View Single Post
Old 08-16-2004, 10:31 AM   #7
Ron Tisdale
Dojo: Doshinkan dojo in Roxborough, Pa
Location: Phila. Pa
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 4,615
United_States
Offline
Re: Layered training vs Linear training

Depends on the style and on how you define kata. Shodokan and Yoshinkan aikido both have empty hand kata, and in the yoshinkan, the core 150 basic technques were looked upon as kata by Gozo Shioda Sensei (founder of yoshinkan aikido). He speaks about this in some of his books. There is also a kata which incorporates the kihon dosa (basic movements) and certain aikido techniques (sokomen iriminage, hijiate, kokyu nage, kotegaishi, shihonage [ichi/ni -- omote/ura]).

Now some might not like the application of the word 'kata' in aikido. Ueshiba Sensei was known to have not liked classical kata at least, but for us mortals we often find it necessary. There probably should be a distinction made between the classical kata in the japanese arts, kata as is seen and used in aikido, and one man kata that you see in karate and similar arts. Three different things in my opinion. Here is one very experienced person's opinion on kata in aikido...good place to start:

http://www.aikidojournal.com/article...highlight=kata

You can also do searches on aikido journal and e-budo, as well as here to find other perspectives. It's an interesting subject...

Best of Luck,
Ron

Last edited by Ron Tisdale : 08-16-2004 at 10:37 AM.

Ron Tisdale
-----------------------
"The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of his behind."
St. Bonaventure (ca. 1221-1274)
  Reply With Quote