Technique of the Week (November 13th 2011)

From Emiliano Mazlen, San-Dan/Shihan

Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club

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Show No Emotion When Performing Kata

When performing kata, we show no emotion. With this, we convey equanimity and train our power of self-control.
While the emotions we are more likely to face on the deck – nervousness on the spot, chagrin at a mistake
or confusion if we momentarily lose the thread of the kata – may be different than those we face in moments of stress off the deck,
including fear, the self-control we develop on the deck will serve us off the deck.

So, train not showing emotion when performing kata – do not let your eyes wander nervously, do not shake your head after a mistake.
Conveying equanimity will discourage attack and inspire calm in others. Developing your self-control could aid you,
if the need arose, in remaining calm even in a burning building (as the quote of Mas Oyama in the Red Book describes).

Domo arigato gozaimasu to all.

Emiliano Mazlen

San-Dan

Shihan, Boston Chinatown Ueshiro Shorin-Ryu Karate Club