Tags: GKR
Kata Variations
August 11th, 2005, by Em & Rich.
Quite often Sensei John adds variations to kata, either to focus on a specifics, or to add complexity so that when returning to the basic kata it appears simpler, thus providing us with more time to think about what we’re doing.
The variations we’ve tried so far include:
- slow kata
- medium kata
- fast kata
- legs only kata (with hands behind back)
- self paced (Hajime) kata
- Kiai on every Uke
- Kiai on every Geri
- Kiai on everything
- Wibbly wobbly kata (very relaxed with smooth movement and no tensioning)
This week, Sensei added a new variation.
- Mokuso Kata
Going through an entire kata with your eyes closed is not something to be done without supervision, but it’s a good learning experience. Whilst the whole class closes its eyes, the Sensei and Sempai watch to ensure nobody gets a clout or hits a wall.
If stances and movement are correct, then (for Mokuso Tagioku Shodan at least) after the 8 turns, 8 blocks and 12 strikes, the class should end up back where it started, and all facing the same direction. We didn’t do too badly.
What’s particularly good about it is that you become more aware of making every movement and stance correct, and also focus on using audible cues to affirm position and orientation.
September 10th, 2005 at 11:03 am
Hi Rich,
I used to practice Goju Ryu too. Unfortunately, I ceased to practice Karate because I lived abroad a few months. Nevertheless, I am planning on taking it up again.
take care,
Peter
May 30th, 2006 at 6:40 am
hello my daughter (8 years) has just taken up karate, although finding it difficult to remember the 1st kata although i have told her she doesnt have to master everything straight away. She is a very she wee girl and doesn’t like to make mistakes in a crowd which inpart I think why she wants to learn the kata, because then she can be like the others in her class. Do you have any suggestions of how she can learn this. The dojo she goes to is only once a week
thanks heaps
concerned mummy
December 18th, 2006 at 10:38 pm
Learning kata just takes a little work, have her practice in her spare time and break up the sequences, of which there are essentially two, so learn first the turn, block strike, then the 3 strike segment, once you have those put them together and move in the I pattern, just practice once a day and before to long it should become second nature.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Mix it up
Treat Taigyoku Shodan as a combination. So students don’t get bored (and you as well), break it up and work on the tricky bits as combinations. Eight is a very special number in Karate (I won’t go too far into that) but, do combinations in such a way with Taigyoku Shodan. Inform the students that every turn they make is the front foot EXCEPT on the Kiai. Have the students right leg back and Gedan Barai, count 1- step forward and punch with Kiai. Count 2 – left leg around 90 degrees anti-clockwise into Gedan Barai, 3 – step forward punch, 4 – left leg around so on and so forth. Eight counts and you are back to where you started, go faster and faster and students get dizzy. When they start to get the hang of it, you do it mirror image.
When doing Taigyoku Shodan, get them to go in each direction to a count. They don’t get it the first couple of times through, once they do this is great. Out the front just quickly demonstrate in a short stance- 1 step left, block and step punch. 2 turn block, step punch, 3 turn block, step punch 3 times with kiai. So, each direction has its own count, Kata completed in eight counts, beautiful. Students feel as though they have accomplished something. Next power Kata, I say something along these lines, “awesome job guys, now we are going to change it one more way. Zen Kutsu-dachi is two shoulder width long and one wide, we are now going to do it each direction to one count in short fighting stance, so if we are half as long and half as deep we should be four times faster (hahaha). As fast as we can now, ready…” I like to get them to kiai on every punch and treat each count like the gun at the start of a race, as soon as they hear you scream the count they go as fast as possible which is a great way to follow on by saying when we do any movements in any Kata we need to move with the same sense of urgency.
August 6th, 2007 at 2:17 am
Change the angle when you start Kata. Get the line to turn 90 degrees left and do Kata so if you are in the line instead of the line beside you they are in front and behind.
Turn everyone facing a 45 angle (like topwards a corner in the room) and do an angled Kata like Seiunchin)