Like any writer, sometimes I get hung up on punctuation. First I write, then I fuss over the details. Did I use a semicolon where a comma was more appropriate? Did I really complete that thought, or should I remove the period and add a few more words? It can be tedious, but in the end, I'm usually happy with what I have written.
It's interesting how something like punctuation can be present in kata. I'd never thought of it that way until the idea was presented to me in class this past Friday night. It's important in kata to pause (comma) in just the right places, know where to insert a Kiai (exclamation point), and certainly to end strong (full stop/period). When I break it down like that, I know there are sections of my kata where punctuation doesn't really exist, simply because I'm busy trying to get through it without making mistakes (reference the many entries I've written about self-confidence). Now that it has been explained to me in a way I can relate, I look forward to seeing my skills improve in that area.
Kata shouldn't be one long run-on sentence; proper punctuation will take it to the next level full stop
Karen,
ReplyDeleteGood article - many students make the mistake of rushing through a kata from start to finish without giving any thought whatsoever to the proper rhythm of each individual kata.
Proper punctuation, where and when it is called for, is indeed one of the keys to understanding the "how" and "why" of each unique kata.
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