Kawawada Kata: Sochin

Sochin performed by JKA Instructor M. Kawawada in the finals of the 1st Shoto Cup (Tokyo, 1985).
Commentary by M. Nakayama.

[@ninjastorm]

Well I think that this is the way kata should be done. No disrespect to the way kata are done now but I just like the way kata are done with application so to say, I think kata is one of the most important aspects of karate, but thats my opinion.

[@ImperialPimp]

Some do talk like that. Especially on TV and Radio. In general , many Japanese girls go out of their way to talk "cute" - even if its not the way the ACTUALLY talk!

[@ptboyindenver]

If you are talking about the Luca Valdesi style of doing kata, I feel sorry for you. That way has gone completely off the deep end into stylized competition, away from any vision of kata as self-defense curriculum. The shortcuts they take to produce their falsely-fast technique are just maddening. The Sochins by Tsuchiya, Kawawada and Kagawa are useful tools of learning powerful, effective karate. The modern competitive kata can teach nothing but winning medals.

[@karatefella]

I agree 100% I REALLY hate Valdesi and his like. The way they do Kata is just appalling. Purely cosmetic and nothing else. If Valdesi etc went to a traditional dojo, they would be laughed out of the place. Andy 4th Dan

[@Goldenwrath]

K how about this. Do a kata. Record it. Put it on youtube. Who are you to say that kata sucks today? You probably wouldn't know a kata if it bit you in the ass. Back up what you say or gtfo.

[@BunbuDojo]

k. How about this Who are you to criticise on one of the senior figures of karate as though you know what you are talking about. So I will post a video the same week you post yours young man

[@TaurusBaileyAttorney]

Frankly I didn't think this looked very good. It didn't look like he put much into it and it was too rushed. NOt very dynamic either.

[@geoffbenoy2052]

He took my 5th dan examination in Belgium in 1990 together with Miyazaki Sensei. I performed kata Sōchin as shitei kata. Sōchin used to be Miyazaki Sensei's tokyu kata

[@BunbuDojo]

I miss the time when katas were real not like the awful excuses for kata today.

[@karatefella]

Brilliant. There is another Karateka named "Tsuchiya". Have a look at his Sochin Kata. Also superb

[@Goldenwrath]

Nice for back then, but wouldnt make it for today's standard.

[@DrSilverwolf]

焦ってるじゃないですか

[@Bassai]

@Goldenwrath Today's standard in competition is just a trend. Trends always change. The heart and soul of a kata should always be personal to its practitioner. As I said, trends change and maybe today's standard would not win in tournaments back then. Also, as long as the techniques and sequences of them are done correctly, would the trend matter?

[@hafka77]

I really like this continuous and natural movements. Not like katas on championchips today, they look like actors and not karatekas. This is real karate.

[@sligo405]

the difference between these guys and the WKF fairies is that these guys could fight. Kawawada. Osaka. Yahara. They give these katas meaning without shrieking at the beginning like lunatics, or pausing for extra show, or doing all those little annoying things those other guys do.

[@TaurusBaileyAttorney]

I have always like Kawawada as a man of budo and incredible capability, but this wasn't one of his best kata expressions.

[@hisaefuriya]

I got teaching by oosaka sensei and with kawawada sensei in japan ibaraki .

[@YouCallThataKnife253]

man that's awesome..he actually performs this very similarly to kanazawa..beautiful

[@Bassai]

@Goldenwrath Keep in mind, kata was not created for competition.

[@christianbrecht]

I trained with him too :-))

[@cumanagoto]

@IEKUKATAKA Well said!

[@TaurusBaileyAttorney]

I simply think that there could have been more kime, zanshin and dynamic movement. The closest I have ever been to sport karate was my participation in one USAKNF tournament (and that was to show support for the host that has supported my TRADITIONAL karate activities in the past). Other than that I have always been AAKF / ITKF. FAR from sport karate. and I have 26 years in, so FAR from beginner! =)