What do you like best?

[Sho-ju]

Just wondering what part of karate you like best...

[renketsu]

It's gotta be kata for me

 

Kihon is kata moves (mostly) done in a linear form and kumite is fun but kata wins.

 

You can pracise kata on your own and is the building block (IMO) for the rest of karate - being good at kata will certainly help you with kihon and kumite (which is kihon techniques done with a partner to differing levels of complexity and done in a more relaxed and less formal way).

 

I personally think that most other people on this board will choose kumite - I know most of the members of our group favour kumite.

 

Andy.

[karatekid1975]

Kata is my fav, too. I like sparring mind you, but not nearly as much as kata. I'm the type of person that doesn't just do the motions. I "dig" into the kata and find really cool stuff (bunkai)

[delta1]

No vote, as I like it all.

 

I agree totally with karatekid1975 and renketsu. I love forms, and tearing them apart for their applications. But I also do the same with techniques and basics, often combining them into applications that are like mini katas that take into consideration the opponents reactions. And, of course, without application (sparing) what's the point? There is also mental and spiritual training, knowlege, and physical conditioning. Martial arts to me are like a puzzle- all the pieces fit and work together to make the pictue complete.

[ESA-Shotokan]

Now that is a hard one. I have voted for kata but if somebody said that is all I was allowed to do forever, it would not be good.

 

[Kanzashi]

Delta1 has a good point and one that I share. The basis for all karate come from the basics. Without them, you don't have good karate or any MA for that matter.

 

You can apply your theory in basics to katas and kumite. Personally, I tend to stress the basics, particularly little foot movements and hand positions during katas, and am still working on techniques for kumite, and probably always will.

 

Bunkai are the basics and so mesh perfectly with Delta1's theory on how everything relates to the other, kinda like a universal theory. Isn't that the true meaning of MA?

[Guest]

Although basics may be the most important part of Karate, it is not the part that I like the best. I consider practicing basics a chore; a necessary evil. I like kumite the best because it is the most fun. If the poll were "What part of karate do you feel is most important?" then I would have responded differently.

[equaninimus]

Other: Kata oyo.

[stencil]

Other: Bunkai

[stl_karateka]

That was tough! I picked kata cause that is what first drew me too the martial arts. But I truly love all aspects.