In this section:
What’s hidden behind the form.
Examples of how this feeds into raw practicals.
Other physical gains.
Effortful retrieval.
Just how far can this take you (in theory anyway)?
A note on ‘Bunkai’.
Kata as a caricature.
To some degree Wado kata teaches through exaggeration. The formalisation of many moves forces the body to reinforce and strengthen muscles and other anatomical support structures, introducing seemingly unnatural stresses. I am reminded what the late Takamizawa Sensei of Wado karate said about Wado karate generally; basically, he commented that the thing about Wado (and probably other styles as well) is that it forces you to do unnatural things naturally. I think he had a point.
This doesn’t always sit well with critics on the outside, and sometimes students on the inside.
Often, Wado students will ask some really searching questions about why moves in kata are done in particular ways. One of my favourites is when the student queries a technique and suggests that maybe it breaks with one of the central tenets of Wado karate, and that is to avoid making ‘unnecessary movements’ – “Surely this particular movement could be made smaller and thus faster?” My reply to that (paraphrased from my own Sensei) is to counter it with another question, “What do you think the move done this way is actually giving you?” If the student approaches that question in the right spirit, employing the right analytical faculties, it can really open up entirely new avenues for them.