Kata?

[monkeygirl]

A kata is like a song where you know all the words by heart...you don't have to repeat them after anybody else, and you can do it at your own pace (for the most part). You can't change the words, but there is a little room for interpretation on how loudly you say a phrase or how much emphasis you put on a verse.

Only in a kata, instead of singing, you're doing martial arts moves...moves that somebody else arranged in a sequence. You must do them in that sequence. It's a very mental thing, because it's completely useless if you don't visualize your opponent. That "little room for interpretation" will depend on the sort of flavor or genre of your style. Depending on the style, kata (or hyung or poomse or form, also dependent on the style) can be loud or quiet, fast or slow, intense or calm, realistic or artistic. Some styles would have you use kata to memorize important techniques so that you can apply them in a real situation. Others use them to focus the mind, body, train muscles, breathing, etc.

I hope that helps!

[cathal]

Great explanation

[Venrix]

Typically, when I'm asked this question I respond with:

"A prescribed sequence of steps, strikes, and blocks combined in such a manner as to allow us to practise them with a view to achieving all techniques with balance, speed, power, precision, and grace of execution."

However, it is fair to say that Kata is considerably more than this. In particular, the Kata were created (and changed and manipulated over the years) to pass techniques and teachings from generation to generation. Today - we have books, movies, videos. Back in the days of old - we did not. So, Kata served a 'dual purpose' - the 'self sufficient' training outlined above plus 'a record' of a given fighting system that could be passed on.

-V-

[Cmon]

I think i understand it a lot more now but i have still yet to be taught any katas yet.

[parkerlineage]

Your style may not have kata, Cmon. I don't know for sure, but you may want to look it up on the internet or talk to your instructor about it.

Peace;

Parkerlineage

[cathal]

Yes, I'm pretty sure there aren't any kata in JKD. I may be totally off base, but I'm certain Bruce Lee indicated that he felt they didn't work well for training.

[AnonymousOne]

There are many theories about how Kata came about.

One I tend to buy is that Masters linked together their favorite techniques in sequence so students would be able to remember them all and pass them down

[karatekid101]

A Kata helps you practice certain moves!

[cathal]

I agree; I'm pretty sure that Bruce Lee's opinions on kata were not good. He didn't feel that they were helpful.

[italian_guy]

Adding to what has already been said, there are some kata in some style (goju ryu or any derivation of Naha-te) which have katas which are mostly breathing exercises like Goju ryu Sanchin or Tensho.