October 26th , 2015

From Sensei Jim Davis, San-Dan

Ueshiro Northern Virginia Karate

Naihanchi Kata-Water and Ice

Naihanchi kata is a study in extremes. On one hand you want to be strong and immovable while in the stance, but you also need to be able to be strong and fluid during the transitions. When describing this to students who are new to the kata, we can have them imagine water and ice. When in the naihanchi-dachi, you become a block of ice: strong, immovable, just like an iceberg. When moving, however, you are like water: strong, fluid, and adaptable.

When we are in naihanchi-dachi, and become solid as a block of ice, we want to maintain that strength the entire time and not "let the ice melt"; then, when we are ready to move, we immediately become water and flow to the next move until the next iceberg forms. Both parts of the naihanchi kata are powerful in its own way, and if we can strive to emulate water and ice, perhaps we can bring that power to our Karate training through the naihanchi Kata.

Domo Arigato,
Sensei Jim Davis
San-Dan
Ueshiro Northern Virginia Karate