intro to kata

History of Gojū Ryū Kata

The term kata translates to “form” or “shape”. Kata is a series of pre-arraganed offensive and defensive movements. Kata in Okinawan Gojū Ryū plays a very important role in the essence of the ryuha (system). In the times of the Gojū Ryū founder, Chojun Miyagi Sensei, kata was not taught in a specific order as is now done in modern days. Kata was taught primarily based on first considering the personal physical conditions and natural abilities of the students. The majority of the Okinawan Gojū Ryū kata practiced today originated in China. Unfortunately, the names of the people responsible for formulating each kata, and the exact date of their creation, are presently untraceable. Nonetheless, all those kata were brought from China to Okinawa by Kanryo Higaonna Sensei who learned them from Ryu Ryu Ko Sensei in Fuchow. Miyagi Sensei's contribution to the Gojū Ryū kata set includes the creation of Gekisai Dai Ichi, Gekisai Dai Ni, and Tensho.

Kata in Simple Terms

In short, each kata is a formalized sequence of movements put together to represent various offensive and defensive techniques, strategies, and postures. Some involve striking, blocking, wrestling and grappling, throwing, sweeping, and destabilizing techniques. Katas are generally regarded as the art form of karate, but its practice extends well beyond an art form.

health & fitness

Kata practice is an excellent physical workout, especially when focusing on developing endurance, strength, explosive speed, correct posture, coordination, flexibility, and breathing. From a self-defense perspective, karate kata seek to forge a student’s body into a unique weapon and then teach the student how to use the weapon.

SELF DEFENSE

Kata also allows students to develop their self-defense skills on their own (at any time or any place). Similarly, boxing clubs often have students spend hours hitting punching bags. Boxing, along with many Martial Arts forms, focus predominantly on striking with a closed fist to a hard area of the body (jaw, face, ribs etc.). Karate by comparison focusses on directing techniques towards vulnerable areas, anatomical weak points; such as the eyes, nose, throat, groin, etc. As such, developing enormous power is unessential, whereas speed and swiftness become quintessential. The advantage of this focus is that a smaller person can cause serious damage to a much larger opponent. This is virtually impossible using the sport style of closed fisted punching strikes.

MENTAL TRAINING & RELAXATION

Performing kata also trains the mind, developing a student’s concentration skills and self discipline. Every technique within every kata has an exact path laid out and the goal of each technique is to perform it with perfection. This helps develop an attitude of personal “commitment to excellence” that can be carried on into regular life. Some say it also helps direct a student’s focus inward. Modern society often has us focused on our hectic, stressful lives and as a result, too few of us take time for ourselves. Therefore, the inward focus of kata can teach us to let go of everything in our mind and bring our attention back to ourselves. The focus on correct breathing and posture often has kata referred to as a form of “mobile meditation”.

FOUR STEPS TO LEARNING KATA

Learn the schematics of the form (the basic moves and the pattern of movement)
Learn the proper pace of the form
Learn to do the form without thinking
Become one with the kata (make it your own)

SIX KEY POINTS OF FOCUS

Eyes (always look before you move in a new direction, look with intensity)
Pace (every kata has a rhythm to be followed)
Breathing (inhale and exhale in the appropriate places)
Technique (crisp clean form is the backbone of a good kata and should not be sacrificed for speed or strength)
Focus (concentrate fully on the kata, use expansion and contraction in the appropriate places)
Kiai (it should come from the belly, not the throat and must be done with intensity)

"It should be known that the secret principles of Goju-Ryu exist within the kata."

Master Chojun Miyagi - Founder of Goju-Ryu

"Kata" are not simply an exhibition of form. They are a concrete manifestation of techniques that can be transformed at any time to any form. It is in the kata that the essence of karate has assumed a definite form. We should always remember that the kata is a crystallization of the essence of karate and that we should always begin afresh and train hard. It is only through the training of kata that you will reach "gokui”, the essential teachings.