The Purpose of Kata

[blairmacg]

If you talk about martial arts long enough, someone will eventually say, "What's the point of kata? You can't use it in a real fight. The only thing kata is good for is tournaments

Comments

[thanate]

You make me want to work out a fencing kata. I keep falling out of fencing because everyone else gets all competitive, and I'm more interested in the movements and interactions of movement.

[blairmacg]

oh, that would be awesome!!

I love running kata at different speeds, each for a different purpose, for that very reason. Learning how one's body transitions from one movement to another, holds center, and "activates" before a strike is fascinating.

[queenoftheskies]

Learning kata sounds both difficult and rewarding at the same time.

When you use the term "center", are you using it in a physical sense? I've heard it used as a "spiritual/focusing" term, too, so I wondered.

Thank you for this wonderful post.

[blairmacg]

I'm using the term here in a physical sense as in "your center of gravity." We maintain balance and agility best when that center remains just below our waist, kinda seated in the pelvis.

I have a blast showing kids how to center in order to keep others from picking the up. :)

[jazzfish]

Just so you know, I've had this open in a tab since you wrote it, and I keep coming back and digesting small bits of it. Thank you. :)

[blairmacg]

Oh, good! I'm so glad. :)