If each style of Karate were to break their system down to 1 or 2 kata, would karate instruction be better?
Beatchanter asked:
There are many great fighters who dislike kata, but most of their experiences with them are dojos that burn through tons of kata, never truely making any of them their own. Many of the old Okinawan masters commented that in the 20th century, karate styles picked up too many kata, and no individual can master more than 1 or 2. (some, like Mabuni, who knew a ton, said you could master up to 4) Chojun Miyagi (Gojuryu’s founder) only ever taught a single student 2 or 3 kata. (Sanchin, and a more advance kata… often Seiuchin)
Each kata, it seems, is a fighting style in and of itself. Does it make sense that we do 20 or 30 of these for blackbelt? Wouldn’t our time be better spent mastering one kata, and learning what it teaches about fighting?
Were I to break my own style to 3 kata, I’d say Seisan, Sanchin and Sunsu. I think with these kata, Charts 1 and 2, Makiwara, and sparring, I could teach anyone to be a great fighter, and keep the traditional aspects of my system.
Andrea
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There are many great fighters who dislike kata, but most of their experiences with them are dojos that burn through tons of kata, never truely making any of them their own. Many of the old Okinawan masters commented that in the 20th century, karate styles picked up too many kata, and no individual can master more than 1 or 2. (some, like Mabuni, who knew a ton, said you could master up to 4) Chojun Miyagi (Gojuryu’s founder) only ever taught a single student 2 or 3 kata. (Sanchin, and a more advance kata… often Seiuchin)
Each kata, it seems, is a fighting style in and of itself. Does it make sense that we do 20 or 30 of these for blackbelt? Wouldn’t our time be better spent mastering one kata, and learning what it teaches about fighting?
Were I to break my own style to 3 kata, I’d say Seisan, Sanchin and Sunsu. I think with these kata, Charts 1 and 2, Makiwara, and sparring, I could teach anyone to be a great fighter, and keep the traditional aspects of my system.
Andrea
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:54 am
Mary
Chuck Norris roundhouse kick is the best fighting style. See the following example:
Chuck Norris sold his soul to the devil for his rugged good looks and unparalleled martial arts ability. Shortly after the transaction was finalized, Chuck roundhouse kicked the devil in the face and took his soul back. The devil, who appreciates irony, couldn’t stay mad and admitted he should have seen it coming. They now play poker every second Wednesday of the month.
February 25th, 2010 at 3:10 am
Adrian
If you don’t focus on everything being in absolutely perfect position, even learning the forty-something katas of shito-ryu isn’t a huge departure from conditioning and sparring. The point is to make the movements second nature. If that can be done with 3, 1 or zero katas, though you’d still end up doing informal drills, so much the worse for tradition.
February 26th, 2010 at 5:08 am
Alexander
How are they a good fighter if they don’t like forms? That just don’t make sense. As a kung Fu guy. I would guess that breaking their system down to 1 or 2 kata would not help karate instruction be better. In karate there is too many techniques. All they do is catalog of techniques, how to counter and recounter which can lead to a life long situation. In karate they focus too much in sparring. What good is sparring? Sparring in kung fu is just a test to fighting abilities. The peoples abilities determine their fighting ability. That is why you rarely see students rarely defeat their instructors or senior classmates in sparring. Sparring is only a test of skill, not the training to acquire fighting skill. Once you face your opponent, it is the training you did prior to entering the ring that will help you win.
Ability I don’t mean form or kata.
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I would like to add something about sparring one of my classmate he take karate and taekwon before and he also went into tournaments(point sparring). It was a time he has to use what he know in real fighting. He use and apply what he did in tournament and strike a guy and the guy is big. He was doing all the kicks and punches but it only felt like a soft touch to his oppenont. So therefore his training don’t work. That is why I don’t know what one can gain from sparring. Like I alway say. People in Karate they want to learn 30 techniques in 30 days. How many will they use? Even one technique is too much for you to remember.
February 27th, 2010 at 1:59 am
Kaden
ur right karate styls have picked up to many kata,
we only teach 9 required kata.
And does anyone realy master kata? or do they just find one that they like more than the rest?
February 28th, 2010 at 11:58 pm
Nicole
I have to agree advanced students usually pick one or two Kata and enjoy doing them. Sure they learn all the Kata that are required to gain rank in their respected MA but in my opinion most Kata are glamorized by tournaments and for shows which prompts students to get creative and some of those students open their own schools and incorporate these new kata into their own system. Which makes the Kata numbers grow.