Jesi Boy

One factor that makes a kata good, is its sharpness. Sharp katas can be very impressive, and sharpness is usually what separates a bad kata from a good kata. My definition of sharpness is: the product of different elements of your kata working in conjunction with each other. It isn’t so much one specific thing. It is very hard to describe what a sharp kata actually looks like. Sharpness is pretty much to do with the speed of your kata, but it isn’t everything. To get your katas looking sharp, you need to have these elements of your kata down packed. Technique You can have speed, but your kata will not look sharp if it doesn’t have good technique. To have a sharp kata, all you’re your stances need to be at the right length and width, your punches need to be straight (depending on the technique), your “hikite” hand needs to be pulled back… come to think of it, pretty everything your sensei is constantly nagging you about! So to have a sharp kata, you need to make sure you have good technique. Balance Balance is essential for every kata. A kata will never be good, sharp or strong unless you have good balance. This is the same for sharpness. Stopping To have a sharp kata, you need to make sure that after you have completed a series of movements, everything stops at the same time and there is no movement afterwards. Take Rika Usami’s kata for example (the one in the list above). After her very first fast movement of the kata, everything stops at the same time. She doesn’t do the technique then hit the stance, or adjust her feet once she stops, or drop into her stance a little bit lower afterwards. Theoretically, this point comes under technique, but I wanted to explain it in more detail. Strength Your kata needs to be strong, but not too strong that it is affecting your speed and technique. Strength is probably the least important element of sharpness, since the sharpness of a kata is mainly to do with speed. However, a little bit of strength is required to increase your speed, as well helping with balance. Speed As I mentioned before, speed plays a big role in producing a sharp kata. You can have all of the things mentioned above, but speed is what really makes a sharp kata. Speed is what makes your kata impressive, and if you have good technique, balance and strength, the speed will stand out and make your kata look sharp. If you improve on these elements, you will find that your Kata’s will start becoming a lot sharper. Not only that, but you will find that your kata starts improving as a whole. Hopefully this has helped. If you disagree with any of these points or have any suggestions, please let me know in the comment section. Also, go check out my blog. You can find the link in my profile. Cheers! -Jesi Boy

Personally, I don't wear the new wave three, but I interviewed a few of my friends who have it. Two of them wear it for competition only, and they say it's great. One of them wear it in training, and it holds up pretty good. The only thing I noticed was that it gets really drenched with sweat, and doesn't dry too fast, and that it gets dirt really easy. Hope this has helped!

The Hirota Pinack for Kata is a fantastic Japanese made gi that I have thoroughly enjoyed. The Pinack for Kata is my own personal kata gi. I have owned it for nearly six months, where I have worn it (and been successful) in two major tournaments, and it has been the best karategi I have owned by far! My previous kata gi was an Arawaza Crystal, so the Pinack was a big step up (in price and quality). The Pinack comes fully tailor made, which means you will have to provide your own measurements. Because of the gi being tailor made, I can’t comment on the fit of the gi, but I can say how the material effects the fit. When you first put on the gi, it is really stiff and may not look the best on your body. However, you will find that once you have warmed up, the gi will not be as stiff and look much better. Now, the material itself is very smooth on the skin, making the uniform comfortable to wear, but not as smooth in comparison to the Shureido New Wave Three. The Pinack does not provide as much snap as the Hirota Takumi or #163 (which have much louder snaps), which may be more preferable if you are using the gi for training purposes. The Pinack feels very light, but still holds its shape like a normal heavyweight, and allows for ease of movement (which is ideal if you are performing dynamic katas). The only fault I found in this gi, was the draw string system at the waist. I am still searching for a karategi that has a good drawstring system, and to be honest, I don’t even know if they exist! I find that whenever I pull tight on the strings (and tighten the waist), when I let go it just goes back to where it was before, not becoming any tighter. My ideal drawstring system is simple… when you pull the strings, the waist becomes tighter and stays there when you let go. If you have found a gi like this, please comment down below. Overall, I loved the Hirota Pinack for Kata. The fact that it is high quality, Japanese made, comfortable and aesthetically pleasing makes up for its one little error (regarding the drawstring waist). If you want to see the full review, go check out my website in my profile. It is there that I will be posting more reviews, and much more! -Jesi Boy

Thanks for the tip!

Hello Karate Forums, Here are the best three Kata gis in my opinion: Shureido New Wave 3 Aesthetically, the Shureido New Wave Three is a good choice, as the gi holds its shape really well, yet is not too stiff. The material is comfortable due to its smooth finish, does not feel too heavy and has a very pleasing snap. Structurally, the gi is perfect, as the slits are at just the right height, the pants are nice and wide (providing freedom of movement) and the sleeves are not too narrow and not too wide. However, it is quite expensive for a ready-made gi (one that isn’t fully tailored), at $266 AUD (size 5), although the price may vary for different suppliers. Hirota #163 The material is designed to provide the “ultimate snap”, and due to its thickness, will hold its shape extremely well. I personally prefer this gi’s snap compared to that of the Takumi’s (which I will talk about later), as it feels stronger, while the Takumi’s is loud and fast. However, this gi is slightly hard to order, as it only comes tailor made, which means you will have to provide all of the measurements. This is a tricky process, but if you have the right help, it can be a smooth and enjoyable experience. Hirota Takumi The Takumi, being significantly lighter than the #163, is designed for those wanting more freedom in their movement, and those performing much more dynamic katas. The snap produced by this gi is more high pitched than the #163, and a little bit louder as well. The material is really stiff, which can be annoying, but an advantage since it holds its shape really well, meaning you can maintain the look you want. Unfortunately, the gi is also only fully tailor made, so you will have to provide your measurements as well. That’s the list! I plan to write some more lists, for kumite gis, as well as lists with a budget, e.g. Best Kata Gis Under $200. You can go check out my website (which is in my profile), if you want to see this. If you think that there is a gi that should have been on this list, feel free to comment down below. Thanks! -Jesi Boy

I have long hair as well, so I usually tie it up in a "top knot" for training, or a "man bun" (when it is very long). I often get it cut before competitions, so that it looks clean, but it is still long enough to get in my face. So, I use hair spray. There are lots of different types that should be fine, I personally use Fudge Professional Membrane Gas (which is really heavy duty). I might eventually do a post on how to look good for competition, so go check out my website in my profile (I might post on here as well). Hope I have helped!

