👊 HAITO Karate & Self-Defence Club Performance
During the lively Bretton Community Festival, Sensei Gabi along with 18 dedicated students from the HAITO Karate & Self-Defence Club executed an impressive performance of Kata – Taikyoku Sono Ichi.
Kata is a formalized sequence of movements that simulates a fight against imaginary opponents 🌪. An essential aspect of karate training, Kata serves as a foundation for more advanced techniques. Taikyoku Sono Ichi Kata is commonly taught in various styles of Karate, including Kyokushin (the style closest to what we teach at HAITO Karate & Self-Defence Club), Shotokan, and Shito-Ryu. It is usually one of the first katas taught to beginners as it focuses on fundamental stances, blocks, punches, and kicks. The main objective of this Kata is to develop proper body alignment, balance, coordination, and basic techniques 🥊.
👥 Advanced Kata Performance: Pinan Sono Ichi
Sensei Gabi, along with two advanced students, Grzegorz Sikorski and Krzysztof Goleczko, performed the Pinan Sono Ichi Kata 🌟. This is the first Kata in the Pinan Sono Katas series and is often taught to beginner and intermediate Karate students. The Kata provides a solid foundation in basic techniques, stances, and movements. Each Kata in the series builds upon the skills developed in the previous one, gradually increasing in complexity. The purpose of Pinan Sono Ichi Kata is to develop proper body mechanics, balance, timing, and coordination. It helps students refine their techniques, stances, and transitions between movements. The Kata also cultivates mental focus, discipline, and the ability to perform under pressure 🎯.
🌊 Solo Performance: Saiha Kata
Sensei Gabi further demonstrated Saiha Kata, a traditional Okinawan martial arts form 🏝. Originating from the Shito-Ryu style of Karate, Saiha Kata is practised in various styles like Kyokushin Karate, Shorin-Ryu and Shotokan, albeit with slight variations. Known for its fluid and dynamic movements, Saiha Kata emphasizes power and precision 🌊. “Saiha” translates to “Sweeping Waves” or “Crushing Waves,” perfectly capturing the essence of the kata. It is considered an advanced form, typically taught to karate practitioners who have attained a higher level of skill and understanding.
💥 Tameshiwari: The Art of Breaking
In the grand finale, a handful of students performed Tameshiwari on wooden boards 🪵. Tameshiwari, a practice in karate that involves breaking various objects using striking techniques, emphasizes the mental and physical focus required for successful breaks. The term “Tameshiwari” translates to “spirit breaking” or “breaking with the soul” 💔. Objects used in Tameshiwari vary in difficulty and thickness, ranging from boards, bricks, and tiles, to ice blocks, wooden dowels, or even concrete blocks for the most advanced practitioners 💪.
All videos from the festival can be found on our social media channels and Youtube 🎥.
Being part of such a wonderful event was indeed a pleasure. We’re already excited and looking forward to the next year’s festival 🎆. Osu!