For the author's black belt test, his Shidoshi asked him to create a kata (a formal, choreographed sequence of movements) that would represent his knowledge and understanding of his path in the martial arts up to this point, together with a description of the kata's philosophy (bunkai) in the form of a story. This booklet provides a condensed account of the process and the deeper meaning of the kata. The kata itself describes a classic hero's journey, leading a warrior through the five Japanese elements (earth, water, fire, wind, and the void) to a greater understanding of life. (This is NOT a step by step guide of the kata. However, there is a link to a video of the kata at the end.)
For the author's black belt test, his Shidoshi asked him to create a kata (a formal, choreographed sequence of movements) that would represent his knowledge and understanding of his path in the martial arts up to this point, together with a description of the kata's philosophy (bunkai) in the form of a story. This booklet provides a condensed account of the process and the deeper meaning of the kata. The kata itself describes a classic hero's journey, leading a warrior through the five Japanese elements (earth, water, fire, wind, and the void) to a greater understanding of life. (This is NOT a step by step guide of the kata. However, there is a link to a video of the kata at the end.)
