Kata

What is a kata? Basically a kata is a series of techniques and movements. Kata comes from the Japanese term meaning formal exercise. It is a symbol of an imaginary fight between you and an opponent (or multiple opponents). When karate was against the law, the common people and farmers had to find a way to still be able to practice, they then came up with katas. In each kata, one move can have around 8 actually meanings. The katas were made to look almost like a dance rather than a form of self defence; however the katas are typically very brutal. Through kata we can learn proper stance, focus, and transition between technique, as well as footwork. The use of footwork in katas teach the student how to use distance for offensive and defensive purposes. Offensively, footwork closes the distance between the student and his attacker so that the student may strike. Defensively, footwork allows the student to evade an attack by creating distance. With kata you are able to get a strong foundation and improve your sparring and self defense. While practing katas has many benefits it will not prove advantageous unless practiced with the utmost seriousness and knowledge of the practical application. My instructor always says to practice it like your life depends on it, because one day you may very well need it.



Kata should be performed with knowledge, technique, focus, accuracy, good breathing control, speed, and power , so that over time the kata is done without even thinking about the movements. It takes a very long time to master a kata for there is always something you can improve, however, with time your kata will always improve if you put in the time and effort.