How to Practice a Kata

Most traditional Eastern martial arts have kata, hyeong, or training forms, that are practiced to develop technique, or to simply pass on a tradition. When certain people practice them, they look sharp and have a certain presence; when other people do them, they look like some kind of silly aerobic exercise. This article will help you understand the difference and apply it to your kata practice.

Kata practice is, however, more than simply performing the steps well, though that is important. Another aspect of kata practice is the analysis of the movements in the kata to determine the more advanced techniques which are encoded there.

Steps

1. 
   1
   Get into the mindset. At the opening kamae (combat posture), e.g. uncrossing your arms and putting your feet at shoulder width, imagine you are about to enter a real fight. This involves two things: Projecting confidence and being aware of what’s going on around you in a full, 360 degree circle. This should continue throughout the kata, as visualising every punch striking home will keep your attacks crisp and strong. Regardless of the actual posture (there are a wide variety of opening kamae for empty-handed and weapon arts), the mindset is the same.
   Ad
2. 
   2
   Perform your first step (or group of steps) against an imaginary opponent of exactly your size. Imagine that if you don’t block or strike perfectly, you will be killed. Not hurt, not embarrassed—killed. You must move with this purpose in mind, or you’re just doing some sort of strange aerobics in Japanese underwear.
3. 
   3
   Relax between steps. There should be a natural build up of power in each series of techniques, then a pause in-between. If you are stiff throughout the kata (a) it will look bad, (b) you will be training your body to telegraph your moves. The key point is to relax (lower) your shoulders. It is natural to tense up; this is why kata training helps.
4. 
   4
   Some styles have kamae (combat postures) in the middle of the kata. These are not meaningless breaks in the form; these are moments where you are supposed to project yourself and stare down your imaginary opponent, as if to say with your eyes "You can withdraw and I will show mercy, but if you don’t, I will kill you." Again, not "I will hurt you" or any of that shoulder-flinching stuff; I will *kill* you. This is a completely different mindset. The main point of kata practice is to develop this mindset so that when you’re actually confronted, it automatically turns on, because you've prepared for confrontation this way (as opposed to the natural way, which is to be frightened). If you haven’t imagined real opponents, you are not developing this mental skill in your kata practice.
5. 

   
   5
   Understand that usually the last technique of the kata is the most dangerous or sophisticated. After the last move, pause a moment, and slowly return to the opening kamae (posture). This is done slowly to ensure the final, imaginary opponent is dead. Do not relax your presence or awareness until you bow, or you’ll look like you’re 

Neutron beam aimed at 'un-burning' bone

Researchers from Portugal are using a neutron beam to study the molecular changes that occur when bones burn.

The experiments, under way at the Isis facility in Oxfordshire, are aimed at solving a problem for archaeologists and forensic scientists.

When bones get hot they shrivel, making the age, sex and size of their original owner much more difficult to establish.

By bouncing neutrons off human bone samples, burned and unburned, the team hopes to get a fix on those changes.

The reason neutrons are so helpful is that they allow us to see things that - [lasers and other light beams] do not allow us to

Dr Maria Marques, University of Coimbra, Portugal

"The problem... is that when a skeleton is subjected to high temperatures, like in a plane crash or a bushfire, the bones are altered by the fire. One of those alterations is a change in dimensions," said David Gonçalves, a bone specialist from the University of Coimbra.READ MORE-BBC LINK-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34779136

SHEEP I.D.

THEY SAY FARMERS KNOW THIER SHEEP BUT THIS IS BEYOND.FARMERS RECOGNISED 116 OUT 151 SHEEP ,NO TAGS OR MARKINGS THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN BY A RUSTLING GANG ,THIS WAS BY A ID PARADE.

FOOD -WHAT A WASTE.

