It's All In The Hip Movement

I thought I knew all I needed to know on the subject of hip movements in a completely different context from karate. It appears I was wrong. The hip movement is central to the Shukokai style. Whenever you start something which requires a high level of skill, and therefore practice, before expertise can be accomplished two things happen. Initially you are pleased with your efforts - the kick culminated in your foot making contact with the pad - job done. You are convinced that with a bit of practice you will improve in no time. Clearly progression to black belt is just a factor of time and practice. Then stage two arrives (I hate stage two); the realization that everything about your kick was wrong (apart from the fact you used you foot). The kick and as it turns out, like every move in karate (apart from one hand movement which simulates the head i.e., a token movement), involves every part of the body. No really, it's true. A punch for example does not involve punching from the basic stance, but instead you pull back with your leading hand, driving your opposite hip forwards and propelling your punching hand while pushing up with the ipsilateral back foot. A punch delivered in this way is much more powerful than simply driving the fist forwards. If considered in terms of body kinetics, it makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, this is a crushing realization to the novice. Now every movement is highly complex and involves doing more than one thing at once with more than one limb. The kata I thought I knew (and was wondering why I didn't just learn a few more) is now complex beyond comprehension. This is where I'm at now. I know the kata moves, but now I know I am performing them incorrectly, like a dance routine and not like effective combat moves. Now I understand why it takes two decades to be competent and that the black belt is only starting their journey. I now the work begins - there is clearly another arena for hip movements.