shinnekodo

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If anyone seriously thinks that kata is useless, ineffective, etc I would recommend that they read "The Way of Kata:A Comprehensive Guide to Deciphering Martial Applications" by Lawrence Kane and Kris Wilder. They really go in-depth into the examination and study of kata and prove that kata is anything but useless or ineffective.

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1. My current sensei holds the rank of 10th dan and has been practicing martial arts for some odd 32 yrs. This 10th dan he received in 2000 when the former system head retired, he was only 7th dan at the time but was the highest ranking student, so he received the 10th dan and the system (or so he/we thought). 2. We did make changes to the system and renamed it. It is not the same system that the former head left behind. 3. In the old system, by the rank of 5th dan, one would be responsible for 23 kata plus 5 preparatory forms called pinons (we always call the pinons kata most of the time, however). In the new system, it is 5 pinons plus 12 kata, but the kata are more traditional. We actually have learned 4 traditional kata and added them amongst the 12 we practice today. The kata system is very different from the former style. In the old style, there were also several weapon katas, but in general, we have gotten away from weapons practice, we still do some, but do not require it any more for rank. This trend away from weapons started way before the system changes were put into effect, primarily due to a lack of a place to do weapons.

UPDATE After a lengthy conversation with my sensei this AM, he says that we will continue with our current practice and that our (my colleague and I) places in the system are secure as far as he is concerned. He says that if the old sensei forces his hand (as in suggests or demands that we leave) that he will refuse him even if it means breaking with him. Needless to say, I feel a lot better about this situation now. Thanks for your replies.

1. "Founded" can be a relative term. He did indeed start the system, but the ideas, techniques, kata, ETC save for a very few were not original with him. He just decided to do things his own way and broke from his parent system. The difference with his system's start is that he formally obtained his instructor's permission. With us, this man had retired and formally handed the system over to our sensei. There had been NO CONTACT between he and us, not to mention that the seeds for this reorganization were already being sown long before he retired. When he reappeared early this yr, it was after a 6 yr period of silence. He had not been in contact with us concerning martial arts, he was gone and out of the picture when we made these changes. I do not honestly see how he has the right to step back in it at his convenience and "remove" anyone or anything. 2. Nobody in any way, shape, form, or fashion "lessened the requirement to make it easier." The biggest change was to the # of kata taught in the system (which is what I am assuming you are referring to in your post). We are kata people. We were spending the entire alloted time for class trying to do the vast # of kata justice in their practice. There was simply not enough time to give the katas their due and carry on with other class activities (IE, teaching lower belt rank students). In addition, we sought a more traditional focus, especially in kata. In traditional goju styles, there are only 12, we had 28+. We focussed on the traditional katas we had versions of as well as learned other traditional goju kata we did not know. "Lessening requirements to make things easier" is not applicable here, IMO. 3. I agree with you, the old sensei should have been told right after he appeared, but it was not my place to do so. I was still the junior man, my sensei chose not to tell him. Also, my sensei was the one who approved all the changes to start with, these changes originated with me, were expounded and supported by my colleague and we told our sensei our wishes, but he approved the system change. However, my colleague and I at the time of this post are being held responsible for this event. In any event, your opinions are your own, I just do not agree with you. As it stands right now, the old guy is driving his train hard and all the people are laying down like good little railroad ties to be run over. I hope the train can be stopped, but it is in full motion at this hr. Thanks.

The old system head did retire, but he did not like the overall direction of the system in terms of the current leadership. So, I am assuming, he got back into it to "rally the cause" so to speak. He was not informed of the changes initially, because my sensei did not want to "hurt his feelings", although my colleague and I felt that he should be told. When we made the changes, it was with our current sensei's approval and with the understanding that the old head was retired and our sensei had the "authority" to make such changes. There had been little or no contact between the old head and the new head in regards to martial arts. We were all taken somewhat by surprise at the old head's return. As to why my sensei is letting my friend and I take the heat, I can only conjecture. The old sensei is his sensei and personal friend. He has not yet been put in a position where he has to choose between his old friend and his current students, although this may be forthcoming. As to the "heat" that the old head is putting on us, I am not certain how much he can do to us. We know him, my colleague and I, but we have not really had that much to do with him thru the yrs. The old sensei has supposedly "put the word" out on us with some of the people outside our system but within goju, which I assume is the same as "blackballing" or "blacklisting." Presently, we dont have much to do with other goju people in other places, but the thought of him bad mouthing about me to people I dont even know his disturbing. This thing is still "up in the air, and I dont know how the "dust will settle." Thanks for your thoughts and replies.

I have some concerns that I would like to share in hopes of receiving some sound advice. 6 yrs ago, the head of my style "retired" & or stepped down and gave the system to my instructor. Prior to his retirement and for 6 yrs after his retirement, there was little or no contact between he (the former system head) & our school. About 2 yrs after he stepped down, we reorganized the system and renamed it (it was formerly named after him which never did seem right to those at my school). The new name is of a more generic nature, not named after one man. Plus, there were philosophical differences as well in how the system should be practiced. One of the major changes was the number of kata taught (near 30). In our opinion, we felt that was too many for anyone to attempt to master. So, in an effort to remedy this situation, we cut back on the # of kata, attempting to go in a more traditional direction (this is a style of goju). In traditional goju there are only 12 kata, so we cut back the # of katas to 12 (plus 5 preparatory katas called pinons in our style) and attempted to maintain a traditional focus ( which means we kept our versions of the traditional goju kata that we had which was 9 of the traditional 12 and went with 3 others to reach a final total of 12 katas). This meant dropping from our system about 11 other katas which were fine katas in their own right, there were just too many. These changes occurred 2 yrs after the system head left and we practiced in this fashion for 4+ yrs and never heard a word from him in all 6 of those yrs (as well as not too often before he retired). Now, 6 1/2 yrs later he has decided to return to the scene. At first, we did not tell him about the situation (which, some of us felt we should do, but our sensei, the new system head, did not want to hurt his feelings). Inevitably, the old system head discovered the situation. Now, he is not exactly happy with us here in my dojo. He contacted my sensei last night and told him a thing or two. As it seems to be going at the moment, myself and a fellow black belt get the blame for these series of events since the ideas for the changes originated with us. Our sensei is being excused at the moment because he was being taken advantage of by my fellow black belt and I the old system head claims (during the last 6+ yrs, my sensei has been thru some hard times, his wife and mother died, he has a very demanding job which has limited his dojo time as well, in essence, my fellow black belt and I have done the majority of the teaching at the dojo in his various absences, these are some of the things that supposedly allowed us to take advantage of him according to the old "boss.") The old system head has "put out the word" against myself and my fellow black belt over this situation. I am not yet certain as to what that means, nor do I know my own status in my own style that I have practiced diligently for 13+ yrs now. Well, this post is too long now as it is, so I will stop. If anyone has read to this point and has some sound advice, I would be appreciative. My own immediate martial arts future is up in the air due to these events. Thanks for reading.

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