The Katas: The Meaning behind the MovementsSimon and Schuster, 03/09/2010 - 192 páginas The embodiment of the ancient knowledge that underlies the dedication-to-perfection philosophy of Japan • How mastering these specific movement sequences known as katas provides a way to deepen one’s martial arts practice spiritually • Explores the psychological and social importance of the katas in martial arts and Japanese society, including their role in seppuku (ritual suicide) • Includes many examples from the lives of famous masters, from the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi to 20th-century poet Yukio Mishima An essential part of the martial arts of Japan, such as sumo and karate, the katas are specific sequences of movement that originated during Sakoku, Japan’s period of closure to the outside world from 1633 until 1853. The dedication-to-perfection philosophy of the katas, ubiquitous in Japanese society, is vital to understanding the spiritual aspects of their martial arts as well as other traditional Japanese arts, such as flower arranging, chadō (tea ceremonies), and kabuki theater. With examples from the lives of famous masters, from legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi to 20th-century poet Yukio Mishima, this book explores the psychological and social importance of the katas, including their role in seppuku (ritual suicide), the student-master relationship, and gyo (the point at which the practitioner breaks the mold of the kata and begins to embody it). Looking at their origins in the warrior class and how this pursuit of perfection is ultimately a way to accept the power of death, the author explains how performing the katas transmits ancient knowledge much deeper than just technical movements, providing a way to deepen one’s martial arts practice spiritually. |
Índice
Chapter 1Tesshu or a Model Life | |
Chapter 3Closing Japan and Coming Back to Oneself | |
Chapter 4Kami and Japanese Polytheism | |
Chapter 5The Katas of the Social Orders in the | |
Chapter 7The Gyō and SelfInvestment | |
Chapter 8Death and Time | |
Chapter 9The Psychological Aspect of Kata | |
PART FOUR | |
Chapter 11The Warriors Kata in Contemporary Society | |
Chapter 12Effectiveness and Weight of the Katas | |
Chapter 13Katas Today | |
Conclusion | |
About the Author | |
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Palavras e frases frequentes
adept adversary allows Asari attitude awareness became become began beginning body Buddhist bushidō century combat concept connected consciousness death disciples dōjō dominant double Edo period emperor example existence experience fact feudal lord force gyō Hagakure hierarchical Ibid ideal image identification imperial important individual individual’s intensity Japan Japanese culture Japanese society Jocho kami karate kata Kuki limited living logical martial arts master means meditation Meiji Meiji era military Minami Minami Hiroshi mind Mishima Miyamoto Musashi monk Mori Ogai Mount Hiei movement moves non-said one’s perception perfection person practice psychological relation relationship role Sakoku seppuku Shinto shogun Shunsho situation social models soldiers structure student suicide sword swordsmanship takes teaching technical technique temporality Tesshu Tetsutaro thought Tokyo took traditional arts traditional Japanese arts warrior class Watsuji Tetsuro Western word Yagyū Munenori Yamamoto Yamaoka Yukio Mishima