Today in Jerusalem dojo, controlling distance in traditional kata - 4.3.2012

Over the last year I have been dismantling the

from the

katas in order to teach it more clearly. This process went hand in hand with training with the other elements of the kata. Now, when some ideas are not only clearer but were integrated into our randori, it's time to rework the kata and reap the benefits of better technique and timing. We are starting with Koto ryu because it is a linear and, at the lower levels, easier to learn. Two kata from last week:

and

are going to be the focus of today's session.

Video of a basic backward tai sabaki using a cross step

- AKBAN