Kata… The Treasure Map

"Kata is self defense at its finest…  Every move in Kata has multiple applications of which the simplest is block, kick and punch.  Kata is the treasure map from which the masters pass on the art.  A Kata is a whole lifetime of work hidden in the moves.  It takes a whole lifetime to learn to decipher the art.

Willie shared with us ideas on how to look at Kata, besides the traditional block, kick, and strikes it has throws, joint locks and Tuite or nerve strikes which require little strength.

Karate is not empty hand fighting but rather open hand fighting as its basis is from Fukien White crane, my lineage permeates every Karate system Xi Xiong Xie is Kushanku in Japanese.

The constant on going battle to search for ultimate truth persists within the very soul of humanity. For some it is an endless quest, an adventure to seek self satisfaction, substance, logic in a puzzle of illogical consequences. In the arts two specific factors are more apparent than any others, the first is obvious: perfection, a goal that persists. We never attain it but chase it regardless. The other is underlying truth, the veritable whys and wherefores that allow us to reason. We look for a more pertinent answer, a solution to a problem, answers to questions. Solutions can satisfy our souls, give us 'cause', but the finalized personal solution could also enlighten a fellow traveler of the same quest. We can feed off one another to seek a 'reality', the ultimate truth, though truth is an individual as opinion itself. The results of our life's work can be kept personal to us or be shared by an attentive studious martial arts public.

I consider Willie Lim an instructor of the highest caliber .He is not only well versed in the modern aspects of the art (traditional and sports} but the classical which is not known to many."