Why We Do Kata
What is the purpose of kata? Many students ask this question. A kata is a series of linked techniques in which a number of different things are accomplished. Here are some points to consider:
- Kata are designed to stimulate your reflexes and to strengthen the body.
- Each kata works different muscles and puts the body in different positions. Because of the great variety of possible techniques, there are many different katas.
- When doing kata, make sure that each individual technique is completed and not rushed, or the kata will become sloppy.
- Doing kata you always win your confrontation with the imaginary attackers. This mindset helps you to gain confidence.
- Kata enable you to develop your tanden (the area where ki or internal energy resides), helping you to attain more power and stability.
- Each kata tells a story that has slow parts, fast parts, soft parts and hard parts. Used together in a variety of combinations in kata, these different ways of doing technique help to develop timing and rhythm.
- Kata provide different fighting scenarios, demanding that you use a variety of techniques, and help you to learn myriad self-defence applications.
- Kata teach you to defend yourself from multiple attackers.
- You must have the mindset that you are doing kumite when you perform kata. Imagine the attacker’s hand or foot coming towards you and then defend against it.
- Kata help you to improve your imagination.
- When doing kata, you are defending yourself against your mirror image.
Kata is a great tool for practising on your own and learning self-defence. And these are just a few of the great benefits of kata. You have to dig deep to understand the meeting of kata. Everything is not as it appears.
Matthew Mannerow
Nidan
Grey-Bruce Ryusei Karate-Do