What are some concepts you like to go over when interpreting a kata?

Question

Do you train these concepts specifically while sparring too?

I have some experience, so I'm not out for a lesson. Just looking to see what others are doing, aside from talking about beating up people. If I don't understand something I will ask you.

Answer 1

Good question. First I try not to interprit the whole kata all at once. i like to take small sections and work them and then plug it back into the kata. This allows me to take say a move in the kata that looks as if th attacker is directly in front, and se if maybe while doing the techniques I have actually moved to say an inward 45 to my opponent. the biggest thing I look for when starting is attack angles. What direction is the attack coming from, and what ange can I tak to give me the biggest advantage? Next I look at which target areas present themselves from this angle.many times a down block will b more effective if it is turned into a hammerfist.

Next I look at what am I doing with my stance. Am i unbalancing him? Am i moving after i have grabbed something to do a throw or sweep? Is there a lock or a choke in the motion?  

I find that the looking at angles of attack translate well into sparring, and moving into corret position withou really giving it much thought.

Answer 2

Not an easy question to answer but here are some general guidelines.

Does the technique leave the opponent incapable of an easy follow up blow or make it impossible altogether.

Or does it unbalance or uproot his posistion or stance to the point he is easily thrown to the ground.

Can it be an armlock or armbar or arm break.

Does it reveal pressure points and allow easy acces to strike them.

Can it be used to preempt an attack and strike him 1st without blocking.

If it does one or more of these things you are on the right track but you must have a working knowledge of throws arm locks and breaks.

You must also understand the "language " of kata or what the masters are trying to tell you thru the kata they left behind.Once understood you will never view kata the same again or your art for that matter .

Kata is of little use for sparring or contests but was designed to be nasty and brutal and decisive from the very 1st move in a self defense situation.

Kata is not an excercise to fight several opponents at once as each move represents one attacker not one among several.

What kata do you do?

Between my answer and katana and pugpaws answers you pretty well have the entire language of kata.Another thing to consider many natural reflex actions/reactions are hidden as formal rigid movements in kata .The posing of the fist at the hip most kata haters laugh at means something else entirely as it represents pulling an opponents striking hand down to clear the way for your strike.If it actually meant you had to pose your hand in the hip posistion before striking I would laugh at it also.

Go to you tube and bring up the BLAUR SPEAR SYSTEM you will see many kata flinch or reflex actions performed as a defence  against sudden attack one in particular is the opening move to 3 different kata. .Mr BLAUR teaches police seminars world wide and is an authority on close quarters combat.

Answer 3

The basics, always returning to the basics . . . .

Fine tune everything.  Every angle of every part of the body from the direction of the feet and hands, bend in the legs and arms, tilt of the hips and torso, even where the eyes and ears are focused.  Every turn, twist and spin of each and every movement.  Distance on every step, every stance, every extension.  Every connection from the contact with the ground to each connection thru the body to the final destination upon impact whether strike, block, throw or lock.  The speed of each movement, the lack of movement that still has movement.    Attention to every detail in practicing the kata improves the understanding of the purpose of the practice and reveals what is hidden.

Edit:  My answer remains the same.  It's all there . . .

Answer 4

I intentionally waited to give my answer. It will be only a little of how I interpret kata. A few (but not all )of the concepts to keep in mind are:

1) there are no multiple attackers. Each move or stationary position has several interpretations against one attacker.

2) both hands are almost always involved. People are so busy thinking about the hand that is moving towards the attacker that they miss the fact that the rear hand is doing something important which makes the front hand more effective.

3) Parts of kata where a technique is done three times, means that the technique will work on either side of an attacker. However the real application is more effective if applied to the attackers left side (Nearer to the heart).

4) and time you have forward moves followed by a move where you step back, turn 90 degrees and drop into a low stance, Indicates a joint lock. By stepping back you are pulling the attacker off balance while dropping your weight allowing you to apply the joint lock more easily and with greater effect.

5) Cat stances can indicate one of several things:

A) a kick is not being shown, but is there.

B) A toe kick (depending on the position of the front foot)

C) You are meant to step on the attackers foot (pressure points) while applying another technique with your hands.

6) There is not one set bunkai/application for a move. There are many.

7) All techniques in a kata are meant to use pressure points in some way.

8) Pressure points are not always applied in order to create pain. Example: While applying what some people call a vertical lock (attackers hand is in front of your center line. his fingers are pointing at your center line, and his thumb is pointing down).  As you apply the lock with one hand you press lightly on one of several points on the attackers forearm  

with the tip of a finger (his large intestine meridian).  In doing so the place where your finger is pressing does not create any pain, but the joint lock pain goes up greatly.

There are many other keys to understanding kata. This does not even scratch the surface of the subject. Hopefully it will be of help to others.

All the best!

EDIT: Katana   brought up a good point.

Many times the stance facing 45 degrees from the main line of the kata indicates that you will position yourself at 45 degrees from the attacker to execute the technique.

Answer 5

I haven't been training as long as you, but I'll give your question a shot.

Looking past the obvious in short, pretty sure it's called ' oku den' or hidden technique.  

We sometimes have to interpret our own application of the kata, before or after being shown the set bunkai.

Answer 6

I start with each direction change and work out possible attacks I'm defending with the moves as taught to me.  Then I think about things like, could that punch be a push, or block be a strike?  Then as I work that out I'll also think about level changes or different angles.  Then I'll start thinking about the direction changes themselves, what am I seeing, am I being efficient in the move, am I covering myself based on the attach I see coming.

I will also talk to others who have known the kata for a long time or learned it from a different instructor. On occasion I'll find something written about it as well.

For people who think you learn a kata in a day or two, they are nuts.  It takes years, even a lifetime to "know" a kata.