I have written serval blogs about differ aspect of hyung. My last one was in September 2019,”Hyung Are Not Just About The Pattern”.
I ended that blog by stating (as pertaining to hyung), “In essence, after learning the techniques, practicing in a pattern/sequence provides all the key ingredients needed to survive a fight in the real world.”
Why am I so sure that hyung are the key ingredients (techniques, motions, etc.) for surviving a fight are similar techniques, motions we should be using in sparring? (Notice I said similar and not exact. I have mentioned in class many times, that for applications the exact move in a hyung would not be precisely the same move. With that said, if you are wondering why we practice hyung as precise moves, please refer to my October 2011 blog “Benefits of Learning Hyung Exactly.”).
The reason I believe this is many masters and founders of various styles of karate have stated so in various ways.
Hironori Otsuka, founder of Wadō-ryū style of karate wrote, “Martial Arts progress from kata, to kumite, to combat.” (Kumite is the Japanese word for sparring)
Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan Karate, wrote in his book Karate-do Kyohan, “Sparring (kumite) is a form used to apply offensive and defensive techniques, practiced in the kata, under more realistic conditions, in which by prearrangement between participants one applies offensive and the other defensive techniques.”
Chojin Miyagi, founder of Goju-Ryu style of karate wrote in his Karate-do Gaisetsu (outline of karate-do), “Through sparring practice the practical meaning of kata becomes apparent.”
Katsuya Miyahira, grand master of the Shorin-ryu Shido-kan style of karate, is quoted as saying, “Sparring is essential to development but only when it comes from the kata…no one spars until they are San Dan rank or above.”
Choki Motobu, founder of Motobu-Ryu style of karate, is quoted as saying, “Kumite is an actual fight using many basic styles of kata to grapple with the opponent.”
I am not saying that by practicing hyung and mastering them you are automatically effective at sparring. Sparing involves an understanding of applications, timing and interactions with others that cannot be replaced with single person hyung. However, what I am saying is the hyung contain those techniques, movements, and principles that when mastered and applied appropriately are those key ingredients for effective sparring.
Regards,
Kelly
“The
techniques should not be practiced simply so they can be performed in the kata.
Since karate is a fighting art each technique and movement has its own meaning.
The karateka must consider their meaning, how and why they are effective, and practice
accordingly” ~ Shigeru Egami (1812-1981), master of Shotokan karate who founded
the Shōtōkai style and a student of Gichin Funakoshi
