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Karate

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The Kata

Katas have existed for as long as the art itself. They are indeed a set of codified techniques which were used in teaching the martial art.

What is a kata ? Let's, first of all, start from its definition : kata means ' pattern '. A kata is a form, a pattern, a technical code. It is a basis, a sort of book of which history is told when the kata is being practised.

As we have just seen it, this ' thing ' is nothing but a prescribed sequence of karate.

However, the kata is a set progression that is not practised at random. The kata, though it can appear under various forms, consists of an unchanging sequence of movements. A kata also represents a series of fighting techniques.

The message given through the kata, this specific sequence, is a Bunkaï. The regular repetition of katas in the dojos is the most coherent teaching method. A kata cannot be known after a few days of practice, it must be practised again and again in order not to forget it. A kata is ' a water source which should never be polluted '.

Hito Kata San Nen's sentence makes sense when you know that it means ' a kata every 3 years '.

Master Kanazawa's teaching, the creator of the SKIF (Shotokan style), sticks to this. According to him, it is better to know few katas in a perfect way than a high number of katas in a poor way.

The kata also represents a series of states that characterize us. It is alive and is lived by the practitioner. It can be described as follows :

A balance between fast and slow moments
Hard and soft moments
Concentration as a kata is not carried out once for all but is interpreted according to its authentic form.
Accurate breathing. Moments of inspiration and expiration unify the movements, always looking for the harmony of the mind and the body. Breathing is most of the time abdominal ! You have already understood that practising a kata, in its most accurate significance, requires a perfect balance between the mind and the body.

Today, the kata is also practised during tournaments. They are adapted to all grades. The SKIF recognizes 24 official katas but it is not rare that our experts practice new forms of katas or even katas from other styles. Karate is something exchangeable and adaptable, it is therefore not an old art but keeps more than ever its unificational meaning.