can only be gained through this training.


It has been said "If it works, it's a Bunkai".

Over 90% of the information and records of old Okinawa has been lost (especially during WWII).
If there was any writing by the old masters about what the techniques are for, it has been lost many years ago.
The closest anyone can get is the Bubishi, a book of martial techniques from ancient China that many of the masters used as a reference for their own martial study.

One of the 48 self-defense diagrams
From the Bubishi

With such little actual solid writings from when the kata were first taught, any Bunkai that anyone comes up with is pure speculation.

Even if there is an unbroken line from instructor to student going back to certain masters, due to the effect of 'Chinese whispers', this isn't as reliable as it might seem. We can't know for sure, so in modern times all Bunkai are assumptions.
In some cases, what we do practice could be a fairly good assumption (given the knowledge that does exist with modern masters today), but still, we can't know what a person was thinking 200 years ago when they came up with a particular technique.

Even if the purpose of the technique looks obvious, it is not possible for a Budoka today to know for sure.

Fortunately the 'original purpose' doesn't matter that much, because "if it works it's a Bunkai". Any section of a kata or single technique can have many different interpretations and they are all correct, as long as they do work.

The unfortunate thing is that this attitude can also lead to certain ignorant instructors interpreting the techniques badly, leading to Bunkai that is impractical.

This is dangerous as it can lead to a false sense of security in the students, leaving them ill-equipped to deal with real life martial situations.

This is another reason students need to be able to think for themselves and not just rely on the instructors teachings.



On the surface, Okinawa-Te appears to be primarily a ‘striking art’, hitting the opponent with punches or kicks,

...but this only the beginning of how to apply the techniques.


For an advanced Budoka, Okinawa-te has more elements similar Aikido and Judo with many of the techniques actually involving locks, breaks, joint manipulation and throws also incorporating strikes to vulnerable areas and vital points.

We can only find the various different Bunkai, beyond the simple strikes, with lots of practice with partners and on your own, analysing each move with an open mind.

Remember: For it to be a real practical 'Bunkai', It must work effectively and efficiently.

Be mindful and avoid long drawn out Bunkai with several (or more) different complex techniques.
It makes us martial artists feel "advanced", but long complex Bunkai rarely work in real life.


We all know the 'KISS' rule:

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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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Knowledge Understanding in Budo

Precursor to Wisdom

To understand the knowledge you have acquired takes time and effort.

Unfortunately only a very small amount (if any) of real understanding can be provided by an external source (for example an instructor, a book or this article). Almost all understanding comes with either deep thought or lots and lots of practice. 

Instructors can explain how they understand something, but this doesn't automatically mean that you will understand it the same way.


To truly understand something you must put effort into thinking about it and drawing conclusions on your own, otherwise you have simply just followed what someone else has said (blindly following will never develop your mind in any way!).

If a Budoka doesn't practice very much and/or doesn't think very deeply about any particular technique, concept or idea; the Budoka, through their own ignorance, will misunderstand and won't get very far in Budo like this.

In many ways, searching for the understanding is the most difficult, time consuming and (at times) frustrating part of the journey of a Budoka.

Only you can understand the knowledge in your head, it is 100% internal. Nothing external can make your mind understand something; the whole process takes place internally, within your head.
This might seem obvious, but many people still seem to think that others can make them understand something, mostly so they don't have to put the effort in.


While external things may prompt and help understanding, it's still a result of the 'wheels turning' in your head.



This makes things difficult for an instructor as they aren't in your head and they can't know exactly how to make anyone understand something.

A good instructor will attempt to prompt understanding by imparting the knowledge in as many different ways as they can, but at most the instructor can only be an external catalyst to your internal process.


This is the reason why all good Budoka are thinking and analysing all the time, to seek better understanding.

The good news is that you don't have to be an analytical genius to be a good Budoka, learning to analyse yourself is part of the character development and polishing of the spirit. This comes naturally, if your focus is in the right place.


To think deeply without the information or knowledge to give the thoughts direction or focus, a Budoka can't find the true understanding.

Without thinking and analysing what was learned, the understanding of the martial techniques can be dangerous, as Confucius said: "Learning without thought is labour lost; thought without learning is perilous." 

If you put the effort into thinking about the knowledge you gain, then you will learn to analyse it and therefore find more understanding of that knowledge.
It's not a difficult thing to do, to simply reflect on things that have been said or done, either by others or yourself.

