Deals for 11/12 -- Pix, Knives and Beautiful Offerings

[Shavru]

Awesome Scara, I will be interested to hear how the reti performs as a weapon. Their weight/length ratio is impressive, but the shape being so thin is what will be interesting to hear how it flows in kata.

 

[ndoghouse]

Awesome Scara, I will be interested to hear how the reti performs as a weapon. Their weight/length ratio is impressive, but the shape being so thin is what will be interesting to hear how it flows in kata.

Well if "Kata" is skin and meat the id say it flows pretty dang good throught that stuff. Better protect your soft spots

 

[Scara]

Awesome Scara, I will be interested to hear how the reti performs as a weapon. Their weight/length ratio is impressive, but the shape being so thin is what will be interesting to hear how it flows in kata.

I don't actually do katas. I'm new to knifefighting, but I'm reading a book on it, and I correspond with the author, and he actually recommends not doing katas except as an every now and then training tool. His thinking is that they can freeze a person into the thought process of "what comes next in the kata" instead of in useful, appropriate action. However that's not to say that I don't practice with the knife. I just don't have any set kata, I practice stringing together different techniques and strikes and such, but never in a set kata.

And I can hardly wait to get my hands on the Reti. I've actually told the guy I correspond with--he's the closest I have to an instructor--that I've bought the Reti and explained what it is, and he's anxious for my review. He may not be as in to kukris as us, but he likes them well. He's just got other knives he prefers.

 

[cul4u01]

Just my 2 cents as a martial arts practitioner/teacher, sets are good to do on a regular basis, because it involves muscle memory, and if taught and practiced correctly, sets can be a very worthy investment.

That being said, I also suggest to my students, to practice over and over again, until they don't even "think about it", and it is literally automatic, 10 - 15 moves/strikes/blocks/ that they like, and to make sure they know how, and when to use it. If you need more than three moves to subdue an assailant or opponet, then your better off running, and taking your chances.

 

[Scara]

Just my 2 cents as a martial arts practitioner/teacher, sets are good to do on a regular basis, because it involves muscle memory, and if taught and practiced correctly, sets can be a very worthy investment.

That being said, I also suggest to my students, to practice over and over again, until they don't even "think about it", and it is literally automatic, 10 - 15 moves/strikes/blocks/ that they like, and to make sure they know how, and when to use it. If you need more than three moves to subdue an assailant or opponet, then your better off running, and taking your chances.

I personally look at it as one of those things where there are many valid but mutually exclusive approaches. I personally suspect that kata would not be a good training method for me, except maybe once in a blue moon, others however have great success with them. I also suspect that were I to reread his section where he talks about kata, I would find I'm slightly misrepresenting his opinion.

 

[Shavru]

Hehe, I study over many, many different years many different styles with many different instructors with many different weapons. The basic goal of kata is to preserve and transmit proven techniques and to practice self-defence. By practicing in a repetitive manner the learner develops the ability to execute those techniques and movements in a natural, reflex-like manner. This practice does not mean permanently rigid never changing. The goal is to internalize the movements and techniques of a kata so they can be executed and adapted under different circumstances, without thought or hesitation. If I move against someone and they choose a particular attack, I instinctually move into the best response to that movement. One thing to keep in mind during a knife fight is they NEVER last more than a few movements. You aren't going to be able to "fence" with someone. That is why Cul's advice is VERY good. If you can't put the other guy down in moments, you should be attempting to disengage and flee. Or there is the Gurkha style of knife fighting if you prefer. They use the trade up style, Let them take your hand, while you are taking their head. All in all everyone needs to figure out how they are best at learning and defending themselves. If Kata doesn't work for you, then it is good to know that and find what does. Just be realistic in the goal and then whatever you do is better than nothing or something that doesn't work for you.

 

[Scara]

Hehe, I study over many, many different years many different styles with many different instructors with many different weapons. The basic goal of kata is to preserve and transmit proven techniques and to practice self-defence. By practicing in a repetitive manner the learner develops the ability to execute those techniques and movements in a natural, reflex-like manner. This practice does not mean permanently rigid never changing. The goal is to internalize the movements and techniques of a kata so they can be executed and adapted under different circumstances, without thought or hesitation. If I move against someone and they choose a particular attack, I instinctually move into the best response to that movement. One thing to keep in mind during a knife fight is they NEVER last more than a few movements. You aren't going to be able to "fence" with someone. That is why Cul's advice is VERY good. If you can't put the other guy down in moments, you should be attempting to disengage and flee. Or there is the Gurkha style of knife fighting if you prefer. They use the trade up style, Let them take your hand, while you are taking their head. All in all everyone needs to figure out how they are best at learning and defending themselves. If Kata doesn't work for you, then it is good to know that and find what does. Just be realistic in the goal and then whatever you do is better than nothing or something that doesn't work for you.

And I suspect that when my instructor speaks against Kata he is speaking against those who practice them rigidly and never practice any form of randori. In fact I think he mentions performing kata sparingly and making full use of randori. I do know that there are schools out there that serve no purpose other than to make money by advancing people in belts, and students who attend those schools not to learn self-defense, but to get belts. While I've never attended any formal school, people I trust know about them and have mentioned some where there is nothing but mindless kata. It wouldn't surprise me if my instructor is speaking out against that form of kata as opposed to what you and Cul are advocating.

 

[cul4u01]

Scara is quite right in that regard. I have found true that lots of schools do promote what I call "belt collecting". Which I am not a believer in. For the record. Kung Fu has NO belts, contrary to what a lot of schools do now. They say that patrons want belts, "to show their progress". Not understanding, that more isn't necessarily best. The quality of what is learned, and the understanding and application of theory is most important.

 

[Shavru]

Ah, yes, I understand, My feelings about belts are, to quote Mr Miyagi from Karate Kid "In Okinawa, belt mean no need rope to hold up pants" . For me being a woman I have a number of belts some really pretty colors and some just plain leather. Only a couple of "Rank" belts. Seriously since it looks like I have traveled as far as I will be able to in Kendo, I doubt any additional belts will be in my future except the ones I can buy at a dept store. Just to put my gripe out there, We shouldn't have to take the Kyoshi test in Japanese :grumpy: my brain and Kanji are OK, but when you add hiragana and katakana it mixes too many languages in my brain and I sound like a 3 year old. Right noun and verb, but wrong structure and adjectives. No possibility of passing the test in what is equivelent to kindergartner speak.

 

[Yangdu]

I did not get an eamil on 15 inch AK, send payment and mailing address for AK