Format for the months ahead
The format for this challenge will be as follows. I will perform each kata in the series no fewer than 5 times every day. The goal here is to perform each kata as perfectly as I can with appropriate Maai and intention to the action. The format for the coming months, for the moment looks like this:
December: Taikyoku Katas — 5
January: Heian Katas — 5
February: Naifanchi / Kobudo Katas — 6
March: Bassai Sho / Matsukaze Katas — “only” 3, but all Black Belt katas in our style.
April: SenshiKen Ryu Katas — Our family sword system. 10 Kata in all.
May: Zen Nihon Iaido Renme Toho no Seite Katas — The basic 5 Kata from the All Japan Iaido Federation
June: Toyama Iai Batto-do Katas – 8 Kata; the first 8 forms I ever learned.
July: Nakamura Ryu Katas — 8 Kata
August: Toho Kodachi Iai katas — 10 Kata
September: Long Huo Jann Dou Forms — 2 Gung Fu forms
October: Shaolin White Crane Gungfu Forms — 3 Gung Fu forms
November: Wudang Shan Gungfu Forms — So far 1 form here
A whopping 87 Kata in all. This is the sum total of everything I’ve been required to learn so far, and it will be a fantastic review of everything that I’ve been working on for the past 10 years. Everyone should be required to do something like this one every 10 years: just to make sure they’ve got their head on straight and they know what they’re really doing. I am looking forward to this immensely, and will be a fantastic experience.
