Katannabis Meditation: Overview To Designing Your Kata Syllabus
Katannabis ritual meditation is not based upon any specific Kata. Having said that, my experimentation and experience have led me to conclude that there is a specific template for choosing and organizing the Kata that you may wish to incorporate into your own Katannabis ritual. In this way, you do not have to learn any new Kata, rather, you already have the Kata tools, you need only learn the Way of Katannabis (Katannabis-Do).
That being said, I do have two important caveats:
First, not all Karate, or other Kata-based martial arts systems perform Sanchin Kata (or similar Kata). As such, learning Sanchin is highly recommended. I will have video tutorials available in the future. You can; however, immediately start designing your own Katannabis Kata syllabus.
Second, for those readers that do not know a Kata. Don’t worry, you can learn a Kata that I specifically designed for you for FREE. Now, you, too can experience the life enhancing benefits of Katannabis. A link to my FREE online course where you can learn at your own pace in the comfort of your home is contained in Endnote # 1.
Now, for the general attributes of each Level of the Katannabis meditation experience. Again, please keep in mind that each Level will ave a more in-depth discussion. For now, please use this resource to identify Kata within your system that maybe a candidate(s) for each level.
Keep in mind that, generally, each level builds upon the next facilitating the transformation from a physical-based reality to a more spiritual-based experience.
Level I:
Facilitates the physical. Kata are strong, swift and create a need of oxygen intake. One important characteristic is that the kata contain similar sequences and a similar pattern with one building on the other. This level should have two kata.
Level II:
This level builds upon the first in that it facilitates and augments the physical experience. There is a very important aspect to the Kata you place in this level. While it should be a physically challenging Kata, it should be one that contains a very high level of personal significance and attachment for you. There will be more on that in the detailed discussion. For now, consider placing your “favorite” Kata within this level. Perhaps one that you use in tournaments (gasp, not a fan of such triviality!).
Level III:
This level should begin the transition from the mere physical experience to a more non-physical esoteric experience. For this reason I recommended two Kata. One that is purely physical and another that is less so, a prime example are the Kata of the Goju-ryu Karate style that places enhanced emphasis on breathing and muscle control. Note that if your system does not contain such Kata, with a little research you can view my Kata videos of the Kata within the next levels, see the breathing methodology and incorporate not into your own Kata. Again, it is not necessarily a specific Kata, but a specific method.
Level IV:
This level will complete the transition from the physical-based Kata experience to the non-physical experience of Kata.In my research, I find that it is imperative to use Kata that contains the enhanced breathing methodology in one form of another.
Level V:
This level takes you deeper and deeper into the Katannabis non-physical meditative experience. I can’t say that this will be true in all cases, bt I find that the more advanced Kata of a karate syllabus will be needed at this level.
Level VI:
This level hard-wires the spiritual experience into your physical reality. In my experience, the only, repeat, only Kata that foots this bill is the Sanchin Kata. Deceptive in its “simplicity” it is deeply advanced, introspective and esoteric by its very nature. I am unsure, even skeptical is any other Kata modified to the method of Sanchin would be sufficient. Consider well learning, or at least acquainting yourself with Sanchin Kata at this level. It will take you a minute to learn and a lifetime to master.
You conclude this level with Zazen, seated meditation. Thus ending the Katannabis ritual. You will attempt to maintain the meditative state produced by the Katannabis ritual through such esoteric concepts as Zanshin, “the Remaining Mind” and Nenjuushin, “the Everyday Mind” and similar concepts discussed in later chapters.
Closing Comments:
The above seems relatively simple. Trust me, the above summarizes decades of my mental “Kata Laboratory.” For almost fifty years, I lived my motto of “Think * Sweat * Experiment” with Kata. It hasn’t always been easy. In the next few pages, I’ll dissect each kata, and the functionality of each level. For those interested in Kata and Kata Bunkai as you’ve never experienced before (yeah, I know bold statement) please use this convenient link to my online Kata Laboratory.
Cum Superiorum Privilegio Veniaque
Sensei John Szmitkowski
Endnotes:
1. Don’t Know Kata? Please use this link to learn my Kata-Rx For Wellness for FREE in your own home, at your convenience: https://kata-rx.teachable.com/p/core-kata-course
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