Guest Columnists - Kata within a Kata
The performance of a Kata can be ‘different’ from one person to another. Each one of us has slightly different timing, body structures, and personalities that that are often reflected in the way we conduct our performance.
After many years we do ‘personalise’ our Kata, but we should never violate the fundamental principles of it.
When we learn to drive a car we are taught the basic methods of changing gear (returning our hands to the steering wheel after each gear change), steering (hands in the correct position, etc.). Mirror, signal, manoeuvre, etc. After these basic rules have been ‘mastered’ and the test has been passed we tend to ‘drive’ the way we want to, we adopt habits (although some bad). When we come to teach others how to drive, do we teach them our ‘modified’ way of driving? No, we have to go back to the basics and teach from scratch.
I feel that this is the same (or should be) as Kata. We teach the fundamental principles in Kihon-waza, so these are encouraged within our Kata - moving from one technique to another in much the same way. After many years of training within the Kata, we tend to infuse our ‘personality’ into the Kata, but, unlike driving a car, we should not include any bad habits or shortcuts.
Our personality comes from within the Kata, thus making this our ‘own’ Kata within the Kata.
Every practitioner of a Kata may look identical, but upon closer inspection this is not so. We are not attempting to be ‘clones’ of the personalities of those who teach us the
Kata, we are, and must preserve, ourselves. We have adopted our own personal mechanics and personality
within it.
Don’t let the Kata become you, but let you become the Kata.
Gary E Swift, 7th Dan, Kyoshi
President of the Alliance of International Wado-ryu (AIWa). AIWa
Chief Instructor to the British Wadokai Karate-do. British Wadokai
General Secretary to the JKF-Wadokai England. Wadokai England
