How do you interpret kata technique?

Question

what are the rules for doing so ?

Answer 1

As it stands, for me, having the kata so imprinted in my subconscious, I use visualization to some extent.

After having been punched and kicked at by so many different types - body, weight, height, mass, experience levels, for sooo many years, I have a pretty good perception of the mechanics of the anatomy.

It's something that happens after much contemplation... and I could be quite anal regarding contemplation.

Once it comes to me, I look for someone - usually my sweetheart, who absolutely hates being my uke, but since she's the closest person to me always... well.

I first ask to hold out the hand, arm/limb so I can get the first feel for the mechanics.

Sometimes I watch sparring matches and I might see an exchange and it comes to me. Again I will find someone to apply it on.

Other times one of my buddies would randomly try to swing at me or pull my beard or something and would wind up in a wristlock or some kind of grapple and screaming for me to let go. These are the best type, because you never know when your close friends are going to try to mess with you. I only allow this type of horsing around with close friends or my son.

Randori is another way I have discovered some bunkai and is one of my favorite training methods.

It offers so much benefit in that it develops reflexes, continuity, it's fun as heck and teaches you to always stay alert.

Irikumi is the next step up where randori is just like playing.

For the most part, I continuously do a movement of any random technique. Repetition is the key to being able to apply your art.

Answer 2

Well I interrprit them according to the original BUNKAI or application of them.

If they make sense in the interpretation than I can understand the Kata, so few as we once spoke about truly do this and most do not even know why they are doing the moves they are doing.

Only when you take the time to learn the true meanings and application of the true good Kata can you interpret them correctly in my opinion. and only a Rare few can do so.

We are lucky to have several members here that can!!

Answer 3

First of all it helps if you know the kata. But if I am judgeing a kata from a different style or non-traditional kata I used the following to determine score.

Stances

Techniques

Power

variance of speed

showmanship

does your kata standout more than others?

Does the partcipant appear to know the kata and work it or do they appear tp be going through the motions.

Attitude

Level or difficulty of the kata

A few years ago, I saw a ederly black belt doing a weapons kata. It was supposed to be traditional katas only no more than 3 minutes long. He used 3 different weapons for his 10 minutes kata. He dropped every weapon several times. He started over several times. It was embarrassing. That event had a divison for non-traditional katas. But he shouldn't have competed in that either. The kata was too long and boring and poorly done.

Answer 4

Great question but not an easy one to answer. I tend to follow bunkai similar to that Seiyu Oyata teaches.  As for the rules of how to interpret kata, it seems to vary a little from style to style. One of the first things I tell my students is to pay attention to the rear hand. In many techniques one hand will strike, punch, (or do what appears to be a block). The other hand is doing something else. To understand the technique assume that both hands are required to make the technique work. While it is not always true it is a lot of the time.  An example is in many kata. As you step forward you execute a spearhand thrust with your right hand to the midsection. The left arm bends ar the elbow and by the time the spearhand stops the tip of the middle finger of the left hand is touching the inside of your right arm at the elbow.   While this can be a spearhand to Stomach 9. It is also used in a totally different way.  Imagine an attacker punches with his right fist. You use the palm of your left hand to re-direct (Not Block) his punch past your right hip. At the same time you are re-directing his punch your right hand spears forward slightly below the attackers right elbow. At the last instant you snap the spearhand up so that the bone connecting your index finger to you wrist strikes the inside of the attackers right elbow on a Heart point.  If practiced enough you will end up re-directing his punch while simultaneoously striking the inside of his elbow. Continuing the motion results in you pulling the attackers elbow up and to you while re-directing his fist behind his back.  If you are successful at this point the attacker is on one knee with his right arm behind his back and the back of his head exposed, for a strike to the GB 20

A simpler example is the stacked fist. Many styles have a kata move with both fist palm to palm at on hip. This can be interpreted as a wrist lock against a cross hand wrist grab.  The attacker grabs your right wrist with his right hand. You cover his fingers by placing the fingers of your left hand on top of his. as you do this you rotate his wrist so as to execute what some call a vertical lock on his wrist.  A more involved version

of this technique takes it a little further. In this version you will step back an turn 90 degrees while dropping into a horse stance. As you are doing the turn you will also drop your left elbow on top of his right elbow. Now you have both a wrist lock and an elbow lock on his right wrist and elbow.

Kata must be looked at as if each position or move is the only one. In other words there are no multiple attackers as many believe. Each static position and each movement can be explained in terms of locks strikes, throws, ...etc.  

In many kata there may be one or two places where you back up or turn 90 degrees and back up while settling into a low stance. Usually this indicates some type of joint lock being applied to the attacker.

Cat stances can mean many things. If the front foot has only the tip of the toes touching the floor I assume that it means that I would use a toe kick to the inside of the attackers leg on the liver or Spleen meridian.  Cat stances having the ball of the foot on the floor can mean that you are kicking or that you will be stepping on the attackers foot while applying a technique to him with your hands.  Many techniques to the body and head have a much stronger effect if done while pressing on the attackers foot on one of the meridians.

I could go on and on with this but I've already said more than some people should know.

One great thing about bunkai is that different styles may have legitimate bunkai that is a totally different interpretation. As long as it uses the body's meridians and nerves to create an effective self-defense technique it is fine.

Edit: Sensei you are a brave man to attempt to use your sweetie as uke. I shutter at the thought of asking my wife to be an uke. She has not trained since the mid 1980's but still is very good at getting finger locks on me.

Answer 5

Kata should be interpreted as a mock battle with an opponent. The moves in your Kata should work with an attacking or defending opponent. Think of your applications as you preform your Kata. Try it with an opponent or several coming at you in succession. It is for you to work out the interpretation. If you do not do it this way at least in your mind it is nothing more than an elaborate dance.

Answer 6

If you want to figure out what a move is for in a form/kata, imagine an invisible attacker(or get a friend) to try a variety of attacks from a variety of angles.  If the move looks like a block, it is most likely a block but it could be a forearm strike if you are close enough,etc.

Try a few options, but don't force an application.   If you have to change the move to make it work, it isn't from that form.  Remember the technique cause it might be in another form later.

By doing this, I have gone back and found technique in forms I learned years ago.

Answer 7

Interpret Kata based on application-how can certain moves be translated as a means of defense or offense (attacks).  Every kata has its own application, despite of how useless it appears when you are going through the motions

Answer 8

Kata, in Traditional styles, is the base of technique, training, and understanding of the style in which is practiced. There is less emphesis on Kata is Sport Martial Arts.

Answer 9

For the record, it was I who reported you, Mr. self-pronounced troll. I have teenage children who act more mature than you are acting. Please grow up and find  a useful pursuit to engage in, least you waste away in the lawn chair you have sitting in front of the computer in mommy's basement.

To the question: I am fortunate enough to have an instructor who demonstrates application of new techniques as we progress through our training. Additionally, I perform tul as if I am in a "mock" battle, and each movement is performed with emphasis. This serves to add realism to the technique, and when my instructor adds an actual opponent to the mix, the combination will usually cause that "click", and the technique will make more sense.

To me, tul are a means to teach new techniques as well as reinforce already-learned ones. As time has passed for me, I have found that I am able to "automatically" perform certain techniques, particularly those which have shown up in each new tul. Being able to perform those techniques without conscious thought allows me to better analyze and "perfect" the new techniques, each new one building on an old one.

Will techniques be performed in the deliberate manner they are executed in the tul? Without question, no. But the repetition of the technique reinforces the oft mentioned  muscle memory associated with it.