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Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture
Kata and Internal Memory

Hi All,

I’m currently reading a book on history and the author made a distinction between what she termed as “internal memory” and “external memory”. It is part of a discussion on the nature of cultures which predominately record their history orally, and the nature of cultures that predominately recorded their information in writing.

“Internal memory” was the related to the dances, memorised stories, myths, etc that a people will learn, internalise and then teach in order to preserve their culture. The information is recorded with in the people and no physical recording material is utilised.

“External Memory” was related to writing. One person writes it down, and then all others who can read can access that information. In this case the information is recorded externally to the people via a physical medium i.e. paper and ink.

The author makes the point that for external memory to function, people simply need to be taught to access it. So you teach people to read, use the internet, etc.

 For internal memory to function, the story, the dance, etc needs to be thoroughly internalised by the individual.

It struck me that kata is a great example of “internal memory”. They are 100% internal. The kata does not exist physically or external to us. You can’t ask for a kilo of kata, or for someone to safely store your kata for you. They don’t exist in a physical sense. They only exist within us.

We also need them to be within us in the form of “combative habits” so we are to be able to utilise them in dangerous situations. Kata could therefore be viewed as a means of “internal memory” to pass combative habits from one person to another.

I liked the internal / external memory idea and I think it could help us to succinctly explain the nature of kata.

Thoughts?

All the best,

Iain

ky0han
ky0han's picture

Hi Iain,

that makes perfect sense to me. The okinawans also shared stories and tales about famous martial artist and there adventures. One example for that martial folklore is that all Karate masters were extremely weak as children suffering from any number of childhood deseases and grew up to be strong men after taking up Karate training.

Regards Holger 

JWT
JWT's picture

Hi Iain

I think the analogy is a good one, though I can see a few flaws.  

Things like myths and stories can be written down and transmitted in that fashion.  All external memory means is that it is not neccessarily stored in the brain but on another medium (art, written word, video, photography).  External memory can be used very effectively to create internal memory (ie something you can access without reference to anything else).  Internal memory is useful in that you can access it without reference, and there are many things in our everyday lives that we need to internalise in this way.  Others where we might happily open a book for reference.  The weak point of internal memory is that it is fickle and subject to distortion unless accessed regularly.

Kata is both internal and external.  The kata we learn becomes internalised, and it does so in the manner in which we learn and train it - my kata is not your kata.  But kata can be stored and transmitted and recorded externally and then from that learned to become an internal memory.  There are a lot of forms that I don't practise very regularly of which I only have a very vague internal memory.  If I then flick through a book or watch the video it refreshes me enough to be able to repeat that kata.  Generally speaking the techniques and principles I've internalised because they overlap with kata that I can perform or apply without hesitation, but the sequence of the kata I store externally because I don't practice it enough.

Does that makes sense?

Cheers

john titchen

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

JWT wrote:
Things like myths and stories can be written down and transmitted in that fashion.

That’s certainly true, and apologies for not making it clear that was understood. That part of the book was analyzing the cultural difference that can result from utilising the two methods. Part of the author’s aim was to show how myths and stories can change in their nature as soon as the method of transition changes i.e. orally transmitted stories have a different nature and cultural role than ones committed to writing.

JWT wrote:
Kata is both internal and external.  The kata we learn becomes internalised, and it does so in the manner in which we learn and train it - my kata is not your kata.  But kata can be stored and transmitted and recorded externally and then from that learned to become an internal memory.

That makes sense and there is definitely a process off individual internalisation. However – and let’s really get stuck into semantics here :-) – I would say that kata itself is always internal. What I mean is that it needs a human body to express it. It can’t exist outside the human body in the way that a story or other forms of information could.

A video of a kata is an external recording a person performing a kata, but it is not the kata itself.

The process of learning always requires whatever is “internally memorised” to become external so it can be transmitted i.e. listen to this story and memorise it, watch me do this dance and copy, learn this kata by mimicking me, etc. And it is possible, in this modern age, to add in a “middle man” by recording that externalisation via an external medium.

So in the past it would have been:

Internally memorised kata within the teacher --- External demonstration of what resides within --- Observation and mimicry of external demonstration by the student --- Student internally memorises the kata.

