I thought of this last night and went to put it on here but got busy with something else and soon forgot. Then the thought came back this morning, making me think maybe this is the time this concept was to come foreward.
For many years there has been a saying out there that went "live the kata"
What is your idea of what that means?
If we followed the council to live the kata we are learning what would that mean? I know in kenpo we don't use the word kata, we would say form. At least i havnt heard the word come up. Someone who has a background in other styles could probably explain better than I can. I understood a kata to be an exercise in motion going to 4, later 8 sides, what in kenpo we would call form 1 and form 2 then kicking set etc. Did I explain it right? So if this is the form, kata, how does that translate into life? How do we act in a way that someone with a trained eye would say that person really puts the form, kata into life?
In my case, and i don't work on forms as much as I should but I need to finish learning form 2 and when it comes to form 1 I am trying to do it smoother, without jerky motions. I'm slower than most but my goal is to go at a bit slower pace but not stop or slow down and be steady. Hopefully I can increase speed but not lose steadiness, sureness, gracefulness,etc. Tai chi and yoga have influenced me that way. So in my case how would the form influence me? By incorporating a slow yet steady approach I become learn forms but more important become someone known for being steady and firm.
How do you try to incorporate forms, katas into life?
If you come from a background other than kenpo, how have you incorporated what you learned there? It would espically be interesting to hear from those that came from other styles
How do you live the kata?
Your words caused me to stop and think. Live the kata. I think both you and CHRISTY! have hit the nail on the head. At the moment to me it seems to stand out how calm or how present the people are doing the forms. Flowing through the attack portion to the assessing the situation. Being present in the moment with a open heart and mind, is what I believe allows both sides of the brain or part of time you, to work together in unison to create and allow the true you to come out. Not just in Paxtial or Martial arts, but also in sewing, washing the dishes, being around people. The bumps, bruises, cracks in your favorite dish, etc are what teach us where our boundaries are/ to define who we are. I think this is all found in the art lessons. This is the soul training. ( I believe). And there is more then one way to achieve the same goal. 🔥 thank you Alan for your help in coming rember. 💖
This is an area I am personally focusing on as well Alan. Especially as I've picked Come Alive in 2025 as the year theme. Also using it for the school. What comes to mind when I hear Live the Kata or do things Form style is:
Stay true to what you know, believe.
Train your body mind spirit at all times.
Choose your path and forge it. Even if it's laid out for you or you have to make your own trail.
I think forms and Katas influence me in calming me down in class and training as well as in daily activities. Also awareness. I love how much Martial Arts showed me where I need to have a better angle or choose a different way in life. My weaknesses show up in my training that are just like the ones in my personal life. it empowers and gives me hope as I find ways to finetune it in my motion that I can do it in anything. Now this beautiful Paxtial path is providing a circumscribing all knowledge into one great whole. Open to attract more and more from practitioners here and to come.