Truth vs. Tradition?
Kata is Karate - Karate is Kata
NERDS’ Guide to Understanding Kata
Some contemporary researchers, familiar with the functional nature and insights of my HAPV-Theory, tend to appreciate and support its untold historical simplicity; i.e. That these collective, and Chinese-based, solo-routines, representing something greater than the sum total of their individual parts, evolved through a lengthy empirical synthesis, and ultimately became known as Kata, in Japanese.
Sadly, there is widespread misunderstanding about this tradition.
I firmly believe that such solo-routines, were never originally meant to teach the fighting art itself, but rather, culminate the functional application lessons, initially transmitted in 2-person scenario-driven progenitor practices. In my opinion, the 2-person practices, "ARE,"' the fighting art!
———
#1. The „Traditionalist“ perspective.
#2. The „Revisionist“ perspective &
#3. The JKD/MMA perspective
#1. The "Traditionalist's" perspective - MUST NEVER be changed… least of all by a lowly Non-Japanese (or non-Okinawan]!
#2. The "Revisionist's" perspective... A contemporary reinterpretation of classic tradition [e.g. KU].
#3. The JKD/MMA perspective... A classical mess/worthless practice i.e. dysfunctional)
———
HAPV-Theory for Nerds:
* Identify the HAPV to study and understand its dynamics.
* Empirical study to establish tactically functional application strategies.
* 2-person drills [using aggressive resistance] to test its veracity
* Create solo mnemonic templates, from the 2-person practices.
* Link the mnemonic templates together into geometrical solo routines.
I am confident that such logical thinking is far more in line with the original intent, approach, and teachings of the pioneers than is the conformist mentality, which advocates lineage, style, incongruous practices, and form over function.
When it comes to better understanding, and explaining, incompetency within this art, I sometimes hear instructors say, "'It's most likely because they have not had the privilege of learning correctly and/or have been misquided!"
While I couldn't agree more with the sentiment, I simultaneously believe that such a comment reflects the inherited naivety associated with PBLS [i.e. Pyramid-Based Learning Structure|…. and there are many such beliefs! One such example, is the expression, "San nen no kata, popularised by Karate pioneer, Funakoshi Gichin; In an effort to satisfy learners, who sought to better understand the nature and application of kata, he cited the expression [三年の型], which translates into something like, "Three years [with/on] one kata." The term is meant to emphasise, patience, when studying kata because, if a learner spends, „Three years studying one kata“, it's likely that the deepest meanings will become clearly evident."
I'm pretty sure Funakoshi paraphrased a much older Japanese Kotowaza [proverb], to make his point; The older proverb reads; "Ishi no ue nimo san nen” [石の上 屯三年], and literally means, "Three years on a rock." The implication here is something like, "Anyone who has the patience to sit on a rock for three years can achieve anything they set their mind to."
I believe that Funakoshi intended to conjure up a similar sentiment, i.e "If you have the patience
to spend three years studying one kata you will most certainly discover its (deepest) meaning“. However, beyond its simple tools of percussive impact, the problem I see is expecting leamers to arive at functional competencies without ever being taught a contentual premise, or possess a formula, to understand the application process. Without this, learners would have had/have no way of ever understanding the inner-workings of the practice.
Asking a learner to practice [a/any] kata for three years, with the intention of discovering, "Its Secrets," but without first understanding, the nature of its application context can be likened to asking a math student to learn algebra by osmosis. Expecting a learner to magically understand something, without a framework or a formula to decipher it, is damn near impossible. Paraphrasing Churchill's famous quote, "Perhaps there is a key to the riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." In my opinion, using the HAPV-Theory, and its corresponding 2-Person application practices provides just such a formula to be used as, "The Key."
Therefore, I believe, this expression [San Nen no Kata] is best served, only if/when the learner understands the contextual premise upon which kata was originally developed [see the HAPV-Theory For Nerds]. Studying the individual acts of physical violence, through the 2-person application process, and for three years, would, in my opinion, most certainly lead to functional competency. Beyond this, any/all functional pathways [i.e. styles] should also condition the body, cultivate the mind and nurture the spirit.
As kata is the common thread, which weaves together the very fabric of this art, it makes sense that any functional pathway process should be about empowering infinite possibilities and not impeding progress!
"What brings us together is far more important than what separates us.”
Excerpted from my forthcoming book, "Legend of the Fist" Vol #2 ~ Koryu chinadi ~ My Art of Karate
Mit Zitat antworten