The next thing beyond this is to take both knowledge & understanding and apply them to your Budo, actually use them. Not just in training but in daily life.

Through this, over time, experience is gained and if a Budoka knows to analyse what was learned through experience they will find wisdom.

True wisdom only comes with much knowledge, time, continued effort, understanding and experience.

Only a few Budoka truly become 'wise'.

Remember, lots of knowledge doesn't automatically equal wisdom.

Bodhidharma reflected on his knowledge & experience
so much that his wisdom became enlightenment!
(This is the way of both Buddhism and Budo)

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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

Ͼ

Knowledge Development in Budo

Acquiring the Information

Knowledge development is the start of how we become a mature warrior. 

 

For the first couple years of training, the only knowledge that is truly expected is some of the basic concepts in Kihon training (mentioned in my post on Physical Skill) and the Kihon techniques themselves.
 

'Knowledge Development' is basically the acquisition of information to develop the knowledge you have, this comes from an external source, (unlike 'Knowledge Understanding' which is internal and the subject of my next post).


Budoka can develop their knowledge in four basic ways;
Being taught directly by an instructor during training.
Observation during training (this includes watching others do their techniques and observing what instructors say to others)
The last is your own research.
 

Own research is quite undervalued by many Budoka who prefer to only learn from the information imparted by their instructor. This can lead to the Budoka relying on the instructor for knowledge and/or understanding.

This results in the Budoka mistaking the way, as there will be gaps in knowledge/understanding and the Budoka never learning to think for themselves.
As Matsuo Basho said "Follow not in the footsteps of the masters, but rather seek what they sought." 

Matsuo Basho

Another mistake many Budoka make is to think some knowledge is more important than other knowledge, with an attitude of "I don't need to know that, I only need this".
All knowledge is important, good and bad, positive and negative. One example of this is that it's not good enough to know 'what to do' it is also important to know 'what not to do'.
 

There are different types of knowledge that a Budoka should seek and develop. Knowledge of the different techniques and how to do them is only the beginning.

Some of the things that a Budoka should be seeking to know about includes knowledge of:
 
The techniques themselves
 
How to do those techniques
 
The purpose and reasons for those techniques

The variations of those techniques (and why there's variations)

The origin of those techniques and history of Budo in general

The specific history (such as the masters and their contributions)

The Masters and their contributions to Budo

‘The way’

How the body moves

Basic muscle and skeletal anatomy

Certain basic physics concepts

The appropriate application of martial skill

The character development and the reasons for it

Basic philosophical morality

The origins of philosophical morality in Budo and its purpose
 


The information required for Budo is more complex and more detailed than many people realise.

If a Budoka really wants to master their art they are required to do years of research, reading, listening and watching - but all the acquisition of information doesn't mean much without understanding.


A few quotes I found regarding 'knowledge' to think about:

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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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Physical Development in Budo

Strength - Agility - Balance - Control - Flexibility

Physical Development is required if there are any expectations of skill development.

To develop the body and make it stronger, faster, fitter and healthier is a constant unending goal of Budo training. 

Taira Shinken showing the results of
physical development training.

 

Hojo Undo

Within Okinawa-Te a specific type of training was devised solely for physical development of the body, Hojo Undo. Inspired by Chinese practices, Hojo Undo (補助運動) meaning 'Supplementary Exercises' is meant to improve all aspects of physical development including strength, agility, balance and control simultaneously. While technically Kihon can be called a type of Hojo Undo exercise, there are other exercises using different equipment and tools that are more typical of Hojo Undo from old Okinawa. Some of these include lifting and resistance equipment for example:

Chi Ishi

Sashi-ishi

 

Ishi Sashi

 

Nigiri Game

 

Kongoken

Tan

Geta

There is also equipment used for striking and conditioning, for example:

Makiwara

Kakite Bikei

 

Jari bako

Hojo Undo can be very beneficial, but also dangerous for those Budoka who are too eager and might 'bite off more than they can chew'.
It is important to start small and go slow.
It can be easy to pick up the large weights and overdo it, resulting in serious or even permanent injury.

It is always best to know what you are doing and have a certain level of competence before undertaking any Hojo Undo exercise, especially if the exercise is part of your regular training routine.

