Student News

London Dojo 3rd Kata Seminar
Date: 28 January 2012 (Sat)

The Kata Seminar had indeed reached its third seminar.

The kata for today's seminar was Pinan Sono 5 and Tekki Sono 1. Having learned from the previous seminar, this time, everyone had turned up with plenty of time before the seminar and was focusing on stretching out and warming up their bodies to be fully prepared. All 26 Dojo students had gathered to attend the seminar. The atmosphere was tense from even before the seminar had started.

Having just achieved the 8th Kyu, Pinan Sono 5 and Tekki was a totally new kata for me. I had just about picked up the order of the movements for each kata, but had no clue or understanding of what each waza (technique) was meant to be. However, that is why it made me even more determined to find out and absorb as much as possible in this seminar.

Our first kata, Pinan Sono 5. We went through a couple times to see how much we understood the kata and can do it properly. Straight away, Sensei Tohyama had to stop us and remind us how awfully wrong our kata was. Most of the dojo students attending were supposed to be able to do the kata, Pinan Sono 5 without any problem considering the colour of our belts. Everyone was reminded how badly we had to practice more on our own time. As Sensei had always been reminding us.

With everyones' mind reset, the seminar then proceeds to the 'Break Down Interpretation' of each movement and waza (technique) in the kata. This is the highlight of the Kata Seminar. When you are shown why certain moves and techniques are in the kata, what you had understood as just a movement within the kata becomes a vital meaning, and then you start to see each move in a totally different perspective. It doesn't stop there. We are then given time to practice in pairs to use the moves and skills in actual fighting situation. Discovery and knowledge of these important moves and element of the kata, now becomes an experience which then becomes your own understanding of each waza (technique).

Well, it would have been too easy if it went that smoothly. Me and another Ladies Class member were having difficulty in the actual moves. We did understand what we were supposed to practice, but when it comes to be able to use the waza (technique), it is not that easy. There were times where we had used up our time just trying to figure out how to bring the waza (technique) into our moves. It was a fulfilling joy when we got it in the end after Sensei Tohyama himself had performed in front of us and corrected our moves.

The next kata was Tekki Sono 1. It looks as if this kata was all about moving to both sides, and just repeat the same sequence on both sides. After the seminar, I had learned how much there is to learn in this kata alone. The meanings to how you use and move your arms, how difficult it is to be able to maintain the Kibadachi stance, the 'Namigaeshi', and many other elements of this kata. Every single move was important since this kata was a style intended to fight your opponent in a limited space, therefore, each movement and skill required precision and maximum effect. Once you have gone through the 'Break Down Interpretation' of each kata and then try and do the kata with what you have just learned, you realize how much your kata is far from its original intended moves. I now know why it is an advanced kata compared to the Pinan katas.

On our very first Ladies Session after this seminar, we had the opportunity to perform Pinan Sono 5 and Tekki Sono 1 in front of Sensei Tohyama. We had all focused on trying to bring in everything we had learned in the seminar into our kata. "Too stiff!" was Sensei's rating. Since we were too much concentrating on trying to perform each move as accurate as possible, we could not keep a smooth flow between each movement resulting in a 'Stiff' kata. Controlling when to move in fast or keeping a slow but stable pace in fighting skills is VERY DIFFICULT.

I have not heard any dojos providing such opportunities as 'Break Down Interpretation' of katas. (So we should feel very fortunate!) However, we should not be satisfied just by attending seminars/workshops of a high standard. In order to truly absorb what you had learned and discovered and make it your own skill, there is no other way than to practice every day, even if it is for a short time per day.

In the next Kata Seminar, we will be focusing on Pinan Sono 2. Needless to say that this kata is a kata everyone should know well. We will all be required to show an outstanding Pinan Sono 2. You know what that means? Start practicing now, and let's make Sensei Tohyama smile for a change!

Osu! Kumie Ichii

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