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I wrote a bunch of Kata in the last couple of months and came back to Itsutsu no Kata (Forms of Five).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kni91-FC2io&feature=emb_logo
Itsutsu no Kata is a Kata of Principles (Ri no Kata).
What was the intention to write this Kata in the Form and Way it is?
Maybe the author/creator wanted to write about the Principles of his School and represent them by cosmic forces in an *aesthetic way*. Maybe he also wanted to show that his school is well thought and founded, spiritual and universal. Maybe he first had as an idea the Go Dai and worked on how to fit in the specific techniques/principles to the Five Elements.
The "Go Dai" = Earth / Water / Fire / Wind / Void were well known and used by Miamoto Musashi - the famous swordsman - in his book " The Book of Five Rings" to explain fundamental principles in Bu gei (martial arts).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godai_(Japanese_philosophy)
If the Go Dai or Five Elements are given in a Kata of Principles there has to be "Ju no ri" (Principle of the soft and flexible, pliant) - also known as "Yawara" - demonstrated by movement, technique and expression.
My interpretation:
Elements:
First = Earth
Second = Fire
Third = Wind
Fourth = Water
Fifth = Void
Principles and Techniques:
First:
Applying a (small) force continously and increasingly (Earth)
Second:
Using a sharp attack to exaggerate/extend the movement (Fire)
Third:
circling and redirecting (Wind, two birds encircling each other)
Fourth:
using Hando no Kuzushi (surging wave on the shore, Water)
Fifth:
evading (Void)
The Aesthetics and Drama Book are also interesting:
- Slow start (not much happens) - big fall
- Sharp attack - beautiful technique (uki otoshi)
- Rising and circling with spread arms (impressiv), closing the distance, fall and roll
- Running, slowing down, full height, turning point, washing away by returning (has something of Yin/Yang philosophy, Tai-ji)
- The clash = no clash (void, emptiness, yawara, gaining by not fighting, wu-ji )
If Jigoro Kano wanted to expand the Itsutsu no Kata to seven forms (Nanatsu no Kata) to demonstrate all principles of "ju no ri" and "seiryoku zenyo" that would have been possible (and maybe necessary) but would have been limited (made impossible) by the Five Elements (Five phases) representing the Cosmos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kni91-FC2io&feature=emb_logo
Itsutsu no Kata is a Kata of Principles (Ri no Kata).
What was the intention to write this Kata in the Form and Way it is?
Maybe the author/creator wanted to write about the Principles of his School and represent them by cosmic forces in an *aesthetic way*. Maybe he also wanted to show that his school is well thought and founded, spiritual and universal. Maybe he first had as an idea the Go Dai and worked on how to fit in the specific techniques/principles to the Five Elements.
The "Go Dai" = Earth / Water / Fire / Wind / Void were well known and used by Miamoto Musashi - the famous swordsman - in his book " The Book of Five Rings" to explain fundamental principles in Bu gei (martial arts).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godai_(Japanese_philosophy)
If the Go Dai or Five Elements are given in a Kata of Principles there has to be "Ju no ri" (Principle of the soft and flexible, pliant) - also known as "Yawara" - demonstrated by movement, technique and expression.
My interpretation:
Elements:
First = Earth
Second = Fire
Third = Wind
Fourth = Water
Fifth = Void
Principles and Techniques:
First:
Applying a (small) force continously and increasingly (Earth)
Second:
Using a sharp attack to exaggerate/extend the movement (Fire)
Third:
circling and redirecting (Wind, two birds encircling each other)
Fourth:
using Hando no Kuzushi (surging wave on the shore, Water)
Fifth:
evading (Void)
The Aesthetics and Drama Book are also interesting:
- Slow start (not much happens) - big fall
- Sharp attack - beautiful technique (uki otoshi)
- Rising and circling with spread arms (impressiv), closing the distance, fall and roll
- Running, slowing down, full height, turning point, washing away by returning (has something of Yin/Yang philosophy, Tai-ji)
- The clash = no clash (void, emptiness, yawara, gaining by not fighting, wu-ji )
If Jigoro Kano wanted to expand the Itsutsu no Kata to seven forms (Nanatsu no Kata) to demonstrate all principles of "ju no ri" and "seiryoku zenyo" that would have been possible (and maybe necessary) but would have been limited (made impossible) by the Five Elements (Five phases) representing the Cosmos.
