Comments on: Like Fighting at Night

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By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:49:00 +0000

Awesome comment Masi, many thanks for that!

By: Masisoni

Masisoni — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:11:00 +0000

There is so much information in Kata. I once trained in the “Passai” Kata. I do not so now, in that I have limited the number of Kata that I train in regularly. Yet, having read the words here, and recalling the kata, I could could not give a better description than “like fighting at night”.
I very much appreciate the wording “Passai System” used by the our host in his comment. When we view a Kata as a “system” we begin to realize it’s true potential! From this vantage point we may go on to understand, and develop, the “system” given to us in the Kata ‘text book’.
Many volumes have been written on Kata, yet there remains still, a somewhat illusive element to the subject. I would say, that realizing Kata as a system, goes a long way in filling the gaps in our understanding.
Because each individual Kata is a complete fighting system, we read of bygone masters studying to perfect two or three Kata.
This does not indicate that they would merely perfect the movements in sequential execution to perfection. But that they would study the Kata as a system, the elements of which are inherent in the whole. This extends to strategy; and, executing the principles and techniques in a more random fashion than the Kata itself displays. Yet, this “shuffling and tweaking” of the Kata into a full and complete system is the end goal.
I have found that two exercises will help one to realize this intended end. The first is to execute the Kata without it’s pattern, or ‘embusin lines’ . Perform the sequential execution of techniques in a straight line. You may possibly need to make one turn, to allow for space constraints.
The second exercise, is to perform the Kata statically. That is to say, standing in place as if facing an opponent. Allow one or two steps forward and back, and into the obliques, as if in real contact with an opponent.
These exercises will give you some insight, into unlocking the potential within your Kata, “system”.
If you are among those who feel an affinity toward the prospect that all of Karate is in Kata, I suggest most highly that you read the book by Kris Wilder, “The Way of Kata”. You will not be disappointed. The subject of the work is “deciphering and interpreting” Kata; and, he has done an excellent job in introducing us to this fascinating and needed topic of investigation.
In closing, on a humorous note, I would tell the following story. After studying one particular Kata as a “system” for a very long time, a Karate adept finally concluded that the most effective execution of a sequence of techniques, should, to be most effective, move straight forward in motion. However, in the Kata, the ‘embusin line’ indicated a turn, just at this critical juncture. He also saw that the turn here, in the Kata, actually ‘hid’ the potential of the sequence. He later discovered that the ‘turn’ at this point in the Kata actually had a name. it was called, “Dojo Wall”! All The Very Best!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 13:15:36 +0000

The bridge is jargon, not poetry–its meaning is not really a subject of creative interpretation. It is the offensive or defensive arms you must “cross over” to reach the target.

By: Greggus

Greggus — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:44:58 +0000

“tunnel vision” is only an issue for sports combatants who never train outside 1 on 1 in controlled environemnts. With good muchimi training and practice, it takes milliseconds of contact with an opponent to know what you're touching, where the rest of the opponents target areas are and where their centre of balance is. the adrenal “rush” form initiation of combat will decrease pain reception, but actually increases tactile sensetivity.

By: Matt__A

Matt__A — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:14:22 +0000

You may not be able to thread a needle but certainly you can still feel when you are grabbing onto something or when you have made contact with the elbow, wrist, etc. Therefore you will be able to kick low or strike ribs that are outside your field of vision at the moment.

The kata in question is linked to.

If crossing the bridge is not a poetic reference, are you suggesting that CMA practitioners wanted you to literally cross a bridge?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 01:07:55 +0000

By the time tunnel vision sets in, haven't you already lost most of your tactile sensitivity too?

I haven't seen the kata in question, but it may be analogous to the CMA concept of “crossing the bridge” (which is not a poetic reference).