TECHNIQUES
- KATA
wadoryu kata
Official:
Pinan Shodan
Pinan Nidan
Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yondan
Pinan Godan
Kushanku
Naihanchi
Seishan (shitei gata)
Chinto (shitei gata)
Additional:
Jitte
Jion
Bassai
Wanshu
Rohai
Niseishi
videos kata
Shihan Ishikawa 8th dan demonstrated 2 days in a row
at the Budogala in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1984..
about kata
In the past martial arts were mysterious and esoteric and practised
in secrecy. The opponent was not supposed to know about the techniques
of his opponent, because this would put him into advantage. Kata is
to teach how to fight. A kata should be logic. To master something
you should practise hard, a kata offers this possibility. In a fixed
form you must move in different directions and practise several techniques
and principles that are useful in a fight. Techniques that are not
useful don’t belong in kata.
Kata is a method to teach principles, you can learn this by executing
the techniques in the correct way and understanding them. Every movement
in kata has a meaning. In kata, you never do something without reason.
In general, in kata, principles are the most important. Apart from
that practise of posture, effort, correct technique and balance is
essential. Every movement in kata is made to be practised without
an opponent. This means that the movement is not separate but continuous.
The movement is related to each other. Also, every movement has its
specific objective and principle. This can be using gravity, a firm
posture, good balance etcetera.
A kata should be alive, not dead. Imagining the opponent is essential!
You will very often see that people create all kinds of applications
with holds and locks. Use logic, not fantasy! Especially in arts like
karate, this should not be the case in kata. To use a kata efficiently
is not an easy task. Limiting yourself to logic explanations is therefore
essential when imagining the situation while you perform the kata.
This also confirms that movement is continuously and not separated.
There is an old saying that a kata must be studied for 3 years: “Kata
hitotsu sannen”. So becoming master in a kata takes years, if
not a whole life. The purpose of kata is to master the techniques
and principles from that kata and being able to automatically execute
them if needed in any situation. In other words, kata should become
part of your body. All the above is mainly about kata that is performed
by one person, but in essence this is the same for 2 person kata as
well. Karate used to have only kata for 1 person, while jujutsu and
kenjutsu had 2 person kata as well. This is called kumite gata. Just
like 1 person kata, kumite gata has a rhythm. A form is made with
a beginning and an end, in this way all aspects of martial arts can
be practised. Zanshin is of outmost importance before, during and
after any technique. This is expressed throughout the kata. Zanshin
is one of the most important factors in a fight, so it is very important
in kata as well. After all, kata is for teaching how to fight.
Coming back to rhythm, this is of great importance! A technique
should be effective. A technique is only effective when it is fully
completed. Therefore also in series there are pauses. The duration
of these pauses vary, depending on the objective and the logic of
the serie. This can be about the practical explanation (fight) and
also about the keypoints of the kata (balance, use of gravity, rotation
etc). If for example the objective in a jujutsu 2man kata is to unbalance
or control the opponent, the execution in kata should be to hold the
control for a (short) while longer instead of a quick lock or throw.
With good control (depending on the kind of technique) the opponent
can be hold unbalanced or locked as long as needed. As well this is
a training of kime and zanshin too.
Completing punches and strikes in karate is no different from kenjutsu.
In 2man kata from kenjutsu the distance is most of the time made incorrect
on purpose, so the cuts, strikes and punches can be fully completed.
Cutting every trainingpartner is off course unreal. But the most important,
the principle, good or less good visible will remain the same. Some
styles (for example Yoshin ryu jujutsu) thinks its more practical
to practise 2man kata with iaijutsu (drawing the sword) as well with
realistic distance. Mostly these forms exists as solo kata as well
(being able make complete movement) and as 2man kata, with in that
case practical distance. Then the control of the technique is an important
factor. Some styles added it officially to the curriculum, others
who practise could call it ohyo or henka waza.
In kata movement should be executed in such a way, that the objective
is fulfilled. Training of posture, balance, technique, effort, timing,
alertness and principles that are useful in a fight, that is the original
purpose of kata. Kata must therefore live. A dead kata is like a folkdance
and thus useless. Imagination of the opponents and the attacks and
defenses is essential.
Nowadays it serves the same purpose, but this goal should serve as
a mental training, to develop strong character that can live in harmony
and peace. This idea is expressed through “karate ni sente nashi”.
Karate has no first attack. This points to the physical, but as well
the mental/verbal attack. As a symbol, every kata starts with a defence.
So, it was always for defence.
“It is said that chivalry / military affairs symbolizes peace.
The character / ideogram for military affairs divides into two parts,
one to mean warfare or fighting, while the other part means to lessen.
An old saying states, ‘lessen warfare and conflict in the world
to establish peace and make life fruitful.” Thus, this statement
is essentially the meaning of the character / ideogram of military
affairs and this is the path of martial arts.”
– Hironori Ohtsuka, founder of wado ryu karate.
This is expressed through kata.
