Kata, after Kata, after Kata

[Shotokan-kez]

Hey guys..this is mainly just a moan lol I just got back in from training and there is a kyu grading coming up. Sensei took it in turns all had to stay up for Kihon Kata, then white belts rested, then all had to do Hiean shodan, then orange belts rest and so on and so on. Of course me (and others) being a dan grade we had to stay up and perform them all, then right at the end there was only us left and we had to do one of our own.

Needless to say we were absolutly bushed

Has anyone else ever had to do this and how do you go through all these kata's one after another without getting too tired. When this happens to me my legs tend to go weak and i loose balance ect, then of course my technique and strength falls. Grrr i guess i just need to build up stamina. Any advice?

Kez

[bigscottius]

Lol, i started learning my first Shotokan kata, and I feel for you having to be tested on all those Kata, you must really be good. I can't imagine, just trying to remember every move through all of them, and then keep it up while being tested. I say your doing pretty good just getting through all of them:) Did you pass?

Big Scott

[Killer Miller]

Shotokan-kez, I'm sure you have heard the term of "breathing timing." Beathing Timing is "so..." critical to Kata longevity...

- Killer -

[bushido_man96]

Ah, yes, I remember these days! In our black belt classes, we would do that all of the time. However, instead of sitting down, the lower dan grades would repeat other forms while the higher dan grades did their forms! So, we got no rest.

My legs would be sore for a few days afterwards. As for not getting tired, you would have to condition yourself on a regular basis. I think that the point of it, though, is to give each form all that you have, and keep digging deeper and pushing harder to make the next form you do look just as good as the one before.

[DWx]

We get made to do this every lesson (and one of mine is after an hours session of cardio and sparring!). Eventually you get conditioned to it and can carry on.

Make sure you relax at the appropriate times and don't clench your muscles when you're not supposed to or you'll tire yourself out quicker. I also try to think hard about something like my breathing and not focus on how I can barely stand up .

[Shotokan-kez]

Oh Big Scott it wasn't a grading it was a normal session, they just did it because the Kyu grades are taking their gradings in a couple of weeks.

We do this routine regulary.

Yeah i guess it is about breathing and stamina, building it up. Maybe i should do that at a regular basis at home, then next time i will breeze through it ha i wish.

It is hard though having to remember all those Kata's, sometimes when we are doing this i find myself looking at the person next to me through the corner of my eye just to check i got it right lol

[bushido_man96]

Sometimes, during the traditional classes, I like to get up and do the forms with the lower ranks, to get some review and some extra workouts. It also lets some of the other high colored belts know that it is ok to get up and review material with the lower ranks in class.

Nothing like a good refresher now and then to keep you honest!

[A_Train]

I think you should be tired at the end of all the katas, especially if you are putting a good amount of power in it.

Its fun!

[Shotokan-kez]

Yes i agree with both of you, getting so tired shows how much effort has been put in, plus it shows a good example to the lower grades, especially if i perform the lower kata's well.

[username8517]

I think you should be tired at the end of all the katas, especially if you are putting a good amount of power in it.

Its fun!

I don't quite agree with this statement. You can generate a good amount of force throughout a kata without getting tired after every one. The key is to relax your body until the last moment before impact, relaxing those muscles until the next move, and utilizing the proper "breathing timing" as Killer Mike refers to it.