Welcome to AikiWeb Aikido Information
AikiWeb: The Source for Aikido Information
AikiWeb's principal purpose is to serve the Internet community as a repository and dissemination point for aikido information.

Sections
home
aikido articles
columns

Discussions
forums
aikiblogs

Databases
dojo search
seminars
image gallery
supplies
links directory

Reviews
book reviews
video reviews
dvd reviews
equip. reviews

News
submit
archive

Miscellaneous
newsletter
rss feeds
polls
about

Follow us on



Home > AikiWeb Aikido Forums
Go Back   AikiWeb Aikido Forums > Weapons

Hello and thank you for visiting AikiWeb, the world's most active online Aikido community! This site is home to over 22,000 aikido practitioners from around the world and covers a wide range of aikido topics including techniques, philosophy, history, humor, beginner issues, the marketplace, and more.

If you wish to join in the discussions or use the other advanced features available, you will need to register first. Registration is absolutely free and takes only a few minutes to complete so sign up today!

Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 10-10-2006, 11:41 AM   #1
Joyce Lunas
Dojo: Kobukan Dojo
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 26
Offline
Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Hello friends. I was told by my Sensei i am about to give examinations for my 7th kyu and i am scared shitless in the event i happen to forget any kata moves! Is there any easy way of memorizing aaaaaall these moves (I've been introduced so far to Kata-13, Kata-22, Kata-31) or it's all down to... endless practice? Thanks again.
C u around,
Joyce
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2006, 11:45 AM   #2
CitoMaramba
 
CitoMaramba's Avatar
Dojo: Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui Group Philippines
Location: Plymouth, UK
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 492
Philippines
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Quote:
Joyce Lunas wrote:
...it's all down to... endless practice? Thanks again.
C u around,
Joyce
Bingo! you got it kiddo!
Gambatte kudasai!
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2006, 12:51 PM   #3
CitoMaramba
 
CitoMaramba's Avatar
Dojo: Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui Group Philippines
Location: Plymouth, UK
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 492
Philippines
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

... or to put it another way.. kata are not memorised with the brain.. they are memorised with the muscles..
so keiko, keiko, keiko (practice, practice)
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2006, 02:52 PM   #4
dps
 
dps's Avatar
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,415
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

I spend alot of time on the computer. On my computer screen as my desktop I have an animated GIF of a technique that I am trying to learn. It helps me to associate the name with the technique. Other then that it is practice, practice, practice ad infinitum.

Go ahead, tread on me.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2006, 04:49 PM   #5
Al Williams
Location: Hobart Tasmania
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 31
Australia
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Take every moment to practise. Kitchen utensils are great for going over kata when you are cooking. Use your pen while in front of the computer to run throught the kata. ('',)

TRAIN HARD AND OFTEN
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-2006, 08:05 PM   #6
statisticool
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 534
United_States
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Own the kata... make it part of you... make it you.

A secret of internal strength?:
"Let your weight from the crotch area BE in his hands."
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2006, 05:13 AM   #7
SeiserL
 
SeiserL's Avatar
Location: Florida Gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,902
United_States
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Relax and trust your training.
Know the sequence.
Practice physically and mentally.
Start in motion.
Get out of the way.
Relax, breath, and have a good time.

Lynn Seiser PhD
Yondan Aikido & FMA/JKD
We do not rise to the level of our expectations, but fall to the level of our training. Train well. KWATZ!
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2006, 05:48 AM   #8
Jill N
Dojo: K-W Ki Aikido (Kitchener, Ont)
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 119
Canada
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Hi

"Chunking" can be helpful too. Think of an often repeated sequence as one piece, then the whole kata is less overwhelming. Relax and have fun. If you forget, just do whatever comes naturally and hope that your sensei has the same trouble you do memorizing ;^)

e ya later
Jill.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2006, 07:18 AM   #9
DonMagee
Location: Indiana
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 1,311
United_States
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

I learned my jo kata by making it into a game in my head. I would say to my self "One and a twwwwooo and da three, and a fouuuuur, five!" Basically I just had a lot of fun with it and didn't take it seriously until I had the movements memorized. Even now though that sillyness is still inside my head when I do that kata.

- Don
"If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough" - Albert Einstein
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-2006, 09:39 AM   #10
Eric Webber
Dojo: Aikido West Reading
Location: Reading, Pa
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 261
United_States
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Learn what the kata means on a deeper level; e.g. why are some movements in a particular sequence, what's the reason behind the movements in this sequence? Understanding why I am moving to a particular space helps me remember to move to that space. Visualization of opponents/partners/bad guys/whatevers also may help remind you of movement sequence.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2006, 07:57 AM   #11
Steve Mullen
Dojo: White Rose (Sunderland)
Location: Washington
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 270
England
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

19 and 20 of the 20 jo saburi always fried my noodle a bit (i.e what side to turn and such) my sensei told me to take all the movements at a slow steady pace, that way i could think about the ones i didnt have memorized while i was doing the ones that i did.

"No matter your pretence, you are what you are and nothing more." - Kenshiro Abbe Shihan
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2006, 11:35 AM   #12
CitoMaramba
 
CitoMaramba's Avatar
Dojo: Dangayan Singkaw Aikido Shinzui Group Philippines
Location: Plymouth, UK
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 492
Philippines
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

Here's a tip for understanding the kata (not memorising it, that still takes keiko, keiko, keiko). Visualize an imaginary opponent wielding a bokken or jo attacking you or parrying your strikes/thrusts. The movements will then become more meaningful.
As to what attacks / parries your imaginary opponent is doing, ask your Sensei.
  Reply With Quote
Old 10-12-2006, 05:05 PM   #13
Carol Shifflett
Location: PA
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 53
United_States
Offline
Re: Easy way to memorize katas? ;)

All of the above! And one thing more with the "chunking" . . .

Consider starting at the END and adding moves until you get to the BEGINNING.
No one ever does it that way of course, consequently as you go on, the exercise gets harder.

Reverse the order and you'll find that as you add new phrases to the beginning, as you go on, the exercise gets EASIER.

This has the side benefit of improving practice with someone who has learned it the usual way. Ordinarily, about half way through NEITHER of you can remember the next move.
This way, he has the beginning, you have the end . . . What a team!

Plus all of the above, especially the "endless practice" part.

Cheers!
Carol Shifflett
  Reply With Quote

Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Wepaon Katas dunk Weapons 6 09-10-2006 06:52 AM
DVD: "Aikido in Three Easy Lessons" DVD AikiWeb System AikiWeb System 49 07-27-2003 07:30 PM
Simple, but not Easy akiy General 14 12-16-2002 09:48 PM
Jo/Bokken Katas - I don't get it... Stone Weapons 8 08-24-2002 12:46 AM
5th Kyu test: Too easy? DaveO Training 28 07-16-2002 07:40 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:16 PM.



vBulletin Copyright © 2000-2024 Jelsoft Enterprises Limited
----------
Copyright 1997-2024 AikiWeb and its Authors, All Rights Reserved.
----------
For questions and comments about this website:
Send E-mail
plainlaid-picaresque outchasing-protistan explicantia-altarage seaford-stellionate