Post by kensei on Jan 17, 2012 16:57:03 GMT
I guess I am lucky in that when I started out in Karate my instructor was very forward with his training and teaching. His instructors were the same and they were very adult about a subject that could very easily be "Not so adult"...Karate in general can be seen in a couple of different lights.
First off let me be the first to burst a few bubbles here...Karate has no Secret Ninja like techniques that will make you a better fighter...unless hard training and practice are seen as Ninja like Techniques.
the truth is that when you look at a Kata or a basic movement it is what it is...and can be tweeked a bit to your style. Some moves in Kata can be a "block/counter" or a "throw and counter", "block and throw/sweep" kind of movement and they are all the same move in the Kata...does not mean that one is a secret move or a deeper level of understanding of Kata..its just a different point of view.
For me the trick is not to bait students with "deeper teachings" or "Real secrets" of Karate. Its about hard work outs, intense training and studies of Kata, kumite and kihon waza and letting a student understand my point of view, but also letting them know that they may have their own educatated point of view that does not jive with mine.
I find the whole "deeper levels of the Onion that is Karate" as a marketing ploy to draw people in or as a way of some "experts" in distancing themselves from student levels and trying to make themselves look smarter. Its truely funny!
The point of view that I take is not an Onion kind of view where you learn Karate and then start getting exposed to different levels of Karate...its one of being a sculpter using rock!
As you train you start to get rid of tid bits that are not working for you, bad habits and you chip away at the block of stone! you start to mold your own understanding of Karate as you move along and its not a marketing play that brings you in, its not comments like "a deeper understanding of Kata will help you see the hidden meanings" their are not real hidden meanings, just different points of view!
when you are done you have your own masterpeice that is your Karate...be it your interpretation of Shotokan, Goju or wado..no two people will look the same. when you teach your style you simply are teaching your twist...Dont let anyone tell you that you are learning secrets when you train with them...its all marketing.
First off let me be the first to burst a few bubbles here...Karate has no Secret Ninja like techniques that will make you a better fighter...unless hard training and practice are seen as Ninja like Techniques.
the truth is that when you look at a Kata or a basic movement it is what it is...and can be tweeked a bit to your style. Some moves in Kata can be a "block/counter" or a "throw and counter", "block and throw/sweep" kind of movement and they are all the same move in the Kata...does not mean that one is a secret move or a deeper level of understanding of Kata..its just a different point of view.
For me the trick is not to bait students with "deeper teachings" or "Real secrets" of Karate. Its about hard work outs, intense training and studies of Kata, kumite and kihon waza and letting a student understand my point of view, but also letting them know that they may have their own educatated point of view that does not jive with mine.
I find the whole "deeper levels of the Onion that is Karate" as a marketing ploy to draw people in or as a way of some "experts" in distancing themselves from student levels and trying to make themselves look smarter. Its truely funny!
The point of view that I take is not an Onion kind of view where you learn Karate and then start getting exposed to different levels of Karate...its one of being a sculpter using rock!
As you train you start to get rid of tid bits that are not working for you, bad habits and you chip away at the block of stone! you start to mold your own understanding of Karate as you move along and its not a marketing play that brings you in, its not comments like "a deeper understanding of Kata will help you see the hidden meanings" their are not real hidden meanings, just different points of view!
when you are done you have your own masterpeice that is your Karate...be it your interpretation of Shotokan, Goju or wado..no two people will look the same. when you teach your style you simply are teaching your twist...Dont let anyone tell you that you are learning secrets when you train with them...its all marketing.