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Kata & Kyusho Jutsu
The vital points are comprised partly of a selection of the Tsubo, or pressure points, used in Acupuncture and Shiatsu, but there also many 'non-classical' vital points. Some of these points can be considered as obvious, such as the testicles, eyes and windpipe. Others are much less obvious but can be equally effective when attacked in the correct manner.
The main difficulty in attacking the Tsubo is the fact that they are generally very small and each point must be attacked at a particular angle, often unique to that particular point, for the maximum effect to be achieved. To complicate matters further, some points respond best to either striking, rubbing or grasping. Hence, not only must the angle of attack be considered, but also the method. That said, it is often more useful to think of areas, zones or lines on the human body which may be effectively attacked. A knowledge of human anatomy from a western medical perspective is useful here.
Rather than being seen as simple sequences of blocks and counters (or often just blocks), Kata can be regarded as catalogues of techniques which allow the practitioner to effectively attack the opponent's vital points. In my opinion this is where the real value of Kata lies. If the correct movements are performed in response to an attack, then a number of vital points or areas on the opponent's body will not only be exposed but, more importantly, will be exposed AT THE CORRECT ANGLE to be effectively attacked.
I believe, therefore, that one of the main purposes of Kata (in addition to practising the basic movements of the style) is to enable the practitioner to practice techniques to their conclusion without risk of injuring a training partner, and to do so whilst visualising realistic attacks. In this way, repetitive training of Kata and bunkai (applications) will help prepare the practitioner to respond effectively to sudden violent confrontation without having to pause for thought or decide which techniques to use.
To the uninitiated, Kyusho Jutsu can seem almost magical in its effectiveness. However, a word of caution: whilst there are practitioners who can induce unconsciousness with great ease in a compliant 'attacker', I find it difficult to believe that such pinpoint accuracy can be successsfully achieved in the 'heat of battle'. When it's dark, you're scared, your hands are sweaty and your life depends the success of your actions, it becomes a lot harder to have the presence of mind and perfection of technique to apply such techniques properly. I prefer to modify my training as follows, to account for this (in accordance with my motto - 'If it doesn't work down a dark alley on a Saturday night, I'm not interested'):
It may often be that the most effective techniques to use are the simplest and most direct - a flick to the eyes, a slap to the ear, a pinch here or a nip there - these are all excellent ways of 'softening up' an attacker so that a decisive counter can be made.
By understanding the techniques of Kyusho Jutsu & Tuite and their use in Kata bunkai, it should not be necessary to know a great many Kata, merely to know and understand very well those you do practice. However, I am loathe to let go of Kata once I have learned to perform them, and so I practice the following (more than one version for some of them):
(NOTE: I have included with each Kata the addresses of websites which give descriptions, pictorial instructions, video clips and background information on the Kata. These do not reflect the precise way in which I practise the Kata myself, but are close enough to give an idea of the formats I practise)
Other Kata