DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE KATA?

IF YOU’RE A STUDENT OF JAPANESE OR OKINAWAN KARATE, YOU’VE BEEN INTRODUCED TO THE FIRST OF THE FIVE HEIAN OR PINAN KATA.

- DAVE LOWRY

From a standing position with your feet slightly apart and your fists in front of your thighs, you pivot 90 degrees to your left and execute what’s usually called a left downward block. Do you understand it? Many karateka not only would say they do but also would regard the question as vaguely insulting. It’s a basic technique, after all. Black belts have done it thousands of times. Of course they understand it.

So tell me this: From the beginning position of the kata, which part of your body moves first? Do you look first to your left? If so and if you've perceived a threat, looking at it before moving is going to put you behind in your response, isn’t it? You’re looking to your front, and a guy on your left launches a punch. Can you turn and look at it and receive it effectively before it lands? You must be fast. Or he must be a slow puncher.

Do your hips move before your knees flex, or is it the other way around? Which direction do your hips rotate? To the left? If so, how do you generate the power to make the block? If you just rotate your hips to the left, you look like a robot without any real power. If you counter-rotate first, moving to the right to generate power, you’re making two moves. Your attacker is making only one. You must involve your knees, right? How? Do the muscles in your hips relax to allow knee rotation?

Where are you in the rotation of your hips when your left foot starts to move? Where is your center? Is it behind the movement of your foot, or does it move simultaneously? If it’s the latter, how do you maintain stability?