If you wish to learn more about Hojo Undo, the book ‘The Art of Hojo Undo’ – By Michael Clarke is the ultimate source of information on this subject.

 

Strength

Agility, balance and control all require strength.
Training to develop strength in the correct muscles is one of the most important parts of the physical training (after technical skill, of course).

Everyone has a different level of fitness and strength. The idea of strength training isn't to be 'the strongest', but to be stronger than you were yesterday. You're doing it to make your techniques better in general, not better than someone else's technique.

I have heard instructors say things like "It doesn't matter how strong you are, as long as the technique is correct". This is ridiculous, it encourages students to not bother working on their own body and/or fitness, just focus on technical technique.
While it is true that poor technique will always be 'ineffective', strength training it still vital to the effectiveness of every technique.
Put it this way, if you're 70kg 57 year old and you need to defend yourself against a 120kg 23 year old boxer, keeping your elbows in and your wrist straight may not turn out as you hope.
BUT... if you had been training correctly for years and years, you might have a very good chance of using your Budo effectively.

 

Better strength is required for agility. 

To be agile requires sudden bursts of speed and flow through movements with a certain amount of grace, this requires strength, especially core and leg strength. A certain amount of flexibility is also required for agility to help with the range of motion, so the body can move freely.

Strong muscles are required for balance, both to maintain and to regain balance if it has been lost.

Strength is most important with regards to control. Capable Budoka should be able to do what they want when they want to do it. This is only possible with control.

Control isn't just being able to pull a punch so you don't injure a fellow Budoka.
Control is required to do any movement (or stop any movement) especially at full speed with power.

In a self-defence situation, control is vitality important as it is the difference between your techniques being effective or not.
The worst case scenario is if you are simply defending yourself, but due to your lack of control you go too far and unintentionally permanently injure or even kill the attacker. (This comes under 'Martial Understanding' and is looked at further in later posts).
The development of strength is the key to making your body use your skills the way you want to use them.

People tend to confuse the difference between strength, power and tensed muscles.
Just because a person is tense doesn't mean they poses the correct strength. In fact being able to relax at the right times is also related to control and therefore strength.

'Power' is something different again. Power is the force you can generate in any single technique. It requires strength and is a result of correct technique. Strength and technique work together to generate that power.


Of course, regular exercises such as push-ups, sit-ups, crunches, running, squats, chin-ups, leg raises, jumping jacks, burpees and tuck jumps are also good for general fitness and physical development. These exercises can technically be called 'Hojo Undo' (in the same way the Kihon can).

All of these help to build strength and develop the body physically for better Budo ability.

Flexibility

Flexibility, in many ways, is the opposite of strength. Where strength is how well the muscles have the ability to contract and pull.

Flexibility is the how far the muscles and tendons can stretch contributing to the range of movement throughout the body in areas like the joints and through the hips, back and neck.

Flexibility can be maintained through normal Kata and Kihon training, but a Budoka can improve the flexibility with regular stretching.

There are a couple of different types of stretching exercises, the two main methods of stretching that should be used within Budo to increase flexibility is static and dynamic stretching. (There are other types, but are either dangerous or only used by experts in medicine).

Ballistic stretching is a good example of dangerous stretches that can result in serious injury. Ballistic stretching involves bouncing to push the stretch further and should not be done within Budo training.

Dynamic stretching involves using the momentum (for example swinging legs or arms) to momentarily push the muscles and tendons to the limit. A Budoka should be careful not to exceed the natural range of motion or dynamic stretching becomes ballistic stretching.

Static stretching involves stretching while not moving. It is about relaxing the muscles stretching them out and holding that position for a period of time. Both static and dynamic stretching should be utilised for a Budoka to develop overall flexibility.

A Shaolin child who is more flexible
than you or I will ever be!

Budoka need to be smart when actively trying to increase their flexibility, stretching can result in permanent injury if done incorrectly, too often or too hard. A Budoka should never stretch cold muscles. Always warmup before stretching!
 


Physical Development is a key part of martial training. We must train to make the body to be stronger (in general and in specific areas) to make the techniques work better, stronger and faster.

In the same way as a Samurai would care for and sharpen his sword, we must care for and strengthen our bodies. Being better involves not just skill and correct technique, but development of the body, so it is more natural at executing the martial techniques.


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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

Ͼ

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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