Kata
From MartialTalk Online Martial Arts Encyclopedia Project
| Kata | |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | |
| Kanji | 型 or 形 |
| Hiragana | かた |
Kobudo kata with staff | |
Kata (型 or 形) (literally: "form") is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of defense-and-attack movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Kata are used by most traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, such as Aikido, Iaido, Jodo, Judo, JuJutsu, Kendo and Karate. Other arts such as Tae Kwon Do and T'ai Chi Ch'uan feature the same kind of training, but use the respective Korean and Chinese words instead.
The actual type and frequency of kata training varies from art to art. In Iaido, solo kata using the Japanese sword katana comprises almost all of the training, whereas in Judo, kata training is de-emphasized and usually only high-ranking practitioners train in classical two-person kata. Kenjutsu kata are paired sword drills. However, the most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air.
Many martial arts use kata for public demonstrations and in competitions, awarding points for such aspects of technique as style, balance, timing, and [verisimilitude (appearance of being real).
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Kata in Karate
The Karate practitioner performing kata executes a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are close to 100 katas in all forms of karate. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, eg. Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (factors of 108) are common.
The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and his or her responses, as actually occurring.
The kanji character, 型 for kata is composed of three more simple characters. The one in the upper left means "shape." The one in the upper right means "cut." The bottom character means "ground." A kata is a shape that cuts the ground.
In teaching the open handed kata, most styles of Karate start with a series of five basic kata named Pinan in some systems and Heian in others. By working through this series (in order: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan (except in Wado Ryu Karate, where Shodan and Nidan are reversed)) the practitioner learns all the basic stances and techniques before moving on to more advanced kata. Traditionally, kata are taught in stages. Previously learned kata are returned to in order to show more advanced techniques or ways of doing things, as beginners don't have the same knowledge and experience that practioners further up the ranks have. It is not uncommon in some styles for students testing for Shodan (first rank black belt) to have to repeat every kata they've learned from the first belt, but at a "black belt" level, i.e. with better technique, power, etc. This system is often used for the lower grades as well. The student will perform one new kata and one or two previous ones, to demonstrate how much they have progressed and how quickly they can learn new things. For more information and video footage of all kata in karate see KarateOnline
Kata in Japanese Arts
Often a kata in jujutsu, ninjutsu, iaido, and other arts native to Japan (rather than Okinawan or China) is a short technique worked solo or in pairs. A kata in jujutsu may consist of a block, a strike, and a throw, say, practiced with a partner. A kata in iaido may consist of the solo practice of a draw-and-cut, an additional cut, and the cleaning and resheathing of the sword. Judo kata consist of longer series of throws or other techniques, arranged as for demonstration, and practiced on a partner.
Criticism of kata training
Critics of kata argue that kata produce stereotyped responses, making unexpected moves by opponents more dangerous. They claim that kata teaches the student very little, since it is mostly a matter of 'monkey see - monkey do' instead of the actual mastery of techniques. (Bruce Lee commented extensivley, and negatively, on forms training.) Martial arts is a livelihood for many teachers. Since many, or even most, people do not have the skills to become an accomplished martial artist, failure might turn them away from martial arts, thus threatening the income of the teacher. Critics of kata claim that kata gives the teacher a chance to give students the impression that they have really learned something, while all they have learned is to mimic the teacher's moves. The object of these teachers, critics argue, is not to teach the students something useful, but to make them continue their lessons (and pay the teacher's fees). Many other instructors make the point that although Kata is of little use in a real fight, it does form a sound platform on which to develop basic skills. The Dojo is, after all, a controlled environment and kata provides a good way in which to teach proper stance, movement and balance without resorting to half- or full-contact training.
Critics of kata also make the same point about the (colored) belt system, claiming it is more about giving the student a sense of accomplishment so that they will continue to follow lessons than indicating actual skill; however, defenders of the belt system point out that it is just as important (for teaching reasons) as having different grades in school, and any arrogance, etc., about belt grades is a failure to teach students the more spiritual aspects of karate, such as humility, self-control and respect.
In Zen tradition, there are 3 stages of learning - "Shu" (familiarity), "Li" (leaving), and "Po" (break away). This tradition emphasizes the need for the student to mimic the master, before having his own ideas and developing new ideas independently. This method emphasizes the specific before the generic, in the same way that an Inuit child is taught to fish before learning about ice floes.
The Shaolin tradition perhaps, summarizes the whole point of practicing kata - skill without form is useless; form without skill is useless; it is skill and form that makes techniques effective.
Defenders of kata practice say that it is akin to the practice of meditation and that performing these ritualized moves again and again means that they can be performed without thinking, exactly the sort of ability you may need in a genuine self-defense situation. In the "Poems of the Fists", a set of karate sayings, there is one that goes, "techniques occur in the absence of thought." In Zen analogy, techniques occur as quickly, simply and naturally as clapping hands. Kata, then, is a form of 'moving meditation,' giving the martial artist the unthinking muscle-memory upon which to draw in the heat of battle, where the time spent having to think about what to do next may mean the difference between victory and defeat. Kata practice may also provide the more traditional benefits of meditation: increased focus, awareness and self-discipline. Also, as kata are solo battles, they enable various techniques and concepts to be practiced for actual use in fights. The Goju-Ryu kata of Saifa, for example, aims to teach the student correct movement of hips to generate power in short spaces or when grabbed, and thus incorporates techniques that can only work if you use your hips correctly.
"Kata" in the martial arts of other countries
In Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo and Tangsudo (sometimes "Tang Soo Do"), the Korean word hyong is usually employed, though in some cases other words are used, such as ITF's use of the Korean word tul, WTF's use of the Korean word Taeguk, or simply the English translations "pattern" or "form."
In Vietnamese martial arts, e.g., Vovinam Viet Vo Dao the Vietnamese word Quyen is used.