HERE IS A SMALL GUIDE TO WHY NOT THROW AWAY FOOD.USE-BY-DATE-IF YOU HAVE FRESH FISH ,READY MADE SALADS,MILK,YOGHURT THIS IS ITEMS THAT GO OFF QUICKLY.BEST -BY -DATE-THIS IS MAINLY FOR TEST AND TEXTURE EATING AFTER EXPIRY DATE IS GENERALLY FINE IF STILL SMELLS AND TASTES OK.SELL -BY-DATE-NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED ,NOT INTENDED FOR CUSTOMERS ,JUST TO HELP STAFF WITH STOCK CONTROL.SO THINK BEFORE YOU EAT.

STAR TREK ON T.V IS BACK.

STAR TREK IS COMING BACK AS A SUBSCRIPTION SHOW.THIS SERIS IS  SEPARATE FROM LATEST FILM-STAR TREK BEYOND -AND WIIL BE PART OF US.A SERVICE C.B.S ALL ACCESS .

MARS NEWS.

A PHENOMENOM  CALLED  VOG  HAS BEEN FOUND ON MARS.THIS IS A VOLCANIC ACID FOG EATING AWAY AT THE ROCKS ON THE PLANET THIS IS ALSO FOUND ON EARTH IN HAWAILI.

OLD TREE CHANGES SEX.

THIS IS A 2,0000 YEAR OLD TREE CALLED THE FORT INGALL  YEW.THIS TREE RESIDES IN PERTHSHIRE AND  WAS CLASSIFIED  MALE  BUT HAS BEGUN TO SPOUT FEMALE BERRIES IT IS ALSO BRITIANS OLDEST TREE.

The Karate Grading System-British Combat Karate Association

The Karate Grading System

The grading system for Karate, like all Japanese, derivative martial arts is very formalised. In 1924 Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate, adopted the Dan system from Judo founder  Jigoro Kano, using a rank system with a limited set of belt colors. Kano himself adopted the Dan ranking system, which was invented by Honinbo Dosaku a professional go player in the Edo period. Dosaku valued the then highest title holder, Meijin at 9 Dan.

In modern Japanese martial arts, holders of dan ranks often wear a black belt. Dan ranks are still given in arts such as the strategy board games  Go and Renju, the art of flower arrangement (ikebana)and tea ceremony. The character of Dan (段 dan) is used in Japanese to mean step or grade, and is commonly equated with degree. However, the origin of the Chinese character, pronounced duán in modern Pinyin, was used to mean “phase”. Dan rank is often used along with the lower rank system, Kyu(級 Kyū) rank. Kyu is a Japanese term used in martial arts, go and ikebana, such as Japanese traditional culture, and academic tests and in other similar activities to designate various grades or levels or class of proficiency or experience.

Other Okinawan teachers also adopted this practice. In the late 1800s, even Kano had no external differentiation between yūdansha (black belt ranks) and mudansha (those who had not yet attained a grade). Kano began the custom of having his yūdansha wear black obi (belts) in 1886. These obi were not the belts karateka and jūdōka wear today—Kano had not invented the  judogi (judo uniform) yet, and his students were still practicing in kimono. They wore the wide obi still worn with formal kimono. In 1907, Kano introduced READ MORE-http://britishcombatkarate.co.uk/karate/gradings/

RESPECT THE 2 MINUTE SILENCE

At 11am on each Remembrance Sunday a two minute silence is observed at war memorials and other public spaces across the UK. The silence is meant as a tribute to those who lost their lives fighting for their country - but what is the significance of that date and time?

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 the guns of Europe fell silent. After four years of bitter fighting, The Great War was finally over. The Armistice was signed at 5am in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, France on November 11, 1918. Six hours later, at 11am, the war ended.

The first Remembrance Day was conducted in 1919 throughout Britain and the Commonwealth. Originally called Armistice Day, it commemorated the end of hostilities the previous year. It came to symbolise the end of the war and provide an opportunity to remember those who had died.

In a letter published in the London Evening News on 8 May 1919, an Australian journalist, Edward George Honey, had proposed a respectful silence to remember those who had given their lives in the First World War. This was brought to the attention of King George V and on 7 November 1919, the King issued a proclamation which called for a two minute silence:

"All locomotion should cease, so that, in perfect stillness, the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated on reverent remembrance of the glorious dead."

