Putting the Hakutsuru in its Place

Those who read many of the US Martial Arts magazines will know what I am saying when I say that the focus within the general Shorin Ryu community is on the Hakutsuru kata (Crane forms).

This would be fine if this focus was directly proportionate to the place that Hakutsuru holds within our system.

Because the Hakutsuru is the last kata within our system, it is unfortunately considered the ultimate, and that by studying this kata one will become advanced much quicker.

Well in my opinion this is trying to run before you can crawl. (more…)