My kata is awful help!?

Question

What mental approach am I lacking, I am have problems with my kata, never used to be an issue but its all falling apart!!!

Answer 1

Maybe you need to give your Kata some nice milka lol, i'm so sorry i couldn't help myself!!

Answer 2

Mushin:

The mental quality of mushin will  be developed through correct kata practise. ‘Mushin’ means ‘no mind’ and refers to a mind that is open and that is not fixed upon any particular object or thought.

It is common for the mind to become cluttered during combat with thoughts such as “I do not want to get hurt,” “I shall try this technique next,” “I am winning,” “They are winning,” “I am in pain” etc. A mind that is cluttered with such thoughts will be unable to fully devote itself to the task at hand and as a result will seriously hamper the effectiveness of any actions. The mind must be free of any clutter so that all actions are executed with one hundred percent efficiency. When first learning a kata it is common for the student to constantly think of which move is coming next. It is also common for thoughts such as, “This is feeling weak,” “This is feeling strong,” “I am tired,” “The next sequence is difficult” etc. to enter the mind during a kata. These thoughts must be avoided so that, after many years of practise, it will be possible for the karate-ka to perform the kata with little or no thought. This is not to be confused with day dreaming. The mind should be wholly present to the point were the karate-ka is not performing the kata but is the kata! When practising the katas be sure to avoid all extraneous thoughts so that mushin may be developed and enhanced.

Zanshin:

Zanshin is another important aspect of kata. Zanshin refers to a state of enhanced awareness that should exist before, during and after a technique is executed. A person in a state of zanshin will be totally aware of their surroundings and prepared for anything. The instant the opponent decides to attack, the person with zanshin will be aware of their intentions and will act accordingly.

Kata is all about preparing for real fights and you must, therefore, also be in a state of awareness before, during and after the kata. You would be foolish to conclude a fight and then let your awareness drop, as this will leave you vulnerable to further assaults. You would be equally foolish to rehearse something that could cause you harm during kata. You must finish the kata with your zanshin intact so that any further attacks (whether they are real or imaginary) can be appropriately dealt with. Good zanshin will enable you to avoid violent situations altogether, which should be the aim of all true martial artists. When performing the katas remain alert and do not let your thoughts wander elsewhere. Kata practise should aid the development of zanshin, which will in turn further enhance your fighting skill.

Sorry for the essay.

Answer 3

Maybe your thinking about it to much, thinking about what moves you have to do next and are messing up, it sometimes happens to me if I think about the moves to much.

Just do the kata and you should feel what move is right and what is wrong.

Answer 4

you're mentally blocking, probably getting distracted by something. doing it all with a blindfold is a trick.

Answer 5

could it be overtraining by any chance? My tai chi falls apart from tiredness or overtraining. Or stress of any kind on the mind which is unhelpful. maybe take a break and come back refreshed and see if it works.