Does Shotokan have the flashiest/coolest katas?

[Prototype]

I love the linear, to the point, explosive Shotokan katas. I'm curious how it's percieved among other Karate stylists - are the katas held in high regard?

[MatsuShinshii]

I am not sure I should answer this but what the heck. Sure they may have the flashiest and coolest Katas around but I don't think that is what is important.

I personally do not see value in flashy or cool looking Kata. If they are performed as they were passed down and are taught that way then they are plenty cool to me. As for flashy, I have no use for this so it never crossed my mind. Flashy to me means altered so they will win tournaments. When this happens the original context and intent is lost. What the Kata contains is more important than whether it's flashy or not.

Having said that many of the Kata I study are the Kata Shotokan studies. My only experience with Shotokan is through books and when I was a youth. I don't remember them being flashy. Maybe thinks have changed. If this is so I'm sad to hear it.

[Wastelander]

Everyone is going to have their own perspective on that, and it will also change depending on the person performing the kata. For me, you have to bear in mind that I practice Shorin-Ryu, so from my perspective Shotokan took the kata I practice and did weird things to them. Now, that is nothing against Shotokan practitioners--I am friends with a number of them, and they are dedicated, hard-training, knowledgeable people, and they are very good at Shotokan. Shotokan just doesn't look that good from a Shorin-Ryu perspective, at least to me. My opinion doesn't matter, though, to anyone but me in this regard. I hope that everyone practicing Shotokan enjoys it, and feels good about it!

[Prototype]

I don't remember them being flashy. Maybe thinks have changed. If this is so I'm sad to hear it.

Hmm. Wouldn't you say unsu is a flashy karate kata relative to other traditional karate styles?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=73&v=4kN61Gf-cgI

[singularity6]

Palgwe forms are fairly linear and explosive. The first few forms are kinda bland, but once you hit Saa Jang, the forms are much more interesting to watch. You'll probably see some similarities to Shotokan, too.

[Prototype]

Palgwe forms are fairly linear and explosive. The first few forms are kinda bland, but once you hit Saa Jang, the forms are much more interesting to watch. You'll probably see some similarities to Shotokan, too.

It's not performed explosively though. But yeah, the palwe forms gets better and better. I don't like the first ones.

[Spartacus Maximus]

If flashiness and impressing an audience with a performance are what define one’s ideal of skill in karate, what one does has become a performing art, a dance show to dazzle and entertain.

[sensei8]

I love the linear, to the point, explosive Shotokan katas. I'm curious how it's percieved among other Karate stylists - are the katas held in high regard?

Whether the kata has or hasn't effectiveness, that's most important to me. Shotokan kata's aren't taught in Shindokan, however, I'm drawn to their kata's because of the effectiveness that strikes me most curious.

To me, Unsu is one of Shotokan's most complex kata's; it's neither cool and/or flashy to me, but more to the point, Unsu is alive, and how its transitional movements are displayed, breathtaking in its effectiveness from its start to its end.

[singularity6]

Palgwe forms are fairly linear and explosive. The first few forms are kinda bland, but once you hit Saa Jang, the forms are much more interesting to watch. You'll probably see some similarities to Shotokan, too.

It's not performed explosively though. But yeah, the palwe forms gets better and better. I don't like the first ones.

We aim for explosiveness in many of our forms in my school.

[Prototype]

Palgwe forms are fairly linear and explosive. The first few forms are kinda bland, but once you hit Saa Jang, the forms are much more interesting to watch. You'll probably see some similarities to Shotokan, too.

It's not performed explosively though. But yeah, the palwe forms gets better and better. I don't like the first ones.

We aim for explosiveness in many of our forms in my school.

Doesn't look that way based on masters performances on youtube.