What to visualise when practising?

[Azure]

Hi guys,

 

Its about 5 years now since I got my black belt from my karate school, and have been practising at home since then.

 

I concentrate a lot on my Kata, and aim at developing a good mind for Bunkai. At this stage I am able to execute my moves without thinking, while visualising an opponent, his punches and kicks. Is that visualisation enough for proper self-training, or does sparring play a more important role?

 

Before starting my kata, I imagine the attackers at the exact positions where my kata movements will lead me, and during its execution I keep in mind that there is always an attacker behind me. Just want to know if this is the correct method... and what do you guys usually visualise in your Kata.

 

Thanks.

[KickChick]

When performing kata , you should always visualize the opponent.

 

There are times though when certain forms (kata) I do, put me in a meditative state ....

 

When I perform my forms (kata) I visualize the movements and apply them as if it were a combat situation but I also visualize what the end result of these movements are doing to a visualized opponent.

[crash]

you should always visualize an opponent when doing kata, and try to have the intensity in each technique as though you're fighting a real person. visualizing an opponent is not just enough its almost mandatory for proper kata training, but actual sparring is just as important,but for many different reasons.

[kchenault]

I shall now beat the dead horse. Visualize the opponent when performing forms. Always turn your head towards the enemy before your next strike. Perform as if the confrontation were really taking place, but with more control in execution.

[LeaF]

Like most have said visualizing your oponenant is of extreme importance, but it is debatable whether it will sufice or whether sparring is needed, I suppose that is subjective and there have been several disscussions about this so I would prefer not to get into it

[KickChick]

I shall now beat the dead horse.

 

Talk about visualizing

[SaiFightsMS]

Poor horsey.

[Maestro]

Well, I think it's good to visualize, but forms can be used in other ways too. I also think you ought to concentrate on perfecting the motions, in which case you cannot concentrate on visualizing an opponent at the same time. I also enjoy doing forms very slowly, using dynamic tension throughout, but that doesn't serve much of a purpose really, just enjoyable. IMO, you can't achieve the same skills in forms and visulalization as in sparring. I wouldn't say that sparring plays a more important role than forms, but I do think it's important.

[KickChick]

.... basically I think what Azure was asking was as far as visualization goes is it correct to "imagine the attackers at the exact positions where kata movements lead, and during executionkeep in mind that there is always an attacker behind."...

 

I do believe there is no question as far as that.......

[LeaF]

yea definitly visualize, but don't just visualize the same attack being done countless times, let you imagination go wild through some variation in there, visualize diferent possible combos etc.