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| My father (left) during his usual practice |
He tried to teach me and my sisters some basic self-defense but I was too lazy to practice...especially now that he's gone. No one pushing me to practice...and memorized Kata by the heart
I don't even remember the Kata anymore....it was not a thing for me...to hurt other people. But I never totally lost interest in Karate or Kung Fu...
I have collections of Martial Arts films especially Jackie Chan. It's a legacy that my father have left aside from his Photography and Dadaism Arts. He always brought me and my sister Gina to watch Kung Fu movie...perhaps to influence or condition our mind to this principle.
To him, by the way he is Ferminiano Sanchez Ymas, karate is not about punching or kicking...it applies to all aspect of life. You must know where are the vital points...to hit the target or goal as quickly as possible. Guard your self at all times. Never under estimate an opponent or never under estimate LIFE.
And FORM is the most important discipline of Karate to him.
He said, when your posture is correct any opponent will hesitate...with that, now I realized why Chinese Kung Fu spend great deal of time in artistry...I thought those were just being over acting to the point of being ridiculous.
That is why he emphasize the teaching of Kata to me. To be able to make a whizzing sound while punching and kicking. This discipline is also preserve on athletic competition like Wu Shu or gymnastics. My father can blow a lighted candle using his fist inches away...a skill that I have not yet achieved. (But I can light a candle using my brush)
I think he had lived to what he said...I had never hit him even once during our sparring. Oh yes, sometimes but I know those were freebies or consolations when he notice my frustrations, He never lose his guard even if he is unaware...because I would often try to ambush a punch when he is busy with other things but he was able to either block me or side step.
Karate thought me another valuable lesson or a character that my father develop. He never hit us when we had done something wrong. Not even a slight tap or even gestures to spank. (The role of spanking was assign to my mother) Hurting is not the first disciple of Karate...it is the last option. If you can get away with quarrel...better do it. Running away is also an option, he said.
Kata (形, or more traditionally, 型) (literally: "form") is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Karate Kata are executed as a specified series of a variety of moves, with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. The practitioner is counseled to visualize the enemy attacks and their responses. Karateka "read" a kata in order to explain the imagined events. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. (Wikipedia)
