17
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Why is more time dedicated to exercises and very less for sparring? Is it for the fee?
This is a good question. And to answer it, you have to understand why karate kata (forms) exist, what their original purpose was, and how kata practice differs from sparring.
The original purpose of ...
- 18k
14
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Name and meaning of stance where you stand with fists on hips?
Your intuition is correct. It is a very vulnerable position. That should give you a clue about its bunkai.
For those that don't know, Bunkai is the Okinawan karate term used to refer to the practice ...
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11
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Why do we teach unrealistic bunkai?
The answer is simple: Because the vast majority of karate is taught by instructors who don't know what realistic bunkai is. And that's because their instructors were never taught it. And their ...
- 18k
10
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Why do the 2020 Summer Olympics have Kata but not Poomsae?
There are several reasons, but in my opinion, they are somewhat of a cop-out - and yet a relief. Keep in mind, getting into the Olympics is a herculean task: there needs to be a federation ...
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9
votes
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How long should the Tai Chi basic 24 form take?
This may be new information to you, or it might be something you already understand. Taiji is done slowly for a very good reason. It's not for meditation, although many Taiji schools teach it that way....
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9
votes
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What is the Apocalypse Now kata?
Martin Sheen was apparently drunk during the scene in question, for real. It was all improvised, and the bloody fist scene after he punches the mirror was not planned, but the director let the filming ...
- 18k
8
votes
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What is the name of this Taekwondo black belt bo form?
I don't believe there is a "traditional taekwondo black belt bo form".
The Kukkiwon (at the Foreign Taekwondo Master Training Course in 2013) says there are no weapons in Taekwondo, but some ...
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8
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Practicing a form with closed eyes
Are you doing Taiji entirely for meditation, relaxation, and chi-kung? If so, go ahead and do it with your eyes closed. Or better yet, do it sitting down on the floor while just "thinking" of how the ...
- 18k
7
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What is the purpose of slow movements in poomsae / kata / taolu for?
The answer to this question entirely depends on the form and the history behind it.
Most forms have changed in small and often big ways since they were first created. Sometimes movements are repeated ...
- 18k
7
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Are there "right" and "wrong" kata bunkais?
This is a good question. To paraphrase, are there official / definitive kata bunkai, or are people free to interpret their kata however they like?
The answer is: The latter, mostly.
First, Okinawan ...
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6
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Why is more time dedicated to exercises and very less for sparring? Is it for the fee?
mattm and Steve have adequately covered the angles of injury and the basis of kata. I would also add two more factors, efficiency and the need to set a physical foundation.
Efficiency
It's not easy ...
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6
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Why is more time dedicated to exercises and very less for sparring? Is it for the fee?
People get hurt sparring, and they get hurt worse fighting. This is a fact of life. It's why professional fighters may only fight a few times a year, and why you can't just pound each other in martial ...
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6
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Taekwondo technique similar to "Kamehameha"?
I did some research and found the technique in the Kukkiwon website. The Information section on Techniques describes the taesan milgi:
Taesan-milgi (태산밀기) Steep Mountain Pushing
A motion of ...
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6
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Is there an actual standards document for poomsae?
These are official videos. There are also coach's documents available you can get from TeamUSA, or from your country's Olympic site. The coach's document specifies competition-specific details, such ...
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5
votes
How to avoid being encircled by a body triangle?
Step one of defending the body triangle is rolling to the side so that your opponent's feet are on the ground, rather than their knee.
Step two is turning into the body triangle. You need to turn ...
- 1,791
5
votes
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Explanation of the goshin-ho kata…
⚠ Disclaimer: I am still learning about the goshin-ho and thus the below is best seen as a work in progress… Anyone with a more complete answer is welcome to post it. Any errors, confusion, and ...
5
votes
Why kata competitors wear red and blue belts?
It is as Meer states, that they distinguish between opponents. However, not all styles use red and blue. In Taekwondo, it is required to wear the color of your belt (for poomsae competition), while ...
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5
votes
Why do we teach unrealistic bunkai?
This is a complex question deserving a complex answer. In your question, you explicitly refer to gedan barai as an example of a generally "bad" bunkai. In this answer, I will start from there to ...
- 2,205
5
votes
Reasons for a Karate Kata disqualification?
In the WKF 2018 competition rules document, the following are considered valid reasons for disqualification during a kata competition :
Not presenting yourself when called
Performing the wrong kata ...
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5
votes
Japanese Short Sword Kata
First, don't drill anything you haven't been taught in person by a good teacher. You can learn a lot watching videos, but videos don't give you feedback and correction. I'm worried that you'll be ...
- 18k
5
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Why is judo's Katame-no-Kata so free-form relative to Nage-no-Kata?
Throwing someone is difficult and depends on particular openings, balance, and grips; staying standing is the easier "default". In contrast, pins are the opposite: the escape is difficult ...
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5
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Is Karate artistic on purpose or is it unintentional?
As ever so often, this is a result of the ways of training prevalent in the respective arts. Even if not intentional as such, it is a logical outcome of the history of (Shotokan) Karate:
Originally, (...
- 6,998
5
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Are there "right" and "wrong" kata bunkais?
Yes and no. Yes, there are right and wrong bunkai if you take a historical perspective. No, there aren't as long as they make sense as a self-defense application or are well-choreographed (in an ...
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4
votes
Need help with sanchin kata
In Isshin-ryu's Sanchin, the right foot is first to step out, but my understanding is that this kata varies from style to style.
Obviously the best way to learn the technicalities of Sanchin(or any ...
- 353
4
votes
Why is more time dedicated to exercises and very less for sparring? Is it for the fee?
Many good answers here - I would add that for many, like myself, martial arts practice is a way of life - a 'practice'. It's practical and exhilarating to learn actual fighting techniques and to ...
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4
votes
Problem holding Taekwondo front kick
Front kicks (and similar teep kicks for those in Muay Thai, Dutch Kickboxing or general MMA striking) take an incredible amount of technique, flexibility, balance, and coordination.
It sounds like ...
- 1,791
4
votes
Taekwondo technique similar to "Kamehameha"?
This is actually a technique found in literally hundreds of martial arts, and it's typically one of the first things taught in those arts.
In Okinawan karate, specifically Uechi Ryu or Goju Ryu, you'...
- 18k
4
votes
Taekwondo technique similar to "Kamehameha"?
Yes, this is in Chongkwon, I compete with it all the time. There are a lot of nuances about this technique, as any Karate-ka can tell you. But like many Taekwondo forms, their presentation seems ...
- 3,933
4
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Taegeuk Il Jang does not naturally end on the place you started
There are several poomsae with exception to the start and stop on the same spot: Keumgang and Jitae are also exceptions as defined here, in WT(f) Poomsae competition rules:
Poomsae Competition Rules ...
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4
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Karate Tonfa Kata
I strongly recommend learning weapons in person. It's hard to learn anything over video alone.
If your karate instructor doesn't teach weapons, then find someone in your area who does. And you might ...
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