Kata or Kumite?

[Shotokannon]

Hey Guys,

Before I ask this, I realise Kata, Kumite and Kihon are all as important as one another to make a good Karateka, but I have noticed that not every individual excels at all of those aspects of training.

Myself for example; my Kumite (IMHO) is not as good as my Kata, I do like free-sparring when we get the chance to do it in our club, but Kata is my Speciality.

My Question is; Which do you prefer/are you most proficient with?

[Wado Heretic]

When it comes to high level competitors I have found that often there is a distinction; a high level Kumite Player will be better than a Kata Competitor at Kumite and vice versa. Also; when I have talked to International Kumite Players they often have not practiced kata since reaching International level. There comes a point in the competitive world where one must specialise apparently. The only exception that comes to mind is Junior Lefevre.

I do not see myself as particularly good at any of the three, and I find on a day where I am not finding my groove with regards to kihon or kata then my kumite suffers as well. I would be inclined to say my kata performance is my strongest as that is what I rehearse the most; it only sticks out because it is what I manage to practice the most. Plus; I do enjoy Bunkai, as a broad concept of analysis not creating applications for applications sake, so kata is what keeps me interested.

When it comes to kumite; I have met people with the hand speed to trip me up in point or no-contact sparring. However, those people are also the people who do not want to fight me in an actual fight because of my proficiency in neck-cranks and leg-locks so I never really get a feel for whether my kumite is any good. I have met people who can beat me in conventional kumite but when it comes to free-fighting I have skills they have no answer for so it is a tricky aspect for me to judge.

[ShotokanGage]

Good question! Of course, everybody has their own area of excellence, some are brilliant warriors while others are amazing technicians of the art; then there are those who might not have the edge physically but spiritually and mentally are very strong.

Myself, I think I am probably a better technician of Kata than I am a natural-born fighter. I can certainly hold my own against an opponent, however I don't have the instinct, the vision or the flawless execution that I am striving towards. However, my memory for kata is good, and my teacher is so good at picking on technical details for me that I am quite precise with my movements.

Personally, I need to improve my speed in Kata. I am nearly 6'2 and my long legs seem to prevent me from changing stance quickly and neatly. For example, the first move of Bassai Dai in Shotokan, it takes quite a while to get from the standing ready position down to the low stance first block, and I find it very difficult to increase this speed.

Having said that, my kumite speed is pretty fast, much faster than my kata speed........ Ahhhh swings and roundabouts!! Now I'm rambling!

[tallgeese]

I've always been far more reliable in sparring arenas that kata. This was true when I was active in Kempo based arts and now that I do Kali as well. My flow skills, while driven by form, are on a higher level than the forms themselves.

It can come down to mindset, athletic ability, movement preference, and learning style.

[sensei8]

I've no preference! I've my share of grand championships in both, although, it's been 25 years since I've entered a tournament.

[Nidan Melbourne]

Personally I am a kata person over kumite. But I am slowly working on my kumite as there are only a few people at my dojo that I feel that push me to improve.

[126barnes]

I've had more success with kata than sparring, but enjoy sparring more.

[Hawkmoon]

!!

I do like the question, it is after all what makes a person 'them', and in that a Martial Artist is no different in there differences to anyone else or any other discipline!

We all do all three elements and we all achieve a certain level in each of them come promotion time, we take the ruff with the smooth to that end.

Kata (Ignore the extreme 'deep' kiba dachi types.)

The person that when instructed to executes and performs each action with humility and when completed waits for the command to relax and steps back, there is a quiet confidence about them.

This is what they do, the structure is what the seek.

Kihon

Like kata is done by us all but some are more 'exact' in our movement than others, the hand is at this or that angle because ... the bend in the knee or elbow is just so.

It may appeal to the OCD in them (all of us) more than the other guy, but its what makes them work!

Kumite

Fluid and dynamic, exhilarating, action packed piece of work a sure fire way to get the adrenaline going!

Some people love that, and some live for that feeling. the freedom combat offers makes them happy, not as restricted as kata or kihon.

What eer break down you apply all three need to be done as each piece does support the other.

I prefer to fight, it is after all what it was taught for, to defend yourself from an attacker to fight for your home...ok maybe not now'a'days but back ye'olden days"!

When I was younger (and smaller) it was kata, I even brought back trophies for it. kata was done not through love but through the want to compete,my size meant I was far to small to do knock down, so I simply didn't do it, I did kata.

I'm older now (much older) I fight for the rush win or loose, I've brought home trophies. Kata is an option but there was no 'rush' before and there is still none today, I do it as a trainuing tool but not from desire.

[bushido_man96]

I've always been better at forms than I have at sparring. I never had much natural ability as an athlete, so sparring has never really been my strong suit. I always enjoyed the technical aspects of forms, so it was always more fun for me.

Now days, if I have to choose one or the other, I would choose neither, and go straight for application based training.

[JR 137]

This is a tough one, but I'll think out loud here and see where it takes me...

If I went to a big, open tournament with point fighting rules, I'd place higher in kata than kumite.

In an equal skill level knockdown tournament, I'd probably place higher in kumite than kata.

I'm very good with kihon hand techniques, and horrible at kihon kicks in line drills. I can front kick to my nose level, but struggle to get roundhouse and side kick to my belt. I can roundhouse kick sparring partners my height in the head though.

I'd love to ask my CI which I'm better at, but I think it would be an awkward question somehow. Not sure why, but it would.