Tree of Many Branches
…Before dismissing traditional martial arts as useless, I advise you to research this for yourself. Look for the deeper concepts in the traditional kata. Use common sense. No one truly expects you to perform a perfect knife-hand block to stop a realistic attack, and I will agree that this is likely not to work. You will in all probability get your bell rung if you attempt it."
The matter of traditional kata is very misrepresented in the martial arts. I believe this is due to a variety of reasons: secrecy, racism, ignorance of the rationale behind the practice, and arrogance that leads to a need to change the belief system about them.
Historically, Asian instructors have resisted sharing core concepts with outsiders, even when these ‘outsiders’ were people of their own race. We have learned that when the martial arts were taught outside the “privileged few,” core concepts were not a part of these teachings. You will find an example of this when you look at how the Japanese government taught karate to school children. True concepts were not a part of the curriculum of teachings. Then as other cultures arrived in the orient and were exposed to indigenous martial arts, teachers had no intentions of teaching the true concepts of the Arts to these outsiders either.
An understanding of kata necessitates you do a great deal of research into how the martial arts were originally taught. Traditionally, karate was taught in private – on a one-on-one instructor and pupil basis. This transpired without the benefit of formal descriptions or written documentation. This personalized method of instruction resulted in a student who progressed very rapidly and who had the distinct advantage of learning the real concepts of karate.
Kata were essentially a collection of techniques that an instructor thought of as highly effective. They were not intended as a showcase of someone’s ability to imitate a group of “forms” handed down collectively and for generations. In fact, kata contain valid concepts from creators that knew them to be extremely effective on a myriad of levels. So it is sad that this understanding escapes most of the karate practitioners of today, and that all too often students are required to perform a kata to the standards of a governing body such as the JKA.
I have frequently witnessed students ask about the applicability of kata. Instructors give many reasons for their use, but normally they respond with the typical: to perfect basic techniques and for use in competition. Although there are other reasons given, most make little or no sense at all. Sometimes instructors are familiar with the bunkai of a kata, but time and again their version of bunkai is normally unrealistic to what the kata is for. Then when asked about the true meaning of a kata, they become defensive or downright rude. Many will point to the JKA standard (or whatsoever standard they may be using) and wave the question off with a “that’s how the founders did it” dismissal. It is almost as if they refuse to open their minds to seek the deeper meaning of the kata.
This, in my opinion, is a combination of arrogance and ignorance. Instructors who do this are accomplishing no more than an imitation of a children’s version of martial arts that at one point served as an exercise system. I believe that this is the reason many consider the traditional martial arts to be stagnant and ineffective for the purposes of self defense.
Before dismissing traditional martial arts as useless, I advise you to research this for yourself. Look for the deeper concepts in the traditional kata. Use common sense. No one truly expects you to perform a perfect knife-hand block to stop a realistic attack, and I will agree that this is likely not to work. You will in all probability get your bell rung if you attempt it.
However, notice that the knife-hand block is repeated numerous times in the Heian kata. Instructors will practically beat you over the head with this block when learning those kata. So, this practice must have importance. After all, you perform it four times in a row near the end of Heian Shodan alone.
However, if you break the knife-hand block down to its basic movements, you will detect a chambering motion followed by the block itself. The chambering motion involves the moving of the lead hand back to the side of your head. Your rear hand points in forward direction with the elbow slightly bent. Ask yourself: Why would you chamber your hands in this position if you are dealing with an attack that is directed at you? It does not make sense.
Afterwards, you retract the rear arm to your waist area. The front hand then moves from its chambering position into the actual block. This involves three movements prior to the actual blocking motion, and is not effective if you leave the teaching at this surface level.
Now, when you look at this technique as a concept, it takes on different meaning. The initial movement described as “chambering” is actually a parry with an attack to a vital target. The front hand parries the attacking arm while the rear hand strikes a target on the elbow area. This is simultaneously a defense and an attack and is highly effective.
As the front hand has the attacking hand checked, the rear hand moves from the strike to a grab of the elbow. Pull the elbow towards you while striking the neck area of the attacker with your front hand. This push/pull motion thus increases the force of your attack to the neck, and is a sequence of movements that work. They work very effectively, in fact, and cause immense damage to the attacker.
What is most exciting about this concept is that the sequence I described is but the superficial level of the technique. There are many more advanced levels to this single concept, and you can be assured that as the level advances, so too does the damage done with the technique.
More advanced techniques involve more effective targeting. This requires the student to learn something about human anatomy. It also obliges that the student learn correct angles of attack, more effective methods of striking, and precision in timing. Whether obvious or not, all of these issues are addressed in kata. You simply have to look for them or have someone in the know explain it to you.
The purpose of the footwork in kata is to teach better positioning. This helps you to attain success in the event of an attack. The back stance used in the execution of the knife-hand block actually takes your body out of the line of attack, and then moves you into an advantageous position to attack the opponent’s neck.
All of these concepts are found in kata. The creators never intended these kata to be copied exactly as they performed them for the remainder of time. They are fundamental mapping systems of the most effective combative concepts the creator could find. For this reason, you could virtually spend a vast amount of time and effort learning the concepts in the first Heian kata of the Shotokan system.
In closing, let me say that kata are the most valuable part of traditional martial arts. It is unfortunate that many consider them nothing more than a necessary irritation as required to get a belt rank. When you develop the maturity to forgo attention on rank and the ignorance embedded in the traditional martial arts, you will be astounded at what is there for you to learn, and you will become a more effective martial artist. Look for an instructor that has the requisite knowledge and learn the kata.
