Most martial arts feature forms. Kata. Poomsae. Patterns. View image | gettyimages.com Whatever you want to call them, these prearranged series of movements exist to serve as libraries for self-defense from which we can draw. As a way to get myself ready for my next promotion in karate, and to continue developing in tai chi… Continue reading What It’s Like To Practice a Form Every Day For a Year
Tag: kata
How to Stay Inspired After Reaching Black Belt
Several months ago, I posed a question to my Facebook friends about what martial arts topics they wanted me to cover. Slowly but surely, I’m making my way around to each of them. My friend and former colleague Jeff Tillett asked me my thoughts on staying inspired after black belt. This list is by no means… Continue reading How to Stay Inspired After Reaching Black Belt
Kata mudra code
The longer I’m involved in the martial arts, the more mysterious they become to me. I’ve taken to reading bits and pieces of The Pinnacle of Karate again since summer has started. On page 47, Robert Trias talks about the “Kata Mudra Code” and lists out the 11 mudras of the Okinawan Shuri-ryu system. And… Continue reading Kata mudra code
Kata-based sparring
If there’s one aspect of martial arts training I don’t get enough of, it’s kata-based sparring. As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been reading Iain Abernethy‘s “Bunkai Jutsu.” In one of the last chapters, Iain talks about kata-based sparring and methods on how to train for it. It is often said that kata… Continue reading Kata-based sparring
Where do I focus?
I’ve been reading Iain Abernethy‘s “Bunkai Jutsu.” I’m really enjoying it, as Iain provides a lot of thought-provoking ways to look at kata. However, I can’t help but notice that I’m finding difficulty in my kata training. On the one hand, Iain and all of my instructors have made it clear that we should be… Continue reading Where do I focus?