Training Session on Saturday, 4 August 2007

Yes, yes, I know it's overdue. This one's been through several drafts, and the one I'm posting is the best I could come up with. Gommennasai, all. Expect last Tuesday's to come up tomorrow night or so.
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Schedule for session on Saturday, 4 August 2007

Senior Class

• Reviewed kata 1 and 2
• Learned kata 3
• Uchidachi and shidachi start by lowering their kensen to knee height (enemy's knee, that is).
  
• Take three steps in, into the 'danger zone' (no pun intended). Both raise kensen up slowly to chudan no kamae.
  
• Uchidachi takes a slide/step forward, thrusting the bokuto horizontally (yaa!) to stab shidachi's heart (think of it sliding in, between shidachi's ribs).
  
• Shidachi steps back in response, and pulls the bokuto back slightly to deflect the thrust. Using the groove of his/her bokuto, shidachi directs the stab away.
• Shidachi counters (toh!) by moving forward in chudan-no-kamae. Uchidachi takes a step back and makes an clockwise circular movement with the kensen to tap the side of the shidachi's bokuto.
• Step back (non-sliding step) with RIGHT foot.
  
• Shidachi moves forwards another step. Uchidachi does as above, but makes an anticlockwise movement.
• Step back (non-sliding step) with LEFT foot.
• Shidachi takes three steps forwards, pushing Uchidachi back. Shidachi raises kensen gradually from chudan so that by the end of the third step it is level with Uchidachi's forehead.
• Shidachi: Move forward strongly. Foot sequence is RIGHT,LEFT, RIGHT. Non-sliding at this point.
• Uchidachi: Drop kensen to yamei (rest) position to show surrender. Foot sequence is LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT. No sliding.
• Shidachi halts for a split-second, then goes back five steps to center, gradually lowering kensen to chudan-no-kamae. Uchidachi moves after shidachi's second step, gradually raising kensen to chudan.
• Shidachi: Foot sequence is: LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT.
• Uchidachi: Foot sequence is: RIGHT, LEFT, RIGHT.
  

Personal Thoughts:

On the philosophical scale, I liked how Sam-sensei explained the psychological and moral side of kata. And the way he puts it is coincidentally in tune with what I've been learning (from the parents, books, religion) about self defence; the ultimate goal of learning martial arts is so that you don't need to use the deadly techniques to stop people from doing unjust actions. Here's my summary, with bits of personal interpretation, of the first three kata.

• Kata no. 1 - the most basic form of self defense - hit back. The shidachi delivers a counter-blow that, if connected, will slice the uchidachi's head in half. While it may be necessary to stop an opponent (provided the opponent in question is unjust and will jeopardize the lives of others) by killing him/her, the shidachi is also technically guilty of taking another person's life regardless of justification. Which leads shidachi to regret and reflect, moving on to...
• Kata no. 2 - same story, different outcome. Uchidachi goes in for shidachi's wrists, shidachi dodges and cuts off uchidachi's wrist in retaliation. This time, shidachi is wise enough not to take his/her opponent's life, and chooses to disable instead. However, the implication of this is that shidachi makes uchidachi invalid, possibly ruining uchidachi's life (which could potentially be changed otherwise). Again, shidachi must move on and reflect on how to acheive the ultimate defence; that is, how to stop the next oppressor sans bloodshed. Years (or hours?) later, a third encounter happens...
• Kata no. 3 - this time, shidachi has learned the folly of the first two encounters; the first ended with the death of the opponent, the second with maiming. Now shidachi assumes a more alert, but relaxed, stance, actually letting his opponent get close enough for a thrust to the heart. Blocking that, shidachi moves forwards, constantly threating uchidachi but never raising the sword. Eventually, uchidachi realises that the cause is lost, and that there is no other way but surrender. Whether or not uchidachi would stab shidachi in the back once the latter walks away is irrelevant, though ideally we'd hope to see both parties back off in honorable fashion. The point is, at this stage shidachi is able to convince uchidachi of the errors of his/her way, without unnecessary bloodshed. Shidachi should be thankful of not having blood on his/her hands, uchidachi should count blessings and be glad to escape with his/her life.

Interestingly enough, this was an argument my parents once gave me when I asked about whether or not my religion allows for killing in self-defence. Their question to me was, "why kill, if you can avoid trouble altogether". Again, it parallels with my new knowledge of kata. Killing in self-defence is permissible, but should be avoided when possible; disabling the enemy is better, but may have repercussions later on (e.g. vengeance, creating a dependency in the invalid opponent); thus, the best way is to win is to avoid striking altogether (whether through diplomacy or displaying the business end of a sword) and avoid trouble from the start.

Just as a small note, Sun Tzu also said that the best kind of victory is the bloodless kind, for both sides.

Phew. Talk about a rant. Sorry if it all seems irrelevant, just wanted to get that off my chest. Arigatou gozaimashita!

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