In the modern age we could go:

Internally memorised kata within the teacher --- External demonstration of what resides within --- [EXTERNAL RECORDING OF THE DEMOSTRATION] --- Observation and mimicry of external demonstration by the student --- Student internally memorises the kata.

So we can insert that into the process such that an example of external memory exists. So the question then becomes is that example of external memory the kata itself?

To me – and I know this is definitely semantics and splitting hairs – I would say that the kata itself is only ever exists internally. The external demonstration, whether recorded or not, is not the kata itself but an expression of what resides within.

When I have performed the kata it still exists within me. It has not left me to be taken somewhere else. The ultimate place it resides is within us. Without us there is no kata, but just external representations of what resided within others: a shadow of kata if you like.

I’m sitting here typing on my PC and not performing kata, but all the kata I know still exist. I would suggest (for the purpose of discussion) that they truly exist within the minds and bodies of those who have internally memorised them (my kata exist withing me).

A big part of kata is how they feel internally as well as how they look externally. We know that the mindset of kata is also a vital component, but that is not captured by a recording; it only exists in the internal memory of those who know the kata. A recording therefore can only ever grasp a shadow of the kata, and never the kata itself.

As I say, I freely acknowledge this is splitting hairs and I agree with the sentiments expressed in your post. I nevertheless hope that this post opens up the discussion around what kata is and where it resides. I also acknowledge that this could get very “esoteric” if we are not careful!

Which pill would people like? The red or the blue one? ;-)

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Wow, very deep one this :-),

You could also say that while the kata has become internal the applications are external.

Take a kata you know well and can perform even after an extended period of non practice.  That still exists on an internal level but  what about applications from a form you may even practice often but practice the specific applications relevant to that kata rarely. The kata could exist internally yet the applications could be considered external.  You "know" them, but they are not part of your being

Stand that against a kata you practice often but also practice the accompanying applications to.  Then both elements would be internal. For me that is the ideal.  The kata is your users manual which you keep as reference but in fact you know it word for word in its application. 

I don't know if that makes any sense at all  or if I've just repeated the previous posts :-)

Regards Mark

JWT
JWT's picture

Hi Iain

LOL - you made me think of this: http://www.d-a-r-t.org.uk/karate/JTPKT.html - I've used a very similar reference in an article.

I'm going to be potentially controversial and say that I agree with what you say about the Kata, but only if the kata has been truly studied in depth by the practitioner.  I suspect that there are some Kata out there (in the wild) that only really exist externally, because there is no-one left who has learned anything more than the empty shell of the form.  Those who practice it are simply repeating echoes of someone else's visual interpretation rather than engaging in their own.  All they have internalised is an empty shell, they have not filled it with personality, experience and understanding.  I think this is a more extreme (but perhaps more common) example of what Mark B is referring to.

I have to confess my favourite moments in Karate have been when I've done something in response to someone, because it is the most effective move for me at that time, and it might be a take down or an escape, or a trap and just fractions of a second afterwards I've been aware of my position and movement and  I've just mentally gone "Oh, 'insert kata name here'."  I don't realise I've done something from the form until I've done it, and then I recognise it, and I get a warm glow and a smile.  From that point on that movement in the form is never quite the same for me.

All the best

john

Tau
Tau's picture

JWT wrote:
I have to confess my favourite moments in Karate have been when I've done something in response to someone, because it is the most effective move for me at that time, and it might be a take down or an escape, or a trap and just fractions of a second afterwards I've been aware of my position and movement and  I've just mentally gone "Oh, 'insert kata name here'."  I don't realise I've done something from the form until I've done it, and then I recognise it, and I get a warm glow and a smile.  From that point on that movement in the form is never quite the same for me.

Linking topics, that's how most of my "own" Bunkai has come about. I have two YouTube videos that aren't about Bunkai per se but include "Shuto Uchi" which has just kind of "happened" in class.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

JWT wrote:
I suspect that there are some Kata out there (in the wild) that only really exist externally, because there is no-one left who has learned anything more than the empty shell of the form.  Those who practice it are simply repeating echoes of someone else's visual interpretation rather than engaging in their own.  All they have internalised is an empty shell, they have not filled it with personality, experience and understanding.

Love that! I love the imagery of “wild kata”, and totally agree with the post. Brilliant!