KarateStylist ("KS") on "GSP's kARATE & kNIFE dEFENSE *VID*"
KS notes that a number of the comments critical of GSP's kata rendition 'hold water.'
But, in KS's opinion, that is not the lesson offered by GSP's kata video.
The point is that GSP, as an MMA champion, stood up and harkened back to his Kyokushin karate training & performed a traditional martial art kata. How many MMA fighters, successful MMA fighters at that, are willing or able to attempt such a demonstration?
KS studies a traditional style of karate similar in many respects to Lyoto Machida's Shotokan Karate base. KS can also say that GSP's kata performance is uninspiring.
But what is inspiring is that he can do the kata with some semblence of skill.
The real issue is that kata is the comprehensive traditional karate exercise. Doing kata to a high standard is extremely challenging. While many observers fault GSP's performance from its physical appearance, its physical action; kata is really a mental exercise.
Kata is designed to build a certain type of physique; more importantly, the development of mental discipline that leads to a host of other other mental powers.. The physical form of kata is actually the physical expression of a high level of physical & mental development--integrated together.
To KS, GSP's kata shows he can certainly execute the physical steps--it's the mental discipline & control & precision that need attention. In his defense, most reditions of kata that you see anywhere, from dojos to tournaments to youtube, all suffer from the same problem. That is why (one big reason) kata practitioners fall short in competition & any subsequent real-time application of kata.
KS thinks GSP deserves much credit for his demonstration. GSP correctly demonstrated the kata. Critics should attempt traditional karate training and kata; KS believes most MMA competitors would fall flat on their face. For all his top-notch MMA prep & track record, Jake Shields came away the loser in the recent bout with GSP.
KS says anyone can be a critic. Being a critic takes zero effort, those knowledgable aside. Very few, a small percentage of marital artists can do kata, in all its dimensions, 'perfectly.' You can't fault GSP for standing up and trying. GSP did both traditional martial arts & MMA a favor by bringing this misunderstood & under-utilized training method to the MMA public's attention.
Kudos to GSP.
Right?
