KATA TAIKYOKU Promoting excellence in the art of Goshin Kan Karate Learning stage - what you see and hear is what you remember Mastering Stage –what you practice with intensity is what you master Name______________________________________ Dojo______________________________ 1 Introduction Goshin Kan gives students the opportunity to improve their skills in the art of karate-do as traditionally practiced by masters in the art. In order to become proficient, three important aspects are absolutely necessary. These are: Regular Correct Practice (RCP) To give assistance to students we have written this booklet. It contains information on almost everything to do with kata Taikyoku Jodan. It is a step by step explanation of the kata that will encourage students to improve performance and also enlighten them in many aspects of the kata as designed by Hanshi’s teacher Gogen Yamaguchi Sensei. Hanshi has simplified the movements to make them easier to learn. The booklet includes seven learning stages and students will see: • Pictures with explanations. • Section learning to be signed off by parents or teachers. • Complete performance to be signed off by the student, parents or teacher. The learning is easy to follow, students see and do. Their achievement will be acknowledged by themselves as well as those who are the support mechanisms such as parents, grandparents, relatives, guardians, fellow students and teachers. Skill in defence requires a great deal of Patience, Practice and Perseverance – the 3 Ps. Anything we do with good education and instruction leads us to better performance. Defence in karate will only work if it becomes second nature. That means it is wise for students to love what they do; do it well, and practice regularly. Home learning, outside of the dojo, can be done at any time. Many students love karate and want to do well in it, so we hope this information assists them. If there is anything that you are not sure of, please do not hesitate to ask. Remember that RCP has three parts: Regular is the key to make it part of you. Correct is what helps you with perfection. Practice gives you confidence. HANSHI DEENA NAIDU is the head of Goshin Kan Australia and Goshin Kai International and known in many countries not only for his contribution to the physical aspects of the art, but also to the mental and spiritual aspects. Hanshi Naidu trained and qualified under the highly acclaimed Master Gogen Yamaguchi. In 1976, he became the 6th graduate in the world to have qualified at the Japan Karate-do College. Hanshi’s karate organisations share the essence of traditional knowledge to its members. Its main emphasis - besides self defence - is on the education of human values. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, facsimile, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Hanshi Deena Naidu. First published in July 2006, updated in July 2019, and distributed by Goshin-Kan Pty Ltd. Not for commercial use. Available through www.goshinkaninternational.com © Goshin-kan Pty Ltd 2006 2 Kata – The essence of Self Preservation First read to understand, then follow with pictures, finally practice to master. Kata is defensive moves against imaginary attackers, it can include a series of steps, blocks, punches, strikes, take downs (including throws and sweeps) and kicks. These movements are in different directions that form a pattern. You will find the pattern of first form Taikyoku Jodan Ichi on page 4. All our traditional kata start and end with a block. This tells us the most important meaning of karate is that it is designed only for self preservation. It is brilliantly designed by masters of the art. With correct practice, we achieve focus, speed, power, balance, technique and timing. It also helps us to develop awareness within ourselves and also in the environment around us. Kata is graceful and fluid yet has the effect of helping you become skilled in the art of self defence. In the right training of kata students can develop great confidence. It is the correct training of basics such as stances, blocks, punches etc. that will be instrumental in assisting students to perform kata properly and becoming proficient in the art of karate. Every kata tells a story called Bunkai in its pattern of movements. We must learn what the movements mean and practice kata with intensity and focus as if we are really defending ourselves. By regularly practicing our kata, the subconscious mind is trained to automatically respond in defence to an attack. Kata practice requires single-mindedness to become part of oneself. To gain this kind of focus, the five essential parts used are sight, hearing, mind, body and heart. In kata all five of these are used. The intense focus that is needed is the reason why kata is often referred to as moving meditation. When you defend yourself from an attack there is no thought, just reaction. There is no time to think when one is attacked, all we can really depend on is our training. So if our training has been intense, then our reflexes will be sharp. The saying, the harder you work in practice the less you have to in defence, holds true. The entire range of Goshin Kan kata is traditional and reflects the true meaning of karate-do. No movement is done so that it only looks pretty and is meaningless. The beauty of the kata is found in the inside of oneself when doing the kata. This comes from contentment. It must feel right to the person doing the kata. It demonstrates gracefulness yet is powerful. The focus of the person is seen by the expression of the martial artist, not for show but for the determination of doing the kata that makes a person a good defender against an attack. Our kata is not for sport or competition. Sport Kata - called Shitai kata - is not defence kata. It has some resemblance to traditional kata but much has been changed. It is made to look beautiful like a dance. Our kata is for self-development in terms of body, mind and spirit. Our kata is connected to a lineage and is traditional. Gogen Sensei developed the Taikyoku pattern to form a foundation that can be built on in order to do higher kata that requires greater skill. The word KATA helps us remember how to practice correctly. Keep Attention on Technique Always This means keeping focus on correct form in stances, blocks, punches and everything connected with the kata. Pictures teach, explanations give understanding and doing helps towards excellence in performance All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, facsimile, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Hanshi Deena Naidu. First published in July 2006, updated in July 2019, and distributed by Goshin-Kan Pty Ltd. Not for commercial use. Available through www.goshinkaninternational.com © Goshin-kan Pty Ltd 2006 3 Kata - True means of defence Kata holds the key to real defence. Kata is the bible of defence. Every attack has a counter and this is found in kata. Kata is a combination of blocks and counters. It comprises reactionary methods to defend oneself. Every kata has a distinct pattern. Kata has rhythm to create timing. The timing is there to improve our response to an attack. Our basic kata form is called Taikyoku. Taikyoku Kata Initially created by Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan karate, Gogen Sensei then used the idea and developed his own version for Goju–kai. There are 12 different forms of Taikyoku. The movements follow the capital ‘I’ pattern. Movements are forward, backward and sideways. It has its own rhythm and timing. The Kanji characters of Taikyoku are the same as Tai Chi and the direct translation means ‘Grand Ultimate’. The word grand means brilliant, magnificent and wonderful. And the word ultimate means a final way of gaining calmness of mind. This belongs to this kata because it gives you a sense of peace and connection with life. This kata, like all kata, is a form of moving meditation. The true meaning of Taikyoku is ‘Wide view’ or ‘To see clearly’ or ‘All round observation’. On a deeper level it tells us that we must look at life in a broader sense. This kata has been created so that we improve our understanding of our own life. When we look at life very narrowly we become fearful, we worry unnecessarily and we create limits to what we can do. ‘Taikyoku’ means that we must keep an open mind and away from any form of prejudice about differences in others, and not devalue those who are less fortunate than ourselves. Being negative in our ways limits our own understanding of ourselves. Masters have told us that we must not have a superior complex of ourselves. This kata is a reminder to us that we must remain a beginner. As a beginner we have control of our ego. While we remain a beginner, we will always have an openness to learn. Once we become the expert we shut many doors for learning and developing. Students must never lose sight of who they are and understand that without humility to learn, true understanding will never be achieved. It is said that a beginner’s view opens itself to endless possibilities. This kata is the beginning kata in many major systems and it is important to remember that the Taikyoku kata must never lose importance.