Katatekōsadori kokyūnage
in the exam for 5th kyu
katatekōsadori (片手交叉取り, grabbing the hand across)
Katatekōsadori kokyūnage and tsuki koteoroshi
2020-04-06
tsuki koteoroshi
in the exam for 4th kyu
koteoroshi (小手下ろし, leading the arm downwards)
bending the elbow of Uke
Merci Taisō
from the film MEGANE 2007
A major theme of the movie is the importance of taking one's time and appreciating life by "twilighting". In contrast to the normal urban lifestyle and mindset.
Thanks to Ryan for the hint and the video!
example for a Kata
Kata is a traditional form of exercise in budo.
Kata 型 (かた) means "form" in Japanese, also "mold, pattern" etc. In budo, sports and theater it means "a predefined form of execution".
In the video you can see that the sequence of movements follows a strict choreography. It is a a small section (2 of 9 1/2 minutes) from a Judo-kata. There is no sound.
Kata
Damage prevention
In fencing schools, it would have been counterproductive to practice the techniques with real weapons and as a real fight.
Sooner or later, the number of members of the school would have been reduced. Serious injuries are also possible with wooden weapons such as bokken and jo. There are two ways to avoid injuries. You can wear protective clothing like in kendo or you can ritualize the exercises by kata.
In times of war, when the samurai killed each other on the battlefield, the survivors had sufficient realistic training conditions and were able to pass on their experiences in the fencing school. In peacetime the real case was simulated with ritualized exercises and with a lot of imagination.
Memory
In order to pass the techniques on to the next generation, you can write them down or depict them in drawings. Nowadays we can also use photos and videos. A kata in which the techniques must be carried out precisely and always exactly the same way was in former times the appropriate method to maintain the knowledge. Nowadays we can use the tsuzukiwaza for this purpose.
Use
For beginners, the kata offers the opportunity to get to know the movements in a pedagogically well prepared manner. The constant repetition of the same movements can have a similar effect like Flow or Mushin.
Kata today
Morihei Ueshiba apparently did not approve of the kata training method, believing that "static" prearrangement of techniques interfered with the direct, spontaneous transmission of techniques from the gods. Thus, in most styles of aikido, kata as a set of prearranged techniques is not used as the primary training method.
Koichi Tohei developed the Taigi, the forerunner of today's tsuzukiwaza. The movements are more fluid and more natural than in a classic kata. The choreography was nevertheless precisely defined. The duration had to be correct to the second.
As a supplement to tsuzukiwaza, compact kata without and with weapons can also be used in Ki-Aikido for deepening understanding. Each teacher can develop his/her own sequences. However, strict choreography should not be confused with military drill. A kata should also be practiced with the appropriate dedication.