Kata means, “form.” In karate the word refers to the method of practice by which students go through a series of techniques that have been arranged in a particular order. All Japanese martial arts, such as kendo and judo, have kata practice, but karate is the only one in which kata can be done by just one person.
You have probably seen a karate kata even if you did not know what the word meant until now. It is an exercise that can look like an intricate dance. Students throw punches, kicks and other techniques in the air, imagining opponents coming at them from all directions. Sometimes, it is very clear from their movements what they are doing. Other movements are more mysterious, and only experts who have studied karate for a long time know what they mean.
By repeating kata properly, over and over, your techniques will gradually improve, because proper form is the secret to striking with the most force and speed. Kata also develops balance, coordination, and mental discipline. It’s not easy to practice a kata repeatedly with concentration, yet this is precisely what is required in proper kata training.
Another important aspect of kata is that it makes you a part of something bigger than yourself. Remember, your fellow classmates all study the same kata, and so did your instructor. If you attend a very traditional karate school, the kata you practice may be hundreds of years old, first developed by the great masters in ancient Okinawa or even China. And as you improve your karate to the point where you are teaching the kata to your own students, they will also be carrying on this important tradition.
As you practice your kata, make sure each technique is as close to perfection as you can make it. Pay a great deal of attention to your stances, as techniques tend to appear very sloppy if you are not standing properly. Also, learn how to breathe properly and relax, as this will produce the best results.
Most important, however, is respecting your kata. You can do this by bowing properly before and after performing each one. By bowing you are recognizing the kata’s tradition and history, and the efforts of all karate students who worked hard to learn it before you.
