Past Discussion on Kata

Phyllis Omo

Kata’s are the textbooks for your fighting system. What tips do you give your students to help them learn to “read” or “interpret” their kata textbooks? For example, when you touch a place on your own body in kata it can be showing where to apply the technique on your opponent or where to protect your own body.

 

Comments

 

David Sleeper I'm not one of the higher level teachers, but I have students and what I've learned is that doing drills derived from kata and teaching techniques found in kata separately from kata training leads to some very rewarding aha moments.

 

Eric Lindsey Never worry about what a kata means. Just perfect the moves. I’m the long run, you’ll benefit more from the perfection rather than someone spoon feeding you their interpretation.
In time, you’ll see things here and there. Then you notice more and more about general fighting as it relates to Kate.

 

Gary Sass Couple things I do with my students first I cross train them in different arts. How can you see a throw or lock in a kata if you’ve never seen or done that technique it’s sort of like reverse engineering the kata Also teach kata Kumite On one side is kumite on the other is kata and waza is the bridge in between Waza is part of both kata and kumite

 

Marlon Laws I definitely agree with Eric. I also do want David said.
Phyllis used the example of kata being textbooks. I look at it like kata is learning the alphabet of the system. There are stepping methods, principles of movement, methods of power generation, strategy. This alphabet gives you the ability to form words after awhile. When you put the words together to form your own sentences you are at the general understanding that Eric spoke about.
Good topic

 

Victor Donald Smith After 40 years of work I continue to realize how litte I know.

For myself I did not teach kyu kata technique applications. They were shown they exist on day one and many times they were shown more.   But I wanted the kyu to develop technique, power and so much more that would be used in dan kata application study.

I had reasons both on how i was taught, and what other exceptional instructors also did. They did study a limited number of application studies, but applications came later.

 The average black belt stayed on an average of 17 years, several over 30 years. Then again I didn't teach self defense, nor tournament,  nor physical fitness, just Karate.