If you could pick one kata, and one kata only, that you would incorporate into your daily training, which one?

Question

As an Isshinryu practitioner, I'd pick Sunsu. It has most of the higher level "secrets" (as far as there are secrets in any style) of the system, and is the most practical as I understand it. Close 2nd is probably Seisan, or maybe Sanchin.
Those who don't like kata are welcome to answer, "kata are useless," but it would be circumventing the answer. There are still "exercises" or "forms" (even if it's just Heavy-bag work) you practice.

Yeah, I like that Jo Kata, if we're talking the same one. From Aikido? After seeing it performed, I went and bought myself a Jo Staff.

Yeah "Cute," I know what you mean about the stances in Chinto. Cool dojo site. I guess you guys are on the Eastern side of the state.

Tensho's pretty cool as well. I taught myself that one from a Tiero Chinen DVD after seeing it performed.

Answer 1

Palama set 14, from the kajukenbo style.

Answer 2

Yes, it does. I don't know of any entirely formal syllabus that contains weapons specific kata as there really were no kata for weapons. Weapons training was very much a pick it up and do. Kobudo is that term (with weapons), and weapons have often, because of that, been infused in preexisting kata for the training purposes. Some people in the more modern times, have created kata for a specific weapon, but most are just flashiness. EDIT - that's a good way to look at it with fitting in a weapon in the kata. One thing you need to keep in mind is that these techniques are applicable with your hands only, so if you do not see an application that is empty-handed that works and you like; you need to dig deeper or even from a completely different frame of thought. A great kata that works with the sai is Bassai Dai. Give that one a look. But don't forget to look into your kata with concepts and not just individual techniques. Keep in mind that the techniques need to be simple, and they should rely on proper mechanics more than speed or strength. When that is in place and the concept is understood, the timing and position will fall into place naturally. Thanks for a good question! :) EDIT - One more thing. If you look at the common bunkai for Heian Nidan, you will notice that everybody likes to leave the right arm just hanging in the air as some prepatory thing for a following punch. That's not a functional application for that technique. Every limb has a purpose and is actively engaged in something. If you think about that application (easily found on YouTube) you can find that it's full of holes; and primarily the giant one on the right side of the torso. It's like holding a red flag saying "hit me here... In my liver!" those arms rise in that pattern for something else and that something will take your opponent's weapons away from that gargantuan vulnerable hole, while inflicting some sort of pain and or damage. Every move serves an active function! EDIT - Bassai Dai is a mid-level kata, so it may be a while before you come across it. Why not experiment with your Aikido training in the application of the first six movements in Heian Nidan? I know I'd be interested to hear your progress on an application for that; even if by email. EDIT - That's a great way to understand your kata! There is no better way to learn the technique than actually applying the technique! That's old school too!

Answer 3

Not a fan of kata, but of the two that I kind of liked doing, I would choose Batsai, a brown belt kata. It has fluid movements and includes a throw which is a bit unusual in kata.

There is also Nikyu kata for chucks, and that one is neat just because you get to play with the chucks. And it looks cool to have them flying around if you can do it quickly and are proficient with them...and if you do it well, you mostly just hear the wind from the chucks flying through the air.

Answer 4

Hi there

I think this question really has two parts to it for me.

Which Kata do i like because i think it looks good and has a nice flow to it? If were talking shotokan based karate which is just about all styles of Okinawan then i would say all of them from Kushanku onwards Chinto, Bassai, Jion etc. They all look impressive and i must admit you can get a great buzz from performing them. Adding Bunkai just puts 5 guys around you it doesn't teach you any of the principles from the Kata themselves. These seem to have been lost or it may just be the way most westerners interpret them?

Which Kata do i like to incorporate into my daily training? I have to agree with Bluto Blutarsky11 answer. The 8 directional cutting drills are of great benefit to practice and learn for many reasons. Although the written down version says 8 there is in fact 10 directions and you can apply these 10 principles to just about any form of movement. From strikes to throws to ways of turning your body etc. Very beneficial to your training plus it gets you to think about what your doing and not just imitating someone else concept of movement. Juppo sesho i think is the term in Japanese.

And give the guy above me a tick recommending for sui lim tao from wing chung. Another great little form that teaches you the basics of hand sensitivity.

Best wishes

idai

Answer 5

quite frankly I think the only kind of kata that ever even serves any merit is a weapons kata.

and even then only when you are a beginner and are just learning basic weapon strikes and how to move with your weapon.

I would chose the basic cutting flurry that incorporates all 8 cuts with a longsword in every direction. Of course that is if I was doing sword training still.

Otherwise I think you get more of a training benefit watching the simpsons than doing a kata for unarmed techniques.

Answer 6

I haven't trained in Karate although I have seen a lot of forms competitions in the past both on TV and live. And the one kata that I always recognize is the Sanchin Kata. There's just something in the way the power is generated from the hips in that form that fascinates me, I can always tell if it is being done correctly or not just by watching the hip movement alone and the judges' scores always seem to agree with me later on.

Answer 7

I haven't practice any kata for last 20 years, so believe me or not I don't remember name of any of them. But there was one kata for masters with a jump with crossed legs which i liked. Very effective and beautiful, and quite difficult as far as i remember.

Answer 8

I have two actually I live Gojushiho-sho and Jion.

Both are advanced BB Kata in Shotokan but like the grace and esp the inner meanings of Jion. there is so much more to the Kata internally than what you see externally.

I have seen Jion done right and wrong and both look close, but it is all in the timing.

Your Kata's I know the names but not the way they are done. i love to watch other stylers katas or forms.

Answer 9

If I had to say which one I'd say Heian Godan because this kata has double armed blocking and countering and there is a jumping maneuver. The last two techniques in Heian Godan are sample of throws and locks. To me it is a beginner kata on the threshold of moving on to more advanced and more defined kata.

check out Heian Godan here is the link

http://www.thejks.com/pages/kata.htm

Answer 10

I would have to say Sunsu kata ,would also be my choice.
I feel it has the best combat techniques. It contains techniques from all of the other eight empty hand katas. It is also my favorite kata.

Answer 11

Sanchin because its a little bit of a conditioning kata since you have to constantly keep your body tense