After the end of the Second World War in 1945 Armistice Day became Remembrance Day to include all those who had fallen in the two World Wars and other conflicts.

Since 1919, on the second Sunday of November, otherwise known as Remembrance Sunday, a two minute silence has been observed at 11am at war memorials, cenotaphs, religious services and shopping centres throughout the country.

The Royal Family, along with leading politicians and religious leaders gather at The Cenotaph in Whitehall, London for a service and all branches of the civilian and military services are represented in ceremonies throughout Britain and the Commonwealth.

1939 survey September 29

This is a one off  register was a  one off compulsory survey taken on September 29 1939 ,26 days  before the  war declared  on Germany. 41 million people were asked their  age,job,address,name and was updated in 1991.This is  a important  document as the 1939 cenus was destroyed  by fire in world war 2.Y ou can view the digitalised  document  at www.findmypast.co.uk and it was used to help rationing  during the  war i  think,

Pixie,s hallows art...illustrator..photographer

I am inspired by nature and how it moves and changes not only inform but by colour. Natures colour can be so bright and colourful but then change to the darker elements as the nature moves with earth as it revolves around. No image is the same and I like that challenge and try and catcher that moment in time. The weather also apart of natures way set mood to a image and try catch that before it changes is really tricky  to quickly paint and rember the scene as it moves as the earth rotates. I would love to continue to try and catcher nature and earths rotation from sultal to the dramatic setting  as nature revolves to it many spendered forms of colour, drama, setting. Also I hope to expand the studio and open to the public in near future.
My style is unique by mixing the old with the new and by doing this I am able to catcher nature as she moves with earths rotation. To be free to be able to move around the board freely to let the paint creatively move with the ever changing setting of nature is what I love and the many challenges that it comes with.

DEAR DEPARTED

IN INDONESIAN RITUAL CALLED MA,NEH-THE CEREMONY OF CLEANING CORPSES FAMLIES DIG UP  DEAD RELATIVES AND DRESS THEM IN NEW CLOTHES AND PARADE THEM AROUND THIER VILLAGE. THIS IS TO HONOUR ANCESTORS AND HELD EVERY 3 YEARS.THE FAMLIES  WELCOME THE SPIRITS OF DEAD BY REPAIRING THIER BROKEN COFFINS THEN LAY CORPSES INSIDE BACK IN THIER GRAVE.

UNKNOWN IN HOLSWORTHY ,DEVON

HALLOWEEN -LETS GET SCARED&&

THIS IS TO ME WHEN I WAS YOUNGER BEING SCARED WATCHING HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR FILMS LIKE DRACULA-YES DATED NOW THEN ONTO SO CALLED VIDEO NASTIES WHICH NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET  WAS ONE.THE AMERICAN IDEA OF  DRESSING UP YOUR HOUSE AND YOURSELFS IS GROWING STRONGER IN THIS  COUNTRY AND YOU SEE THIS IN THE SHOPS.WHY DO WE LIKE TO BE FRIGHTENED  IT COULD  BE DUE TO TO THE PART OF US THAT IS STILL A TINY BIT PART CAVEMAN AS THIER HAD TO BE ALERT BUT MODERN HUMANS LEAD A MUCH EASIER LIFE.SO BEWARE THE WITCHING HOUR AND SHADOWS THAT MOVE WITH A BUMP IN THE NIGHT.

SUGAR CRAZED WILD PONIES.

THIS IS A HERD OF WILD PONIES ,QUANTOCK HILLS NEAR  BRIDGWATER ,SOMERSET.THESE PONIES HAVE GOT USE TO BIENG HAND FED MINTS AND EATING LEFTOVERS.NOW WE W
ARE BEING WARNED THEY ARE IN DANGER TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO BECOMING SUGAR CRAZED AND THEY HAVE BITTEN AND BUTTED AND EVEN BROKE A LEG.

