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JWT
JWT's picture
Tekki / Naihanchi Shodan Variations

Hi

I don't always practice a kata in a single way. If I am focusing on application then I will really slow down and can switch between aspects of the form to finish an idea I am recreating. Often though I'll stick with the core template form but play with a different emphasis on timing or hip engagement to feel different things.

These are some of my variations on Kiba /  Naihanchi / Tekki Shodan.

Hope you find them interesting.

John
 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi John,

Nice video! A few years ago, I busted my knee up pretty bad during throwing practise. The result was that I could not pivot on that leg for around 12 months. The only kata I could do was therefore Naihanchi (Shodan) without the returning-wave kicks.

My standard karate training session was therefore for 50 repetitions of Naihanchi. To make it fun, I’d do it slow, fast, with weights in my hand, with stepping, without stepping, in reverse, right to left, left to right, etc. So this kind of stuff is something I can personally relate too. I particularly like your space saver one. Sweet!

I always say that when I was injured, the other kata abandoned me, but Naihanchi never did. One of the reasons I love it so much :-)

All the best,

Iain

JWT
JWT's picture

Cheers Iain.

I can remeber you telling me about your knee injury a few years ago.  I don't practise Naihanchi that much as it is still a secondary tier form for me, much as I like it. I'm pretty certain the maximum number of reps I've done in a day has been about 10. By contrast, even though I don't do it so often now, I can remember doing Taikyoku Shodan 100 times in sequence on one occasion when I wasn't happy with something. I still love the efficient way its simple complexity covers most of what a strong practitioner is likely to actually need.

Mind you, if you hadn't been doing 50 reps of Naihanchi each session, would your mind have sought the diversion of really breaking it down into multiple interlocking applications?

I'm still struggling with my kata choices, which perhaps should be the subject of another thread. It's a discussion that I know we've had before - both here and in conversation. The balance between depth of knowledge and 'spread' of knowledge and preserving a 'style'.

At present I teach my Shotokan students a form of 'Kyohan Karate' kata, with some omissions and additions based on personal preferences. The kata I teach are hybrids of the way I was taught them (Kanazawa lineage Shotokan), and tweaking back to older variations from different editions of the Kyohan or Karate Jutsu. My aim therefore is to make it possible for them to integrate with other Shotokan groups at the most important knowledge level should they move, while passing on to them in my classes the things I feel are most important. The kata I teach them are Heian 1 - 5, Tekki Shodan, Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Seisan, Nijushiho, Tekki Nidan, Empi and Jitte. It still feels like a lot of kata for them to me, particularly given the depth at which they go into the core forms. The core training and drilling focus is on the Heians and Tekki.

In my DART Karate classes I focus on three kata. My two personal kata Initiative and Escape, plus Seisan.

All the best

John

Cataphract
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JWT wrote:
In my DART Karate classes I focus on three kata. My two personal kata Initiative and Escape, plus Seisan.

Why did you choose seisan?

JWT
JWT's picture

Cataphract wrote:
JWT wrote:
In my DART Karate classes I focus on three kata. My two personal kata Initiative and Escape, plus Seisan.

Why did you choose seisan?

Good question.  

In part because it is one of the most universal cross karate system kata. In part because of how it complements the lessons and tactics of the other two forms.  

But also because it has a huge wealth of lessons on counter posture, hollow body development,  stances, breathing, footwork, hipwork, stability, weight transition and is a good medium for paired physical/psychological impct conditioning.