Kata problem.

[Jeffrey]

Here is an interest problem and I’m sure I’m not only who has suffer from this. Years ago I took Kempo Kung Fu for about 6 years. Over a decade later I’m doing my kata and it appears that all that training has morphed everything I do. My body is remembering how my feet should be and it is taking the karate right out from underneath me.. literally. I have spent hours correcting the first 3 of the Pinan kata but Yodan is beginning to frustrate me. I have less a week to practice and remove all past knowledge before a tournament.

Is there a better way than just practice and correcting it bit by bit? Or a better way to practice? Ideas welcome.

Thanks,

[bushido_man96]

Interesting. It sounds like you've got some muscle memory that has not been trained out yet. It may take a while to change it, too, if it has already become habit. Just keep focusing and training.

[honoluludesktop]

Jeff, I have seen many people, vested in a style, find that they can not change. In fact, their psychic refuse to let them change no matter how they express themselves. The only reason to sweat this is if you want to compete as a style.

Have you tried "acting"? I once read that a talented actor attended, and trained with a senior karate class. With no prior karate experience, he copied others, and acted the part of a black belt. Within the limited context of the class, he fooled everyone into thinking that he knew what he was doing. Maybe you can kata in this manner.

[Jeffrey]

Jeff, I have seen many people, vested in a style, find that they can not change. In fact, their psychic refuse to let them change no matter how they express themselves. The only reason to sweat this is if you want to compete as a style.

Have you tried "acting"? I once read that a talented actor attended, and trained with a senior karate class. With no prior karate experience, he copied others, and acted the part of a black belt. Within the limited context of the class, he fooled everyone into thinking that he knew what he was doing. Maybe you can kata in this manner.

This is a interesting idea. One I never would of thought of on my own. Maybe today I'll give a try.

[Shotokan_Tigress]

It's difficult to change habits so deeply ingrained. I'm not sure 'acting' is a very good idea. It might make the look of your kata better, but will it teach you the principles? Imho you have to empty your cup, i.e. throw away what you have learnt in your previous school. It's not easy but you have to try. I'm not sure how it can be done. That is for you to find out.

Sorry if the post was completely useless. You probabbly knew everything I said yourself.

[Jeffrey]

This has been a slow process, but the katas are looking more like Karate. I did empty the cup and am tryign to refill it. I found that mostly stances are the problem. What I did to try to solve the problem was do the kata only using the legs. I tucked the arms in the back of my Gi. So far it is helping greatly as I am now more focused on the stances and less on the arms techniques. Plus having the arms where they are keeps the back straight so the shoulders are over the hips.

[Shotokan_Tigress]

Glad to hear you're doing well. Good luck.