FGM: Legal duty to inform police comes into force

Doctors, nurses, midwives and teachers are now legally required to report cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) to the police.

Failure to do so will result in disciplinary measures and could ultimately lead to them being barred from working.

The rules apply in England and Wales when girls under 18 say they have been cut or staff recognise the signs.

FGM has been illegal in the UK since 1985.

The practice, also known as female circumcision, refers to any procedure that alters or injures the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

In its most severe form, the genitals are cut and stitched closed until the victim is ready to have a baby and then sewn back up again. Proponents believe this keeps women and girls "hygienic, chaste and faithful".

Studies are under way to work out how many are affected - but the figure is thought to be around 137,000 in England and Wales.

The government is committed to ending the "abusive and illegal practice" within a -READ MORE-BBC LINK-http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34681057

Brian Regal, monster 'historian

The truth is out there, but according to one local expert, it’s just not as crazy as some of the more conspiratorially minded folks may think. Brian Regal is a Ph.D. from Kean University in Union, New Jersey, and the author of “Searching for Sasquatch: Crackpots, Eggheads, and Cryptozoology.” His areas of interest include human evolution, monster studies, pseudoscience, obscuranta and more. In other words, he’s a perfect fit for a Halloween Eve interview. Last year, he spoke to Philadelphia Association for Critical Thinking (PhACT) members about “cryptozoology,” which is the study of animals only rumored to exist. (Said PhACT’s Ray Haupt, “The audience reacted very well, as the discussion was light-hearted, dealing with pure myths that were devised with no factual basis.”) RELATED STORIES Philly artist designs U.S. mythical creature map Has the Jersey Devil been spotted? Haunted Hotels: Eight area hotels with histories of paranormal activity As such, he was a natural fit to lend a critical eye for the History Channel’s new series “True Monsters,” where he weighs in on, among other topics, the Jersey Devil. Regal spoke with PhillyVoice about his areas of interest and just why people-READ MORE-http://www.phillyvoice.com/five-friday-brian-regal-phd/

TENDAGRAVE AN ARTICLE

What is TendaGrave Tendagrave is a free service for people who cannot for whatever reason tend a family or friend's grave. It will put you in touch with other people in a similar situation. You then offer to tend a grave in your local area and, in return, your loved one's grave will also be lovingly looked after. How does it work? It is so simple to use our site. The first step is to register where you will be asked where you are located and how often you are able to help others. You can then tell us about the grave you would like help with. Once you are matched with someone you can arrange for flowers to be delivered to them, or discuss with them the services you need. The idea is that no money changes hands Please click here to view our FAQ Latest News New Partnership with the VC Trust Ooh exciting – this is our first proper blog! Can you believe we have been going just over a year?... We’re a year old! Can you believe we are a year old? A big thank you to our friends and supporters and, of course, our...to help follow links -http://www.tendagrave.org/register-https://www.facebook.com/Tendagrave/

I came up with the idea for Tendagrave shortly after my wonderful grandma died. She's buried with my grandad in Suffolk but I live in Kent and the rest of my family are scattered around the country. I was quite lucky for a while as my best friend lived only a couple of miles from their grave and would pop over for me when I asked and put flowers on and tidy it up. Then she moved to Australia which meant there was no-one to help.

The summer after my friend emigrated, I drove up to the grave with a pot of lovely flowers which I hoped would add some colour for a few months before I could visit again. Knowing the pot would need watering, I put a note up in the church with my number asking if someone could contact me if they could look after the pot. No-one called. It was a very hot summer and within a couple of weeks the flowers had withered and died.

All I wanted was for someone to water the pot for me but it seemed impossible to find someone to do it. This was when I realised that I was probably not the only person in this situation. I could not find any organisation or service out there that could help so decided that maybe I should come up with one myself.

Now, a few years later, Tendagrave is up and running. It's something I feel very passionate about and hope that it brings some comfort to those people who have lost a loved one but aren't close enough to their final resting place to show that they still think about them often and still care. I know that we do think about them often and do care and through this site we can show just how much.

