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Importance of Kata
During World War Two there was much fighting between the Imperial Japanese forces and the allies in New Guinea.
Many Japanese men were taken prisoner. One such prisoner was Fumio Harada. Harada was a Shi-to Ryu Karate student before he joined the Army and one day he defended himself against a gaurd. He used what is called a Hiji or Elbow strike against his attacker.
Harada was put in a 6ft by 6ft cell in solitary confinment.
During the first couple of days Harada was scared and confused by his surroundings. The cell was in total darkness which made it even more disturbing to the mind.
To keep his sanity Harada started performing his Shi-to Ryu Kata every day, time and time again until he collapsed from exhaustion. Harada did this for over 12 hours a day every day for nearly 2 years in total darkness.
One day the Officer in charge says release Harada from his cell. When the gaurds brought Harada into the daylight his eye's wept tears from the pain. His eye's soon adjusted to the light and he suddenly lashed out at the gaurds using moves that he had performed in the Kata for many months in total darkness.
Harada managed to escape the poorly secured prison into the New Guinea Jungle.
I was fortunate enough to meet Harada in 1995 on a trip to New Guinea, he told me that the performing of Kata every day developed his Ki to such a level he felt that he soon would leave his confinment even if they didnt want him to.
It is rumored that Harada met a friendly tribe of Natives and taught them his Shi-to Ryu Karate. In 1998 Australian troops in New Guinea on a flood & landslide relief mission reported seeing natives performing what they described as Karate moves during a traditional ceremony.Were they from the tribe that embraced Harada?
Even though Harada was locked up in a cell with no light for 2 years he became the master of his art. His Chi was flowing so well that when he was released from the cell his power so so overcoming he could escape a POW prison.
Many Japanese men were taken prisoner. One such prisoner was Fumio Harada. Harada was a Shi-to Ryu Karate student before he joined the Army and one day he defended himself against a gaurd. He used what is called a Hiji or Elbow strike against his attacker.
Harada was put in a 6ft by 6ft cell in solitary confinment.
During the first couple of days Harada was scared and confused by his surroundings. The cell was in total darkness which made it even more disturbing to the mind.
To keep his sanity Harada started performing his Shi-to Ryu Kata every day, time and time again until he collapsed from exhaustion. Harada did this for over 12 hours a day every day for nearly 2 years in total darkness.
One day the Officer in charge says release Harada from his cell. When the gaurds brought Harada into the daylight his eye's wept tears from the pain. His eye's soon adjusted to the light and he suddenly lashed out at the gaurds using moves that he had performed in the Kata for many months in total darkness.
Harada managed to escape the poorly secured prison into the New Guinea Jungle.
I was fortunate enough to meet Harada in 1995 on a trip to New Guinea, he told me that the performing of Kata every day developed his Ki to such a level he felt that he soon would leave his confinment even if they didnt want him to.
It is rumored that Harada met a friendly tribe of Natives and taught them his Shi-to Ryu Karate. In 1998 Australian troops in New Guinea on a flood & landslide relief mission reported seeing natives performing what they described as Karate moves during a traditional ceremony.Were they from the tribe that embraced Harada?
Even though Harada was locked up in a cell with no light for 2 years he became the master of his art. His Chi was flowing so well that when he was released from the cell his power so so overcoming he could escape a POW prison.
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