Hey Everyone, Just two quick questions: 1. Does anyone know the difference between the Shuriedo WAZA and the Shureido New WKF Fighter? 2. Has anyone tried these gi’s, if so, what are they like? Thanks!

Hey Guys, I am just doing some research on kumite gi's at the moment, not necessarily looking to buy one. I currently have an Arawaza Onyx Evolution, which I absolutely love, but I realise it is slightly outdated and that there are better options. The three that strike me as being the best at the moment are; the Arawaza Onyx Zero Gravity, the Arawaza Onyx Air and the Tokaido Kumite Master Pro Athletic (which has just come out). These are all really good options, as they are all light, durable and comfortable (based on descriptions from people I know). Their only downside is that they are not Japanese made (even the Tokaido, as the gi is made in Pakistan or somewhere like that). The Japanese kumite gi's that look promising at the moment are: the Shuriedo Waza, the Hirota Kuu, the Hirota Tsubasa and the Tokaido Onsoku. It is hard to find information on these gi's, as not many people wear them where I live, and it is hard to grasp what they are like through reading descriptions. I just wanted to know if anyone has tried these gi's, and if you have, can you please describe what they are like and how the material feels and looks. It might even be helpful if you can attach an image of the material. Also, if you have any other suggestions for a good kumite competition gi (Japanese made), please inform me! Thanks! -Jesi Boy

Hello Karate Forums! I see a lot of people tying there belts with elastic bands nowadays, so that it does not come undone. This is not so important for training, but for competition, as you get disqualified if your belt falls off. It is also good, as you can have your belt stay in a nice loose knot, not some small and tight one. The only problem is, I don't know how to do this! I would really appreciate it if someone could tell me how to tie a knot with an elastic band. Cheers! - Jesi Boy

There are a few advantages of fighting in the opposite stance to your opponent. The first thing that comes to mind, is that you will be able to attack their front leg a lot more. If you are someone who likes to do foot sweeps, you will find that it is much easier when fighting toe-to-toe. Another factor that may play to your advantage, is that you will be able to use different techniques that involve breaking the line. It is hard to describe these through words, but you may find that you will be able to kick them in the back a lot easier having broken the line from an opposite stance. Many people do not like fighting toe-to-toes, so they will more than likely switch their stance. This could mean that the person will now be on their WEAKER side, meaning their techniques will not be as good and they will be more uncomfortable, which ultimately will play in your advantage (assuming you are equally as good on both sides). Regardless of the advantages of fighting in the opposite stance, a good fighter should be able to do it anyway. I hope this has helped! -Jesi Boy

I also used to train on a wooden floor, for 6 years actually. For the start of my competitive career, I competed on wooden floors as well. It was not a heavily surfaced wooden floor, but more of a rough sanded one. The only advantage of this, was that it provided a good grip, which meant that if your feet were sweaty it wouldn't affect your training. But the negatives seemed endless. I actually developed ankle problems due to the constant stamping during Kata and Kumite, and initially the floor caused many blisters on my feet (but my feet toughened, and I eventually got used to it). Being wooden, they got very dirty and splinters were an often problem (but I am sure that dojos with better quality floors will not encounter this dilemma). As I became more serious about sport karate, and started competing nationally and internationally, most of my training and competition was on mats. From my personal view, mats are the much better option (but it depends on which one you get). If you get cheap, bad quality mats, they often have a plastic like feel under the feet and are very slippery (this can easily be fixed by getting a better quality). But beside that point, you can't really go wrong with mats! They are much better for Kata and Kumite, as they allow you to stomp without hurting your feet, practice throws and take downs, and train on a comfortable surface. Because of these reasons, they will definitely allow you to perform at a higher level, as my skill drastically improved when I switched to mats. Hope I have been of help!

Hello Everyone, I was just wondering if anybody had a copy of Shureido New Wave 3 Measurements? I am ordering a custom made Hirota Pinack for Kata Gi, and wanted to base my measurements of a shuriedo New Wave 3. Thanks!

My last Gi was an Arawaza, and I was not too happy with its performance. I would try the Sieshin Gi, but I am currently looking for one that is Japanese made. Because of this, I went over and checked out the Hirota site, and took great interest in the WKF Takumi for Kata. My current number one choice is the Shuriedo New Wave 3, but I was just wondering if anybody had any experience with the Takumi (as it looks quite promising). Thanks! - Jesi Boy

Hi All, I am a karateka who regularly competes in kata competitions nationally and internationally. I have grown out of my Arawaza Crystal Kata Gi, not being satisfied with its performance, and I am now looking for a better quality Japanese made Kata gi. I am currently looking at buying a Shuriedo New Wave 3, but I am aware that there may be better options. I would really appreciate it if any of you could recommend some high quality Kata gi's, as I am open to try something new. Thank you very much. - Jesi Boy