I recently had a session working with my friend PJ Broomy in Australia, that convinced me it could be worthwhile to document how I worked out the practice kata that I use. I based them on one I was shown for Sai, from a person on Facebook who cared to share.
From my practice with PJ Broomy
The Starting point
There are six Kihon that I can remember, I did start to learn more but these are what stuck. I also started to learn the opening of Shushi no kon, bur since I haven't been back in the dojo since 2020, it seemed like a good idea to link together what I do know in a more dynamic form of practice. These are the six Kihon Gata I can remember (sorry Ben if they are not in the right order).
Bo Kihon 1 and 2
1. Left foot forward, guard. Back foot up, front foot to Cat stance strike up. Back foot back, strike down.
2. Right foot forward, guard. Back foot up, front foot to Cat stance strike up. Back foot back, strike down.
Bo Kihon 3 and 4
3. Left foot forward, guard. Front foot back into to Cat stance strike up. Back foot back, strike down.
4. Right foot forward, guard. Front foot back into to Cat stance strike up. Back foot back, strike down.
Bo Kihon 5 and 6
5. Step out into Shiko dachi, look right, rotate bo left and follow tip with eyes. Look left, rotate bo right, follow tip with eyes.
6. Step out into Shiko dachi, look right, rotate bo left and follow tip with eyes. Step left into Zenkutsu dachi, strike. Back to Shiko dachi. Look left, rotate bo right, follow tip with eyes. Step right into Zenkutsu dachi, strike. Back to Shiko dachi.
The Practice kata.
This was my objective (with a little addition of a vertical block after each strike in Kihon 6). I also deemed Kihon 5 to be a subset of Kihon 6.
Kihon 6 with vertical block after strikes.
Kihon 1, Kihon 2, Kihon 1, Kihon 2
Back foot moves round into Shiko dachi
Kihon 6 with vertical block after strikes.
Kihon 3, Kihon 4, Kihon 3, Kihon 4
Back foot moves round into Shiko dachi
Kihon 6 with vertical block after strikes
I started out working on the basic steps and transitions as per the below video and description:
Bo Practice kata - Stage 1
Hand and stance transitions. Step out into Shiko dachi. Left foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi, strike, back to Shiko dachi. Right foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi strike, back to Shiko dachi.
Left foot foward, guard, Right foot forward guard.
Left foot foward, guard, Right foot forward guard.
Front foot as pivot, back foot moves round into Shiko dachi. Left foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi, strike, back to Shiko dachi. Right foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi strike, back to Shiko dachi.
Left foot foward, guard, Right foot forward guard.
Left foot foward, guard, Right foot forward guard.
Front foot as pivot, back foot moves round into Shiko dachi. Left foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi, strike, back to Shiko dachi. Right foot forward into Zenkutsu dachi strike, back to Shiko dachi.
Then I added in the Cat stance elements as per the below:
Bo Practice kata - Stage 2
Then finally I added in the strikes and recieves as per the below:
Bo Practice kata
Bo practice kata in full
Shiko dachi with bo level, look to right then rotate 180 degrees left. Step left into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. RH drops into vertical parry.
Back to Shiko dachi, turn bo through 180 degrees whilst watching the striking tip.
Step right into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. LH drops into vertical parry.
Back to Shiko dachi, then Left foot forward, LH forward. Back leg up, go into Cat stance, RH upward strike under chin. RL back, strike down.
RF forward, transfer bo so RH forward. Back leg up, go into Cat stance, LH upward strike under chin. LL back, strike down.
LF forward, transfer bo so LH forward. Back leg up, go into Cat stance, RH upward strike under chin. RL back, strike down.
RF forward, transfer bo so RH forward. Back leg up, go into Cat stance, LH upward strike under chin. LL back, strike down.
Turn 270 degrees into Shiko dachi, bo level. Step left into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. RH drops into vertical parry.
Back to Shiko dachi, turn bo through 180 degrees whilst watching the striking tip.
Step right into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. LH drops into vertical parry.
Back to Shiko dachi, then Left foot forward, LH forward. Front leg back, go into Cat stance, RH upward strike under chin. L leg forward, strike down.
RF forward, transfer bo so RH forward. Front leg back, go into Cat stance, LH upward strike under chin. RL forward, strike down.
LF forward, transfer bo so LH forward. Front leg back, go into Cat stance, RH upward strike under chin. LL foward, strike down.
RF forward, transfer bo so RH forward. Front leg back, go into Cat stance, LH upward strike under chin. RL Forward, strike down.
Turn 270 degrees into Shiko dachi, bo level, look to right then rotate 180 degrees left. Step left into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. RH drops into vertical parry.
Back to Shiko dachi, turn bo through 180 degrees whilst watching the striking tip.
Step right into Zenkutsu dachi, Bo and hands stay is same position then thrust. LH drops into vertical parry.
Finish.
It's all still al work in progress as far as I'm concerned, but hope some find it of interest.
REY 20/08/2022
