There are many Karate practitioners who believe that Kata practice has very little or no significance at all to actual fighting; even in Jyu Kumite or free sparring. The 18th precept from the Niju Kun says " Correct form (Kata) is one thing; a real fight is another". Many believe it means that Kata practice has nothing to do with sparring or actual fighting. What is Kata? Why is it important in our training? Kata is a tradition. The creator of a particular Kata intended to hide his fighting style within the Kata because during ancient times empty handed fighting had to be practiced in secrecy because the ruling Tokugawa Shogunate not only banned weapons but also discouraged any fighting systems. Through the Kata, the master was able to disguise his fight training as kind of a dance; also Kata enabled him to pass his system to future generations just like any oral traditions.
Kata serves as a database of many self defense applications. In today's modern age Kata practice is very relevant and important. Kata has now become a performance art not only in sport Karate but also for Martial arts demonstrations. My Non-Karateka friends would sometimes ask me to perform a Kata for them and I gladly oblige; they were not trying to mess with me but rather they seriously appreciate a good Kata demonstration.
 |
| JKS-KDA Kata practice |
Kata is our training tool to develop and practice techniques to become effective. A Kung Fu master once told me that Kata forges our body to be able to strike effectively even in a very awkward position. My mind is focused on form, coordination, balance, footwork/stances and proper execution of technique. This is what I call technical Kata practice. I also practice Kata to develop my awareness. My mind lets go of all technical concerns. There are no longer techniques but instead there are movements. My mind is focused on how each movement feels because when you understand the movement it is easier to apply the Kata to respond to any kind of attack. For example a rising block can become a release against a grab, an arm break, a rising strike or a take down. This is my Awareness Kata practice. Lastly I do Shadow boxing Kata practice. In this type of practice my mind is now imagining opponents doing specific attacks and I am countering. In this type of practice my mind is not concerned with form and patterns; if you are watching me you will probably recognize the Kata but it will look very different. If I am doing the first movement of Heian Yondan and I imagined my opponent shooting to grab my legs for a take down, you would see me sprawl low come up and see my arms swinging because I just threw my imaginary opponent. These are the ways I practice Kata for real fight. Combat Kata practice prepares our mind and body for realistic Bunkai partner drills. We should do several partner drills for Bunkai like Kihon ippon style, Kakie(Push hands) which is the Karate version of flow drill, pad/mitts drill, as Jyu ippon Kumite and light or study sparring. Most of us do the technical Kata practice only. But never use Kata practice for real fighting. Each martial art has their own system of developing technique and actual fighting skills and in the Karate system it is Kihon, Kata and Kumite/Bunkai. In free style sparring (Jyu-Kumite) many techniques are not allowed because they are dangerous and hard to control. They are also dangerous in Bunkai practice if done in real life intensity. Wearing protective gears does not allow total freedom of body movement and they still cannot provide adequate protection against combative techniques such as joint breakings and smashing. It is only in the different Kata practices that you can do those techniques with full power and real life intensity, you can brake your imaginary opponent's arm or neck in full force.
In Karate-do, Kata practice is a tool to eliminate bad habits. Through the discipline of trying to perfect our Kata; constantly improving our skill shall also contribute to improvement of our character. As Kata practice develops our awareness and intuitiveness we become more compassionate; by objectively knowing that we have progressed but clearly see where improvement and learning is still needed we become more humble; as we persist we become more patient. All these reasons both combative and spiritual make Kata the essence of Karate-do.
