31-count Kata....HELP???

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[Emily Fine]

Hello everyone.
I recently began studying the jo, and have had trouble with the 31-count kata. Do any of you know where I could get a "cheat sheet" as it were of what to do online? My searches have been suprisingly unsuccesful. Also, any tips for learning it?

Thanks.

~Emily :ai: :ki: :do:

[miratim]

Try this (http://www.fudebakudo.com/en/gallery_31count.html).

Sorry, couldn't resist :)

[Emily Fine]

I love that cartoon and site- and I have seen it before. I swear, that is me atempting to complete that kata.

~Emily

[Lyle Laizure]

Maybe ask your sensei if you can bring a cam corder to class to video him/her performing the kata for your reference later.

[Greg Jennings]

Look on http://www.ysaohio.com/ under Test Requirements AVIs and then under 4th Kyu.

I highly recommend Mike Sensei's CD-ROMs.

Best regards,

[frivolouspig]

I think this is what your looking for (http://www.kiaikido.ca/kiaikido/index_html/members/jokata2.htm) I saved the page for myself from a website that doesn't seem to be available anymore.



:D

old page (http://web.archive.org/web/20031209135702/http://www.misogi-aikido.com/jokata.htm)

[John Longford]

Emily,
Saito Sensei produced a really good video on weapons including the 31 count kata.
If you look under "supplies" on this web site I am sure one of the stores listed could help.
Best of luck

[Peter Seth]

Hi
Kata - nice to learn as a training aid, to help with movement, timing, gradings, etc. But try to also to lose the strict systematic approach to weapons work. Flow, imagine attackers in the flow, move without pattern or technique, be unpredictable. Attack their thoughts before they are formed - be where 'they' do not want 'you' to be. Be 'mu'.
pete.

[Nick Simpson]

Isnt it funny that when we do the 31 count kata etc etc we are striking at an imaginary opponent (or a real opponent if done in awase context) but when we do jo waza we do completely different techniques. I know the kata are just to learn movemnt and timing etc but god, How i hate the jo!

[Peter Seth]

The Jo or any weapon is just an 'interface' between two energies - forget it - just love the connection.
Confused? Just getting one in early!
Pete.

[Nick Simpson]

Haha, roll on the end of the month! When I have a jo I just want to 'interface' it with uke's face, the rest of the techniques seem to rely on uke jumping for tori in my limited opinion.

[Amendes]

Wow I was having lots of trouble the first time I seen 31 JO.
Some suggestions that were made to me were to.

1. COUNT out each technique so they have labels by number.

2. MILE STONES: Don't try to do all 31 at once, learn it to a point, and then add on to that point each time.

3. PRACTICE it 1000 times.

4. REVIEW What You did 3 times within 24 Hours!

All these were good suggestions, but what I found worked the best of all was to practice with a partner who knows what he/she is doing. There is always someone who will help after class at my school. Wow, I am so grateful for that!

[akiy]

Don't forget that "kata" training in old school Japanese koryu arts were, for the most part, not a solo exercise but one done with precision in timing, intent, and movements with a partner. The thought that kata practice is done solo came about, I believe, with karate (which also still has paired kata practices, most often in the form of ippon/nihon/sanbon kumite).

-- Jun

[MaryKaye]

Martha Levinson sensei told me that you usually start learning a kata by watching the person next to you, but if you keep doing it that way it will flow from your eyes to your arms without ever sticking to your brain. So as soon as you've been taught a few moves, try to do them on your own. You can then watch the more experienced person to see if you got it right, but don't rely on watching while doing.

I was skeptical of this theory, but I tried it and darn it, she's right. (She was trying to teach me a 75 count kata, so we had lots of opportunities to test this principle)

Mary Kaye

[batemanb]

AIkido Journal has a couple of DVD's available which show Saito Sensei and his various kata. I use his Jo DVD to brush up on the 31 jo kata.

rgds

[Greg Jennings]

Don't forget that "kata" training in old school Japanese koryu arts were, for the most part, not a solo exercise but one done with precision in timing, intent, and movements with a partner.
I view the 31 count form's main value as being an introduction to the 31 partner practice. The 31 partner practice done at speed and with intent can be very interesting. Even more interesting is to slow down some and agree to explore variations.

FWIW,

[gasman]

My sensei keeps this book (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0865680582/qid=1094688222/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-5210660-0387052?v=glance&s=books) lying around. Covers basics, suburi, 22 and 31 kata. Slight variations from our syllabus and no 13 kata.

[Greg Jennings]

Emily,

I just noticed in your profile that you study in a Ki Society dojo. In that case, you should disregard my recommendations and focus on resources with a Ki Society flavor.

Best regards,

[Peter Seth]

Hi nick
Weapons work is just unarmed stuff with the appropriate change in distance and movement etc to allow for the lump of wood/metal at the interface. So done correctly there should be no 'jumping' by anyone. We'll have to explore this further.
Also, if you set a gentle scene the more impact a violent act will have. Like the calm before the storm - the calmer the calm, usually the more violent and destructive the storm. So if you want to batter someone, place the calm before the storm - the shock value alone can be amusing.