Kata is a method to teach the principles and
process of movement. Every movement in kata has a
meaning. In kata, you never do something without a reason.
Every movement in kata is made to be practiced
without an opponent. Hence, it is essential to
imagine actual opponents. The movement is not
separate but continuous. The movement is related to each other. Every movement has its specific objective and principle. This can be dropping, rising, rotating and positioning the body, to name a few examples.
Kata has three layers in levels of operation. Omote, ura and henka. Omote is the surface. The true meaning of kata lies in ura, which is below the surface, hidden from the casual observer. The ura holds the keys of how to use and move the body efficiently,
according to the principles of Wado. These keys reveal
themselves after intense study and guidance under
a good instructor. When the true essence – ura– of the kata is ingrained through intensive, serious
and dedicated training, infinity shows itself in
variations of movement using the same principles. This is called henka.
A kata should be alive, not dead. Imagining the
opponent is essential. To use a kata efficiently is not an easy task. Limit yourself to logic explanations (attacks or scenario if you like) when imagining the situation while you perform kata. There is no need to imagine any other then simple generic attacks, because you are not actually learning how to defend from jodanzuki for example. Ultimately, kata is learning about how to fight using your body in an efficient – Wado – manner. Ikita kata and inen should not be missing from kata, so you have to imagine opponents to show a posture of attack. Otherwise, kata becomes an empty shell and omote will be the only thing that you are doing.
There is an old saying that one kata must be studied for 3 years: ‘Kata hitotsu sannen’. The idea behind this saying is that it is considered more important to study some kata into depth, instead of knowing
just the surface of many kata. The purpose of kata is to master the techniques and principles from kata and being able to apply the principles in any
situation. In other words, kata (principles) should
become part of your body. All the above is mainly about kata that is performed by one man, but in essence this is the same for ‘two men’ kata as well. In the old days,
karate (from Okinawa) did not have kata to be
practised by two men. Curriculum from Koryu (old styles from Japan) contained kata that where – almost exclusively - to be practised by two men. This is called kumite or kumite gata.
A technique should be effective. A technique is only effective when it is fully completed and filled with spirit. Half work, hesitation or rush render a
technique ineffective. Therefore, for the sake of method and its objective, in series there are pauses. The duration of these pauses vary, depending on the objective and the logic of the series. There is no need however, to wait for a long time.
In kata, you are able to focus entirely on the
development of (how to use) your own body. To an extent, this might be an advantage over kumite gata. However, kumite gata is considered indispensable due to the presence of an opponent. Practising with an opponent adds the awareness of an opponent,
maai (distance compared to your opponents
position) and timing. Not to mention pressure being
applied by the opponent. It is much easier to execute
kata relaxed compared to kumite gata, where
the opponent actually attacks decisively
with spirit. Kata is like striking air, while kumite gata is like a makiwara. Both are valuable methods, but serve a different purpose.
Training of posture,
balance, technique, effort, timing, alertness and
principles that are useful in a fight, is the original
purpose of kata. Kata must therefore live. A dead kata is like a folkdance and thus useless. Imagination of the opponents and the techniques is essential. It is more important to do a living and functional kata, then showing a beautiful pattern to a public without any meaning below the surface. In that case, it’s like a chocolate Easter bunny, always a pity that the inside is hollow..
Kata is to develop a strong character that can live in harmony and peace. As the character of ‘Bu’ 武
suggest, violence has to be stopped. Overcome the
opponent with sente and spirit. Don’t look in a
direction because you should according to the kata, but look with spirit, because you are filled with sente and
overcome the opponent. It is said that every kata starts with uke waza. Uke waza however, is to attack.
There are six principles of kata
ikita kata:
A kata should be alive.
inen:
Practise with full effort and spirit.
chikara no kyo yaku:
There has to be a variation in the use of power.
waza no kankyu:
Timing of (internal) movement must have variations.
KATA 