Kata ? Whats the point

[CredoTe]

...

Kata has value to those who do it so as martial artist we need to stop looking over the fence and critiquing other styles because they may do things different.

Great point...couldn't agree more

[CredoTe]

One day, someone will end the debate forever when a way is found to control all outside variables in two fresh trainees and research can be conducted and repeated about which method, kata or another, brings a fighter to speed quicker. But the variables are too many and intrinsic to the individual for now.

Scientific study of MAs are a great way to prove effectiveness. Particularly, the physics behind the movements, techniques, etc. As an engineer, I find special interest in studying the physics behind any MA training. And, note that the physical properties of your MA and my MA, both sequential kata based and non-sequential kata based, have both proven true.

IMHO, terming them "martial arts" is outdated. I think a more modern term would be "martial sciences". I think they're "art forms" simply because of the methods of preservation (at least in kata-based MAs).

Until then, we take what we know based on experience and do the best we can.

Exactly! I'm with you on that!

[CredoTe]

I appreciate your replies tallgeese and bushido_man96 Don't get me wrong; I don't believe in training in kata for beauty's sake, i.e. to look cool at tournaments. I think this discussion plus others on other threads that we've had show that the three of us share something in common: we believe in training for practical, effective, real-world situations. Our approach / methods of doing so are just different

A few points I should clarify:

[Remaining quote of CredoTe redacted by CredoTe to save scroll space]

Solid post!!

Domo arigato, sensei8

[mal103]

Just another point I missed earlier and has been touched on, spiritual training of the mind is best bought out with Kata. I find when I perform Kata with full power and in my zone then I get a great feeling during and after the Kata.

When I was performing the end of Jion recently (which has a long Kiai on the last move) a pair of students behind apparently commented that someone had just been killed. Something you miss when people are performing Kata with flowery movements in competitions.

Kata should be drilled and drilled until "good" and then taken apart, each section and overlapping sections drilled with a partner to perfect the technique, then drilled more with power/speed. Then drilled with different variations until you realise that a single Kata can hold several hours of training material and plenty of techniques.

If you have something in your training that can do all of that then don't bother doing Kata.