(Approx 2 minute 30 second read)

Kata are an essential part of the foundation of your karate practice. They are what make karate different.
.
In the years since competition became all the rage in martial arts, and kata started becoming a performance art instead of combat training, or a way to pass the next grade. Many styles are not as interested in the ‘bunkai’ (analysis) and ‘oyo’ (application), or combative applications of kata. Many teachers today lack the information to help students become proficient in this area and just accept the often implausible explanations given for these applications.
.
But the kata remain, and serious students can use them to reconstruct the two-person drills, applications, and combat principles that have been tragically lost.
.
There are still sensei who study and practice the deeper meanings of kata, and they can point you in the right direction, but you have to explore on your own too.
.
Today, these changes in practice and application have created a modern system that has little to do with real self-defense or combat. Karate, as it’s commonly practiced today, is to a greater extent set ‘kumite’, competition or sport-oriented. Most practitioners have either never used it for self-defense or have only used it within the conditioned environment of the karate dojo.
.
Tsuguo Sakumoto, 9th-dan Ryuei-ryu, kata world champion, and teacher of world champions said, “We can find depth in the bunkai of kata. Through bunkai, we can reach a deeper understanding. For example, I think that there are many applied applications from one basic movement. So, I think that the depth of karate and the depth of kata is all about this. That’s the most important thing, isn’t it?”
.
I find this quote by Sakumoto sensei interesting because, although he is a teacher of the modern way, he understands the deeper meaning and the knowledge waiting to be explored within kata. You can learn all the technical skills you want. You can learn all the theories and understand the concepts down to the core. But what’s the point if you don’t know what to do with it?
.
Every movement has a purpose. There are no superfluous movements in kata. Every movement has function and meaning. Each kata has its own unique characteristics, its own subject matter. But you have to be aware that these movements, these principles exist in the applications of kata.
.
The techniques within kata have more than a single application and are not intended to be used in a self-defense situation exactly as performed in the solo representation. Instead, the techniques are born from principles. They are designed to suggest possible applications to given self-defense situations. And as such, kata techniques are open to interpretation.
.
Kata are not just rituals but essential tools for preserving and understanding the true essence of karate. By delving deeper, we uncover the profound knowledge they hold. It’s up to dedicated practitioners to explore these deeper meanings.
.
Many comments I receive inform me of kata’s irrelevance when there is MMA for today’s world. Interestingly, many techniques seen in modern MMA have their roots in traditional martial arts. This connection underscores the practicality and timelessness of kata when studied deeply.
.
Seek out knowledgeable sensei, engage in thoughtful study, and apply these timeless techniques to real-world scenarios. Through this ongoing exploration, we can ensure that the true essence of karate thrives, beyond mere performance and competition.
.
So don’t dismiss kata so easily. After all, kata are just movements of the human body.
.
AC