Karate helping to deal with a heart condition:
Karate fighting, Cardiovascular workout, confidence, rebuilding stamina, fun, self defence, over 50s but not only, over 50, is it too late, exercise, nerd, okinawa karate, shorin ryu, full contact karate, heart, aging
During the long period of training at home due Covid, karate has been one of my few positive outlets, and kata one of my first go-tos in times of stress, for exercise, relaxation and as mental stimulation. Now things are looking to settle down, I thought it worthwhile to reflect on how far I have come in my use of kata as a part of my life.
Shorin Ryu kata
In March 2020, I knew one kata fully of my Shorin Ryu style, and had started to learn another. Naihanchi Shodan was the main kata and was allowed to practice Naihanchi Nidan. As a result of working online with Robey Jenkins, I had learned to use kata for cardio, and as a result of working online with Noah Legel, I had learned to use kata for breathing exercise. All the Kata shown here are done in the manner associated of my working with these two excelent teachers.
As a result of having the opportunity to work with PJ Broomy online, I was introduced to the Bu Kai style. After the formal lessons originally arranged for my dojo, I have had the pleasure of working with PJ one to one on many occasions. He kindly demonstated a number of kata to me, including the opening kata of his style, along with a number of others.
Bu Kai kata
I've always had an enquiring mind, so I think it was natural for me to look at other kata to learn as a form of mental stimulation during these Covid-ridden times. A documentary of Jesse Enkamp's, the "Karate Nerd in China" inspired me to want to learn the form of Seisan, which PJ kindly showed me, plus another Sanchin based kata, Sanseru.
Goju Kai/Ryu kata
Few of the kata here will ever be perfected for fighting purposes, but for the purposes I am using them for as denonstrated, they work perfectly well. They are:
Naihanchi Shodan (core Shorin Ryu, graded since Covid)* Naihanchi Nidan (core Shorin Ryu, formally learning)* Naihanchi Sandan (core Shorin Ryu, allowed to practice) Pinan Shodan (allowed to follow in lessons)
Thank you to Alison and Ben Slack, Robey Jenkins, Noah Legel and Paul Broomhall for all their help and inspiration, also Les Bubka who showed me how to use slow kata for relaxaion. Plus any of you who are kind enough to read.
