“I don’t mean to suggest that I have a totally negative opinion about karate-do’s competitive element, it’s just that I feel that it is too shallow. Regardless of whether it is Okinawa, the Japanese mainland, or the world in general, jiu-kimite (free sparring) ignores the principles to which kata apply. Simply put, jiu-kumite should reflect the kata, because kata is the origin of karate-do. If there is no kata, it is not karate-do, just kicking and punching.” ??
.
Shōshin Nagamine (15 July 1907 – 2 November 1997) Matsubayashi-ryu
.
.
To practice karate as a pragmatic system, kata needs to be actively studied, as opposed to just ‘practiced’. Gichin Funakoshi considered the practice of kata without learning to apply them in live situations to be ‘ useless’.
.
Numerous other masters were also very critical of karateka who only emphasize the aesthetic performance of the kata. To my mind, without in-depth study of bunkai (kata application), kata practice loses all meaning. We should always keep in mind that kata were created to record fighting techniques and principles.
.
.
With thanks to Iain Abernethy.
.
.
? Photo Credit: Shugyokan dojo