For those that practice Kata, what do you interpret the Kata for?

Question

What I mean is, what are you looking for with each interpretation? Are there more than one? How do you interpret the Kata?

Answer 1

Well, I am having troubles with Yahoo so I am slow to answer.

And then you posted more details and answered half of my answer..ha ha.

You said:

What I am looking for is how you go about seeing what you should see in the Kata... as a whole (conceptual meaning), as a broken down series (emphasis of conceptual meaning and flow), as individual movements (specific design and hidden aspects).

So, yeah, that is what I was going to say.

I also look for commonality and "principles" in the kata.

An easy easy example of this idea from Goju would be to see how there are a lot of hip and snapping in Saifa kata. (Sorry, really basic example, but it is bedtime..haha).

Answer 2

I did a lot of poomsae (Korean word for Kata) when I studied Tae Kwon Do.  We were taught that it was very useful to study and practice the poomsae for a number of reasons:

1) Exercise - the more advanced poomsae in Tae Kwon Do are quite athletic.  Doing 4 or 5 of them with full power and speed was a mini-workout, and doing a couple of them at 80% power and speed was a really good warmup.

2) Technique - when done correctly, forms can help you work on technique - balance, power, defense, and strikes.  Minor adjustments to your technique in form can be of great benefit in sparring for balance and coordination (very much like shadowboxing).

3) Practical Application - we were taught to visualize what scenarios we could utilize any form or part of a form.  We also took the parts of the poomsae and practiced them with a partner in "situational" drills.  So one student would throw a particular kick/punch, and the other would use aspects of the form to block/counter or otherwise defend against the attacker's move.

4) Unity - there is something unique about doing a given form with a group of peers.  Every student would perform a couple of poomsae together as a class - hearing the snap of 15 uniforms and the exhale from 15 punches really seems to build a sense of togetherness for a class.  Not practical necessarily, but it was a good feeling of unity.

That's just what I was taught - the forms are not the only way of learning, but IF USED PROPERLY they can be a great tool for any student.  They shouldn't be the ONLY tool, but they certainly can help.  Lots of people think they are useless or outdated, but I think those people are mis-informed as to what kata / forms can really be used for.

Answer 3

A kata is somewhat like the tae kwon do forms.  The kata is like except katas are to be done quicker than forms, and are used to see how far you have came along with technique and speed.

Answer 4

I look at the kata that I am working on and I try and figure out what is going on with the kata. I look at each move and try to figure out what I am actually doing. sometimes I come up with a few different options for the same move. I also look at where I land and think of other things I can do from that position. kind of like a self taught bunkai.

Answer 5

I look at what it could possibly be used for. If I can use the same movement on both left and right side limb attacks.

If I can attack how ever many vital points if I defend same arm - inside or outside, which ones become available to me with opposite arm, inside or outside attacks.

I look for whether or not the technique leaves me vulnerable if I go inside or outside.

Does the technique spit, swallow, sink or float? These are self explanatory. No need for interpretation.

These are just some of the concepts - The techniques are a whole different area of analysis.

This is not even the beginning.

I have to go to bed soon.

Ok, next day!...

I also look for negative movement application...

Answer 6

I'm sorry, but in order so I can let you know about my interpretation of a Kata is to let you know the REAL meaning of a kata or what it is. A kata was never intended to be competition oriented. The reason for a Kata was to train your techniques in the air due to the fact that not only did the idea of sparring or competition did not exist, but these techniques were only used to kill, thus where the name Martial Arts come from. Martial meaning "war". Weapons Katas existed too. It is not uncommon back in the past when the katas ended with the person practicing it pointing at a different direction from whence he started. The reason was that there was NO JUDGE in front of the practitioner to evaluate his techniques, and again the practitioner ends his Kata pointing in a different direction from where he started

I train in Kenpo Karate deriving from KaJuKenBo. We call our Katas 'Pinnons'. There's a reason, but I'm not going to explain that, but just so you know

Answer 7

I think it all depends on what form of martial art your talking about, like in Capoiera kata is like a dance you do before you do a kick or flip.

Answer 8

hey kempo guy it's spelled pinan's, and I am quite sure Arron j knows what they are for, just as I do. That being said I know there are many interpretations of each technique in kata. It might not work the way it's lay ed out in the kata, however if you picture the attack at a different angle, it will work for that. I find an interpretation that works for me, and stick with it, playing and modifying it so that it becomes mine.

Most of mine are really in close fighting techniques. Also as a teacher, i have to be able to offer multiple reasons for it so that someone who is different can have something effective. I do ot interpret the kata, unless it is as a series of short fights, not one long one. The kata is really not importent, it is what is in it that is.