Group Kata In Bed . . . That’s OK

Because of my Shibumi Kata project I am privileged to meet many unique and brave people who fight an ongoing battle against debilitating illness. It is to them that I dedicate this week’s “. . . That’s OK” (Online Kata) session.

These valiant people sometimes find themselves confined to a wheel chair or are bed-ridden. This state is not a prohibition to their practicing the physical movements and psychological concepts of my Shibumi Kata (or Sanchin Kata for that matter).

I would like all of us to join in and experience first hand their valiant kata practice.

To this end we can practice any of the following kata while seated or bed-ridden:

• Sanchin Kata,
• Shibumi Kata,
• or for karate-ka, any kata (the Kata Sommelier, has a challenging kata recommendation).

So, you are confined to a chair or bed-ridden, “. . . That’s OK.” (Online Kata)

Remember, the group dynamic is not fulfilled by all of us being geographically present, rather, it is fulfilled by each of us performing our Kata in the proscribed manner.

Session Parameters:

Date: starting Monday, February 3rd 2014

Time: anytime

Location: a bed or chair

Salient Points:

• Perform your kata using mostly the hand movements of the kata;
• If seated, not withstanding the above, you may shuffle one foot in front of the other to represent the stance called for in the kata;
• Movements should be performed exactly as called for in the kata, using all applicable body tension, breathing, focus, et cetera;

Kata Sommelier: For karate-ka, I would recommend you perform the highest ranked, most difficult kata in your syllabus. In my kata syllabus, this would involve either the Hakutsuru or Suparunpei Kata. You are either in bed or seated anyway, so perform the most difficult kata – if you can. If you can’t then try a basic kata. With a bit of creativity, you can also perform kicks that may be within the kata.

The last requirement of this “. . . That’s OK” online kata session is to remain in a positive physical and mental state by way of the concept of Zanshin (the “remaining mind”). For information on the Zanshin state-of-mind, please use this LINK: https://senseijohn.me/2014/02/23/zanshin-remaining-mind-shibumi-project/

Once again, you may wish to not only perform this “. . . That’s OK” session as scheduled, but may also revisit it as part of your overall practice regime.

To illustrate the concept of seated kata, here is one example of a seated Sanchin Kata performed at the gravesite of my friend and comrade, Shihan Wayne Norlander (R.I.P. 05-18-11).

 Sensei John Szmitkowski

   For information on my “no-risk”, kata seminars, please visit the seminar page using this convenient link https://senseijohn.me/seminar-kata/

 For a refreshing and innovative discourse on kata and bunkai, please feel free to visit Sensei John’s Kata Laboratory and “THINK * SWEAT * EXPERIMENT” using this convenient link: https://senseijohn.me/category/kata-laboratory/

© Copyright 2014 Issho Productions & John Szmitkowski, all rights reserved.

Tags: Bed-ridden Exercise, Bed-ridden Kata, Chemotherapy Exercise, Hatsu Bon Poem, Jiriki Kata-Do, Sanchin Kata. Shibumi Kata, Sanchin Memorial, Sanchin Seiza, Sensei John, Shihan Wayne Norlander, Wheelchair Exercise, Wheelchair Kata