Watershed is it still valid

The watershed is what you can watch after 9.00 pm.In my youth  i would  watch programmes  like these  on my t.v upstairs  as i knew it would  contain  violence, sex or both and in playground  next day you would brag about this.N ow the lastest concern is programme s like soaps are pushing  this boundary but we live in an age that you can watch  anything  on your  computer  as long as you tick the right  box or pin number  you can watch anything. Yes i do think you have to be careful what younger  children  watch but it is hard as they are more technical able than our generation. So whts the answer will i dont know as i think we are to late to stop.

Mision statement

Dear Ghostman Here is a Mission Statement I've (so far) Produced.  It's incomplete in more than one Sense, such as we'll be doing More than Only 'Third Millennium Psychedelic Art':- 'This is 'Third Millennium Psychedelic Art' (Not 60's : as PAC-MAN and NASA are within the Arr, which shows The Evolution of Art). The Revival of Bāzīgara (Bāzīgara is the Name of One of Us Artists, it is Pronounced as 'Barzigar' in the Hindi from where the Name Came). We are NOT Social Outcasts : As Artists. However, we have Entered into a Culture where Consumerism is King and Production is some kind of Hated Chore. We, instead Produce and Love as We Produce. We seek to Produce MORE than we Consume to ELEVATE Our Whole World. <2 WE ARE 'THE GOOD GAME' AND WE WANT TO PLAY : FOR OURSELVES AND FOR ANYONE BELIEVING IN OUR NEW (It's Coming, My Friends) WORLD. From Our Many Forms of Poverty, We Aim To Create ALL KINDS OF WEALTH, and THEN Even SHARE What We Earned That Others Didn't Earn. We Believe In Favouring Our Fellow Humans (Though This Also Means That A Minority Of Humans (Bad Ones) Have a War THEY CANNOT WIN. yours <3 <3 <3 :) ~andrew (जादूगर : Jādūgara : Pronounced 'Jardoogar') of this World We Are Renewing.' Enclosed are Two Art Pieces of The Project.  One is My Work, the other is One of Bāzīgara.  :) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Main Inspiration is that I realised that I'm good at Art, and so are Many People.  We were simply enjoying Creating Art.  Then I realised that Art Sells.  The reason why I'm Heading This Project is because I'm the more Realistically-Minded instead of being that Typical Kind of Artist Idealist. All Art we aim to sell shall be either created by The Mentally Ill or by people (such as Official Carers) who help The Mentally Ill. Some ideas for the Future are already happening.  I applied to the U.K. Government yesterday for Official Incorporation of Astral Colosseum Artistries into Astral Colosseum Artistries, Ltd. Becoming a Company does Involve Shareholders.  However, the kind of person allowed to buy Shares is 1 of 2.  The first is people with Mental Illness.  The second is people who (not as a career) are dedicated to helping The Mentally Ill (whether they are Carers of Relatives of Have Their Own Projects).  So far, 50 Shares at £1 each have been bought by someone of the 2nd kind I mentioned.  He spent 10 years of his life not having much of a life because of his Mentally Ill mother who needed an Official Carer.  Sadly, she passed away.  He is now The Official Carer of his Brother (who suffers with Schizophrenia). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Though we aim to make Profits, we are not gonna be giving ourselves Bonuses without any reason except Greed.  Instead, each worker gets fair payment, and the end Profits will be ALL going to Expansion of the Company and to Charities we Approve of.  We are going to be aiming at Charities that help Children and Animals the most, this is because they are Typically Among the Most Vulnerable of Life on Earth. If someone makes a Large Order (3 Canvases or More), we are also willing to allow them to pick out a Charity of their Choice for a Small Donation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To End.  Though Money is Important, 'The Bottom Line' here is not going to be Money.  'The Bottom Line' is going to be The Wellbeing of Sentient Life on Planet Earth. yours :) ~andrew