subject: The 3 K's of Shotokan Karate [print this page] The 3 K's of Shotokan Karate The 3 K's of Shotokan Karate
When seeking to understand the basics of any martial art, it is key to grasp the fundamental principles and aspects behind that martial art's practice. With Shotokan Karate, it is easy to focus only one element, to think that the entire art is based on one aspect, while infact there are three aspects that are equally important. It is only through the complete understanding of all three parts of shotokan karate that one may begin to understand the true nature of this martial art, and in today's article we will examine what each of them are and how they contribute to art as a whole.
The first and most basic of the aspects of karate is the practice of the blows and blocks, which begins with a K but whose name escapes me at the moment. This is the crucial training of every kick, punch and block that allows you to execute the attacks and defenses of which the art is made of. This is where the traditional image of dozens of students standing in a line repeating the same move together comes in. It is only through years of practice that the martial art moves become ingrained in your instincts, allowing you to use them in combat without doubt or hesitation.
The second aspect of the art are the kata's, the predetermined moving meditations that use a sequence of attacks and blocks and which have been practiced for centuries in the current form. The student is expected to execute these movements with a fluid ease and confidence, to be able to move from one move to the next, so that it becomes a dance, an expression of form and control that demonstrates the practioners mastery of the art. These kata's range in complexity, so that the more advanced you become, the more involved and longer the kata you are working on becomes too.
The final K of karate is kumite, the actual confrontation between two practioners in live combat. This combat is usually overseen by your sensei, and will have basic rules applied to control the violence dependent on your level of mastery. Beginners may not be allowed to touch each other, for example, while those of intermediate level will only be allowed to top. The better you become at karate, the faster, more exhilirating and fun that kumite becomes.
These are the three aspects of karate, each one as important as the other.
