the great kata debate...?

Question

kata/ forms are they good? why are they good or bad? should people learn kata?

Answer 1

In my opinion, kata is a good thing. It my not prepare you for the chaos of a real fight, but martial arts are not always entirely about that. There's also discipline involved, of course, and kata is certainly beneficial there.

From my own experience, it's also a great motivator for children to have kata to A) work on, and B) look forward to learning. I know when I was 9 or 10, I was absolutely thrilled to learn a new part to a kata. This leads to more effective training, and often, a more dedicated and enthusiastic student.

I think also that kata is effective in training muscle memory, so that you respond effectively in a fight without having to consider what to do next. While that time may be miniscule for someone who's been training for years, it can still be an advantage, and in a fight, any advantage is worth taking.

Another beneficial aspect of kata would be the improvement of technique. Surely there are other ways to practice, but variety is the spice of life, no? And when you are told to practice a kata (and left there for an hour or two) the hundreds of kicks you end up doing really do make a difference. For this I can also vouch: my back kick, which is the least-used technique in my style's kata, is also my faultiest technique.

So that gives us as advantages of kata: discipline & dedication, enthusiasm, muscle memory, and technique.
Versus... that bit of time you might save?

And besides all that, I know I'd get bored without kata to practice! =P

Answer 2

I think kata is good if you train it right and you do other things apart from kata like sparing and bag work and such,

kata should be the iceing on the cake, it trains your mind as well as your body to moves you may not practice all that much usually and is a good way to remember techniques

You should always imagine what you are doing to a person with each technique, this is the proper way to train, maby not at the very start but using the imagination is what its all about, if you are just going through the motions there isnt much benefit

Kata is also a dificult set of movenments which increases your coordination kind of like danceing but with the added benifit of the moves being techniques you can use in a fight

I think people should train kata, but some people do take kata WAY too seriusly, I say first learn to fight before you learn to do kata, if you just do katae you will be really ellegant but a brawler would probably beat you up but if you start off as a clumsy brawler and learn elegence, that when you become an exceptional fighter

Answer 3

Katas are a VERY important part of the development of a Martial Artist. First, Katas develop a keen sense of balance, timing, speed as well as being able to incorporate proper breathing while simultaneously perfoming proper technique. Additionally, every GREAT Martial Artist develops "fluidity" into their technique, and Katas are the perfect way to develop that fluidity.

Katas also help the practitioner learn the proper logistical use of a particular technique or series of techniques. NOT all techniques you learn in a kata will be "street ready", however, you will gain a much more rounded and versatile style if you incorporate katas into your regular routine.

The best way to perform a kata is by imagining that you are actually using the techniques in battle. Perform each kata with the spirit of a warrior, using powerful emotion and strong and forceful technique and you will see how important katas really are.

Answer 4

It's an old, old way of training the body to move in a certain way, much like all the different types of drills there are. Martial artists have to be able to react to many different types of attack and katas help in developing that skill, though not to the exclusion of other kinds of training. Kata are not difficult compared to some of the dance routines that professional dancers have to learn but some people really have trouble with coordination. Kata were also good as an intellectual device by which movements and footwork could be preserved. I don't know that they train muscle memory as well as sparring because ya should not just do certain moves without its application, but knowing the correct, disciplined form of a certain block, strike, or throw allows for adding slight variations to adapt to many different attacks.

Answer 5

Kata (forms, poomse, hyung, etc.) were originally designed to give a student who'd trained in an art's basic techniques a reminder of the system's fighting techniques, at a time when most people were illiterate. Interpretations of kata have changed over the years because of changing social attitudes.

Answer 6

For me, and I only speak for myself here. Kata are worthless and have no place in a real and effective martial skill. There nice if you want to waste your time and money or want a nice plastic piece of crap to set on a shelf to collect dust. For me it is not a debate, there useless, for me, in all ways. I have been training m.a. for nearly 30 years and I know 0 kata. I have a mma middle weight championship along with the real knowledge that I can defend myself and my love ones on the street. All that with out kata one. Now if I wanted to train and study for other reasons besides real and effect defense they'd be fine. If I cared about belts and the like I'd "need" them. Thank Odin that I care about my love ones and my own safety more than a belt or a trophy.

Answer 7

Isnt Kata just a form to learn the different ways of coordinating martial arts moves, the different forms advance u through levels(belts)

Answer 8

They are abosolutly a good thing.... everyone gets caught up in "fighting" would this work would that work.... odds are if you have trained in any martial art for more than a few years.... and you get into a (fist) fight with someone untrained, the basics will win the fight in a matter of seconds.... but geez Martial "ART" the technique in forms may have very little "street" application, but the are great for balance coordination and conditioning.... After 1 year of training... I was so happy to learn this (what I thought was) really cool form, I saw ppl do this form and jump really high in the air and land really hard.... and as I learned it, and repeated it over and over, I could jump really high in the air too (could dunk a volly ball in high school... 5'11") over the years I progressed and still practiced that form as I learned others.... Then about 3 years later I was told that the movement is actually designed to land on your opponent (who has been knocked down from a previous technique in the form) and the landing was designed to crush and seperate his torsoe... wow cool... would I ever do it... absolutly not under any circumstance... I mean the guy is already on the ground and I am standing... I'd jus walk away.. but it is part of the art and culture of what I learned and I value it greatly..... as you learn any MA, it is like very slowly reading a history book, with time, the meanings of your forms will all be understood.... It's not all about fighting.... let me get off my pedistal and say I have been taking Muay Thai and it is really cool to hit and get hit haha... But yeah forms are great.....

Answer 9

Kata is the essence of the higher order of the most traditional martial arts. Within the katas are symbols to which you are attuning yourself each time you practice form. These symbols resonate with the highest energies of the Universe, and some represent the most sacred religious movements known to humankind. Through practicing kata, we learn that the true study is of ourselves, not of the form.

If you do not care, study the newer arts, Korean, etc. They are pure fighting arts. If you do care, pay attention to the movements you practice. Think, feel, change, grow. This is the true purpose of martial arts.

Answer 10

(((Shihan)))

Yes, learn kata.
Why are the martial arts used as a vehicle for spiritual teachings?
Because some forms of enlightenment depend on the physical body itself 'waking up' alongside you.
Kata assists with this.
You must train at all levels of the Self, so as not to become lopsided.


-----Shihan: yes...perfect the symbol...move the symbol...