(no subject)
One of the things I miss most about karate is kata. It's so hard to describe what it's like-you can compare it to energy work, you fall into a space while doing a kata where everything else melts away-your only focus is that kata. The world can be tumbling around you and you'll still be in that kata. I've been giving a lot of thought to kata as while I've been strongly recommended not to go back to a high impact sport like karate, I need something that will help me physically, mentally and spiritually and a kata, where you keep every movement precise and flowing while under tension, is perfect for my needs.
The katas of the beginners and intermediate grades are distinct patterns, attack, defend, but the higher level ones seem more spiritual, stylized, more range of movement. I'm not capable any more of describing the difference! There were a few katas I learnt for early grades that later became balck belt katas so I had to do them again for my dan grading but I can still recall the difference in how I focused. Two spring to mind-Sanchin Kata which is under huge tension, your whole body is immovable in each position, each move is down slowly as though you're being pushed against (in the grading, the instructors came round with bamboo canes and hit us in different areas to test whether the muscles were fully tensed or to see if they could push us over-which would mean failing!)
The other one was Yantsu-a personal favourite but as it's been over ten years, one that I can't fully remember. Most katas take up a fair amount of floor space which has restricted me because I haven't even a decent size back yard. But Yantsu is done within a small area-and feels very 'zen' for want of a better term. I'm relarning it now as best I can-I recall the beginning which is the main hurdle-just trying to access tthe muscle memory without thinking about it is hard. And once I have it down, the movements that are supposed to be done fast, I'm going to do slow under tension to encourage toning as well as to help with my hypermobility joint pain in the arse thing.
I've been chatting to Claire about this for a while and she wants me to teach it to her too-she's hopefully coming over tomorrow night so I'm considering suggesting a couple of hours a week in the park teaching her the basic moves and how to fall into that headspace.
The katas of the beginners and intermediate grades are distinct patterns, attack, defend, but the higher level ones seem more spiritual, stylized, more range of movement. I'm not capable any more of describing the difference! There were a few katas I learnt for early grades that later became balck belt katas so I had to do them again for my dan grading but I can still recall the difference in how I focused. Two spring to mind-Sanchin Kata which is under huge tension, your whole body is immovable in each position, each move is down slowly as though you're being pushed against (in the grading, the instructors came round with bamboo canes and hit us in different areas to test whether the muscles were fully tensed or to see if they could push us over-which would mean failing!)
The other one was Yantsu-a personal favourite but as it's been over ten years, one that I can't fully remember. Most katas take up a fair amount of floor space which has restricted me because I haven't even a decent size back yard. But Yantsu is done within a small area-and feels very 'zen' for want of a better term. I'm relarning it now as best I can-I recall the beginning which is the main hurdle-just trying to access tthe muscle memory without thinking about it is hard. And once I have it down, the movements that are supposed to be done fast, I'm going to do slow under tension to encourage toning as well as to help with my hypermobility joint pain in the arse thing.
I've been chatting to Claire about this for a while and she wants me to teach it to her too-she's hopefully coming over tomorrow night so I'm considering suggesting a couple of hours a week in the park teaching her the basic moves and how to fall into that headspace.