Kata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Kata (disambiguation).
| Kata | |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | |
| Kanji | 型 or 形 |
| Hiragana | かた |
Kobudo kata with staff |
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Kata (型 or 形) (literally: "form") is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Kata are used in many traditional Japanese arts such as theater forms like kabuki and schools of tea ceremony (chadō), but are most commonly known for the presence in the martial arts. Kata are used by most traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, such as aikido, iaidō, jōdō, judo, jujutsu, kendo and karate. Other arts such as t'ai chi ch'uan and taekwondo feature the same kind of training, but use the respective Chinese and Korean words instead.
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[edit] Explanation
In Japanese martial arts practice, kata is often seen as an essential partner to randori training with one complementing the other. However, the actual type and frequency of kata versus randori training varies from art to art. In iaidō, solo kata using the Japanese sword (katana) comprises almost all of the training. Whereas in judo, kata training is de-emphasized and usually only prepared for dan grading.
In kenjutsu, paired kata at the beginners level can appear to be stilted. At higher levels serious injury is prevented only by a high sensitivity of both participants to important concepts being taught and trained for. These include timing and distance, with the kata practiced at high speed. This adjustability of kata training is found in other Japanese arts with roles of attacker and defender often interchanging within the sequence.
Many martial arts use kata for public demonstrations and in competitions, awarding points for such aspects of technique as style, balance, timing, and verisimilitude (appearance of being real).
[edit] Kata in Karate
The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, e.g., Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (divisors of 108) are common. The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and his or her responses, as actually occurring, and karateka are often told to "read" a kata, to explain the imagined events.
[edit] Kata in Judo
Judo has several kata, mostly created in the late 19th century by Jigoro Kano, the founder of judo. All but one of the judo kata involve two participants. Judo kata preserve a number of techniques that are not permitted in competition or in randori, including punches, kicks, and the use of the katana and other weapons. The study of kata is usually begun much later in judo than in karate, typically at around the brown belt level. The most commonly studied judo kata is Nage-no-kata, which consists of fifteen throwing techniques. The Katame-no-kata is composed of pinning techniques, chokes, and joint locks. Kime-no-kata is a long kata consisting of self-defense techniques against both unarmed attacks, and attacks with swords and knives.
[edit] Criticism of kata training
The effectiveness of kata as a training method is often debated in martial arts circles.
The critics frequently make the following claims:
- Kata training does not teach anything that is useful in a self-defence or fighting situation.
- A kata is just a "dead pattern", and by following a pattern one becomes bound by it
- Kata are taught because they provide an easy source of income for the instructor
- Kata are unnecessary ritual and tradition for tradition's sake
The proponents often claim that:
- Kata is the syllabus of any given traditional style. The practise of kata is analogous to studying classical music. Although a musician can create songs learning only a few basic chords, there is no doubt that a musician with a broad classical training can create music of far greater depth. The same holds true for karate studies. There is a point, reached very early on, which all but the most gifted few cannot go beyond without in-depth training. Kihon are the basic chords, kata are the songs. Once learned and understood, the practitioner has skill-set allowing greater variations.
- Although a kata in its entirety can not be effectively implemented in self-defence, individual movements (such as breaking a wrist lock) can be applied to real-world situations.
- Kata give a better understanding of the theories taught by a style
- Kata serves as a catalog of techniques which can be smoothly implemented in sequence
- Kata was developed as a means of hiding the true application of a technique so that only an initiate can apply it with maximum effect
- Some techniques are too dangerous for sparring and can only be safely practised in a pre-arranged fashion
- Sparring with padded weapons is too unrealistic and limiting; kata allows for training the full range of weapon techniques and weapons
- Practising kata is akin to moving meditation, providing increased focus, awareness and self-discipline
- Kata is an essential tradition, preserving the teachings of previous generations
The debate of "kata vs. sparring" is not a new one and is unlikely to be resolved soon. Nevertheless, the two methods may not be as far from each other as they may seem. Advanced students in traditional arts may diverge from the form and introduce variation, while a modern martial artist might train a combination of punches in a kata-like fashion. It is also important to bear in mind that in most arts, kata is just one aspect of the style's overall training regimen.
[edit] "Kata" in the martial arts of other countries
In Korean martial arts such as taekwondo and tangsudo ("tang soo do"), the Korean word hyong is usually employed, though in some cases other words are used. The ITF uses the Korean word tul while the World Taekwondo Federation uses the word poomsae or simply the English translations "pattern" or "form."
In Vietnamese martial arts, e.g., vovinam viet vo dao the Vietnamese word quyen is used.
In Chinese martial arts, forms are known as taolu. Modern forms are used in wushu competitions.
Categories: Japanese martial arts terms | Aikido | Jujutsu | Karate | Judo | Kata
