7 posts / 0 new
Last post
OhioMike
OhioMike's picture
Turning Kata's back into drills and fun with Japanese

So  I have been trying to get a handle on the process of pulling drills out of Kata's. I in the process found this gem from years ago, at which point I realized that I have a lot to learn, I have reached concsious incompentance! 

 

So I wanted to ask the group what were your favorite drills that you have pulled out of katas (bonus points to anyone that can point me to a video). I love the density of information in this type of sequence. 30-60 seconds and you have drilled so many combinations. 

On a slighly unrealated note I did get into a conversation with a japanese coworker (I am an engineer at a Japanese automaker) about the martial arts (he holds san-dan in Kendo) and we discussed that a lot of what you guys are doing (and I am not doing terrible well) would be considered under the term Hinjuku 品塾, which I cannot find a lot about on the internet, it appears to be an engineering and perhaps automotive specific term. But for those interested, Hin 品 roughtly translates to quality, craftmanship or gracefullness, and Juku 塾 is the extra private tutoring that Japanese kids do to help them get into university. Put together they refer to any extra meetings, study, activities, practices and procedures that attempt to push a person or an organization into greatness. In my organization it also usually refers to efforts to improve the graceful flow between different parts of an process, so when I see us trying to get the information in the Kata to flow more truthfully and clearly, it seems like a good term. 

Hinjuku would cover bunkai in general but most specifically flow drills, since the term does literally mean, extra work to achieve gracefulness.

Some of you use the terminology and some do not but, but I figured there might be interest in knowing that this process is very alive an well in modern Japanese thinking.         

Thanks,

Mike

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Mike,

OhioMike wrote:
I in the process found this gem from years ago …

I’m pleased you like that one. It’s a good one for getting lots of repetition of limb clearance. It needs application based drills to go along side it of course.

OhioMike wrote:
… we discussed that a lot of what you guys are doing (and I am not doing terrible well) would be considered under the term Hinjuku 品塾 …

I feel there’s a cycle at the heart of this process. The drills and kata support and inform one another. I’m therefore unsure if the term “Hinjuku” (very interesting by the way!) would apply if the term points to some thing “extra” i.e. “extra private tutoring”, “extra meetings, study, activities, practices” and “extra work to achieve gracefulness”?

The kata and the related drills are both inextricable parts of the process. I don’t consider the drills to be something extra … any more than the wheels are an “extra” car part.

OhioMike wrote:
So I wanted to ask the group what were your favorite drills that you have pulled out of katas (bonus points to anyone that can point me to a video). I love the density of information in this type of sequence. 30-60 seconds and you have drilled so many combinations.

I’m not sure I have favourites, but the drills that cover the bunkai in sequence are always popular at seminars. I’m always at pains to point out that such drills are not “stand alone” and they have weaknesses. However, here are some examples.

All the best,

Iain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Les Bubka
Les Bubka's picture

Hi Mike

Can't help you with Japanese term, it will be difficult to beat Iain in presenting content, but feel free to check out my way of drill's from kata.

Kind regards

Les

 

 

 

Brent Yamamoto
Brent Yamamoto's picture

Here's a short drill based on Tensho.  Empahsis on structure, sticky hands, connection and flow with the partner, and relaxation.  This covers the first half or so of the kata. 

Performed by Gojuryu instructor Scott Schweizer and one of his students. 

B Bates
B Bates's picture

Hi all,

The first flow drill I was introduced to was this one from Iain when attending one of his seminars.

 

It then inspired me to work out a couple for myself. Here's a looping flow drill from Heian Nidan

 

And heres possibly one of my favourites, mainly for it's simplicity. Before practicing the flow drill in class we work a few exits then add them to the drill. It works well for us :-)

 

Cheers,

Brian

shotokanman70
shotokanman70's picture

Hi Mike. I like Making fliw drills that loop indefinitely. Some people ca them infinity drills. Here's on from heian sandan...

 

I also like to add "escapes" from the loop...

 

... and here is one of more popular videos. It's just a shuto uke drill with dirt but I really like it...

OhioMike
OhioMike's picture

Lot of great stuff there guys, thanks for the videos!

Mike