"Kata" redirects here. For other uses, see Kata (disambiguation).

Kobudo kata with staff

Kata
Japanese Name
Kanji	型 or 形
Hiragana	かた

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 (chado), 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, iaido, jodo, judo, jujitsu, 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.

Explanation

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In Japanese martial arts practice, kata is often seen as an essential partner to randori training with one complimenting the other. However, the actual type and frequency of kata versus randori training varies from art to art. In iaido, 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.

Katas often come in series, such as Pinan or Himino, the katas of which are similar, though obviously separate. The katas become more advanced when one progresses through katas in a series, though the level of katas in such a series is usually universal. In certain cases, series have unique way of opening or closing, such as with the Himino series, which are universally accepted as proper opening for that series.

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 adjustablitity 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).

Kata in Karate

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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, eg. 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 karatekas are often told to "read" a kata, to explain the imagined events.

In teaching the open handed kata, most styles of Karate start with a series of three, or sometimes two, very simple kata called blocking forms before advancing to five basic kata named Pinan in some systems and Heian in others. By working through this series (in order: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan (except in Wado Ryu Karate, where Shodan and Nidan are reversed)) the practitioner learns all the basic stances and techniques before moving on to more advanced kata. Traditionally, kata are taught in stages. Previously learned kata are returned to in order to show more advanced techniques or ways of doing things, as beginners do not have the same knowledge and experience that practitioners further up the ranks have. It is not uncommon in some styles for students testing for Shodan (first rank black belt) to have to repeat every kata they have learned from the first belt, but at a "black belt" level, for example, with better technique, power, amongst others. This system is often used for the lower grades as well. The student will perform one new kata and one or two previous ones, to demonstrate how much they have progressed and how quickly they can learn new things.

Kata in Judo

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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.

Criticism of kata training

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The effectiveness of kata as a training method is often debated in martial arts circles. The critics frequently make following claims:

• Kata training does not teach anything that is useful in a real 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, or helped now dead karatekas progress karate

The proponents often claim that:

• Katas give us a better understanding of the theories taught by a style
• Some techniques are too dangerous for sparring, they 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
• Kata is a meaningful way of learning basic techniques and is the basis for learning practical applications
• Kata teaches proper stance, movement and balance in a controlled environment
• 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, though this can be perceived as negative
• While a kata done incorrectly can become a "dead pattern", done correctly it has meaning and can help the student become more proficient in sparring
• Since most martial arts taught today are not simply fighting methods but methods for improving yourself physically and mentally, the value of katas is not limited to their value as a tool to teach fighting skills
• Kata can provide strength training
• Kata contain techniques that when properly studied and understood can be used in a real situation
• Kata actually teaches hidden pressure point techniques than are extremely dangerous and/or even lethal ^*

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, indeed, much as no two artists are alike, katas always have some degree of variation between karatekas, while the modern martial artist might train a combination of punches in a kata-like fashion. It is important to bear in mind that in most arts, kata is just one aspect of the style's overall training regimen.

"Kata" in the martial arts of other countries

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In Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo and Tangsudo (sometimes "Tang Soo Do"), the Korean word hyong is usually employed, though in some cases other words are used, such as ITF's use of the Korean word tul, WTF's use of the Korean word Taeguk, or simply the English translations "pattern" or "form."

In Vietnamese martial arts, e.g., Vovinam Viet Vo Dao the Vietnamese word Quyen is used.

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