more about the previous post
Was mid online job hunt, and suddenly started thinking about my Karate Sensei, which then led me down the road (figuritively speaking, of course) of memories of my training so many years ago….
I really miss the days when (after school) dad will drop me off to my karate classes (or I’d drive when I finally got my driving license). I miss the cameradery of the fellow karate practitioners, my fantastic Sensei whom I’ve known for most of my life, the physical and mental fatigue of a hard day’s training…. The sheer contentment of managing to get a Kata down pat!! (Kata, btw, is a set of moves that are linked for posture and technique training. There are 26 Katas for Karate Shotokan, which was the one I trained in)
Then, me, being me… i just HAD to go to youtube to search for katas. There, I found this.
(Points at the vid embeded at previous post)
In which I proceeded to gape in awe.
This kata (Heian Godan) is one of my fav. Heian Katas. I have also been dragged (kicking and screaming) by my Sensei for the annual Kata competition with this particular Kata. Having the sensei as a family friend does has its disadvantages…..
Fingers itching, I proceeded to search for other Katas I’ve always been particularly fond of (Enpi, Jion, Tekki Sandan) and had to pick up my jaw from the floor several times from sheer amazement.
Kata, when proparly delivered by a Master, is truely awe inspiring…..
I could see many of the subtle nuances and emphasis on certain postures that was TOTALLY beyond me when I was actually training.
This made me feel rather sad, because if I HAD been able to catch the importance of these subtleties I might have gained even MORE from my training at that time. (Instead of driving my Sensei up the wall with frustration due to our inability to comprehend what was, to him, as easy as eating tofu)
On the other hand, it also made me happy… because I must have grown (mentally), at least a little, from 5 years ago, to be able to ’see’ it so clearly now. (Hindsight…. *sighs* Don’t you just LOVE it)
and now… the most frustrating thing is….
Its bloody 2am and I’m absolutely ITCHING to go practice some KATA!!!!
ARGH!
