How Did We Get Kata - Stage 3: Condensed Kata
Channel: Goju Ryu Philosopher
Date: 15/07/2021

Last time we talked about solo kata, which came into existence when martial artists needed to practice their two-man drills without the benefit of having an actual partner to practice with. This stage of kata took those forms and condensed them down into something that could reasonably be practiced in a small space, and a small amount of time, and also hid them from the watchful eyes of Qing Dynasty spies... maybe. This stage also is the whole reason that the Kaisai no Genri, Toguchi Seikichi Sensei's theory of kata interpretation, came into existence in the first place.


Sources:
「沖縄空手剛柔流」玉野十四雄著
(Okinawa Karate Goju-Ryu by Tamano Toshio)

「今、使える！術技修得システム宮城長順の沖縄空手に空手を学ぶ」玉野十四雄書
(Ima Tsukaeru! Jutsugi Shutoku SYSTEM Miyagi Chojun no Okinawa Karate ni Karate wo Manabu by Toshio Tamano)