香港國際松濤館空手道會 Shotokan Karate International of Hong Kong

KATA 型(Form) is the legacy left by the masters who created these techniques through grueling practices, personal encounters, spiritual and emotional experience. Consequently besides the fighting techniques used in real encounters it is also a form of gymnastics (that may be applied to physical rehabilitation) and a philosophy.

Fighting an imaginary opponent in a given KATA is a personal challenge and only through this form of mental training the martial art has a value. The Shodoka 書道家(calligrapher) creates art form on white paper with sumi水墨 (black ink), likewise the Budoka 武道家(exponent of the way of martial arts) expresses his personality with his techniques. When performing a KATA, to remain calm and with a clear mind, we must always concentrate and maintain our Ki 氣 until the last movement. We should co- ordinate the mind and power in each movement with proper breathing.

Once every three times the KATA should be performed without any power to learn how to tense and relax the proper muscles. Concentrating our Ki 氣 below the navel area where it is the most efficient will help the body to relax and will clear the mind, thus, every technique performed with either hands or feet will have a life of its own. I would like to suggest this form of training when performing a KATA.

We must practice the numerous and basis techniques in SHOTOKAN KATA and always adapt them to our technical level. This is one of the main points to understand KATA and would like to suggest the readers to bear this in mind."

The main difference in styles and teaching methods of KARATE-DO is clearly shown in KATA.
When performing a KATA, it is important to maintain the same serious attitude as in KUMITE, equally important as mentioned in volume one is to stay calm and with a clear mind. I would like to insist on this important point to enable you to express the true meaning of KATA.

KATA was an integral part of martial art training. The original form was the solitary and repeated practice as opposed to the students performing at the same time under the instructor's command in a DOJO. This is a beginner's form. KATA is mastered when the techniques of defense and counterattacks are combined with proper breathing.

KATA practice is not meant for demonstration, but to help us improve through its study our ability in KUMITE and later make a practical application in a real encounter. Consequently the essence of KATA is not beauty of the movement but efficiency in the movement. When the performer can communicate the impression of beauty and power and mainly if the same feeling can be projected if viewed from behind, he may claim mastery of the KATA.

Actually there is a great tendency to practice extensively the KATA we prefer forgetting the others. If we view KARATE as a form of self-defense, we should also endeavor to practice the other KATA because all the techniques are not included in a KATA only."

(Selected from the books: Shotokan Karate International KATA Volumes 1&2, written by Soke Kanazawa)