Kata Speed and Power

[brickshooter]

I go slow about once every 5th time. Not in slow motion. But I stop in between techniques, just to make sure some of the fundamentals are correct particularly with stances, balancing and footing. And just to correct the basic stuff so that I don't accidentally add errors into my muscle memory.

[sensei8]

I didn't partake of the poll because my Kata depends on all of the above, except the last one, so, I couldn't pick just one.

[Harkon72]

It depends on the Kata I'd say. Kihon and Pinan Kata are at speed with focus and rhythm according to your style. Other more advanced Kata can call for Rhythms and power in accordance with the Bunkai. That said, any Kata can be as advanced as you make it.

[sperki]

I use power when I practice kata, but my speed depends on how comfortable I am with the kata. When I start learning a new kata I'll go slow, think about my next move, make sure the form is reasonable (as I understand it). When I get more familiar with kata I like to speed it up.

[Harkon72]

I try to visualize each opponent in Kata, then applying Bunkai, regulate the appropriate speed and power.

[pers]

the thing with kata is at different stages of your career it will have different feelings , our body type and our own preferances on our favourite katas and what they mean to us , over the years my favourites change slightly . sochin kept me going for a long time ,I liked it and felt good doing it ,then I started to pay more attention to Kanku sho , and then Hangetsu and then Nijushiho and Unsu plus I always like to do hian Shodan and godan . some times I like to do them slow to emphesise on correct technique and check out if I am doing it in the most efficient way . Normally 20 minutes before the class starts my warm up is doing kata in slow or meduim speed ,maybe a whole kata or bits and pieces from this and that , but in class it is like fight scene in my head fast and furious within the concept of the kata , in my mind is a fight and a self defence situation against multiple adversaries ,

I forget about looking pretty with my technique but how effective it could be , of course the more you have practiced the kata and familirise yourself with its application the better you can play the part , after all it is a training and in kata you are always the winner in the end against the imaginary opponents ! it is a mind and body game and how to get the two close to each other and even better how to make them into one .

[Harkon72]

My Sensei tells me to do Kata as if my life depended on each combination. He calls it "Do or Die Kata", it feels good and your spirit in the end transcends the technique.

[shinobitribe]

When I practice myself, I prefer to do the kata' in ju hop ( very slow) manner. This helps me focus on the finer details like form, stance, breathing, visualisation and other things that are sometimes overlooked when doing the kata at full speed.

[SamsIAmz]

the thing with kata is at different stages of your career it will have different feelings , our body type and our own preferances on our favourite katas and what they mean to us , over the years my favourites change slightly .

[...]

after all it is a training and in kata you are always the winner in the end against the imaginary opponents !

That really is the awesome thing about kata. I love how it adapts to needs and desires of the person practicing it. I completely agree with you. There really is no right or wrong way, yet you can learn so much about a person and the way they are feeling by watching their kata.

When I shared a room with my brother back in highschool, he used to always say I was fighting off a bunch of invisible ninjas. The nice thing was, that I always won

[pers]

the thing with kata is at different stages of your career it will have different feelings , our body type and our own preferances on our favourite katas and what they mean to us , over the years my favourites change slightly .

[...]

after all it is a training and in kata you are always the winner in the end against the imaginary opponents !

That really is the awesome thing about kata. I love how it adapts to needs and desires of the person practicing it. I completely agree with you. There really is no right or wrong way, yet you can learn so much about a person and the way they are feeling by watching their kata.

When I shared a room with my brother back in highschool, he used to always say I was fighting off a bunch of invisible ninjas. The nice thing was, that I always won

That's good to hear Sam ,kata is a great asset to have ,you can take it anywhere with you .