Kingstowne Karate Dojo June 2007 News Letter

Code of Kata (The Dance):

Old Sensei Kata (aka) Form: is a set pattern of movements which contains a series of logical and practical attacking and blocking techniques. In each kata there are certain set or predetermined movements which the student can practice alone, without a partner. These Kata's have been created by past masters after many years of research, training, and actual combat experience. The applications of the techniques in Kata's have evolved from and have been tested in actual combat. In this way each kata has been improved and refined, and has evolved into the Kata we practice today.

Kata as Training for Mental Control: Kata should not be considered as solely physical performance, it is the spirit of the performance that is the essence of the Kata. The right spirit must be presented in order to follow the principle of maximum efficiency. You must be in correct mental state for practice to be effective, attention cannot be paid only to the mechanics of the Kata but to harmonious cooperation of mind and body. As we develop certain reflexes we also must develop certain mental qualities to accompany those reflexes as proper spirit to each technique, a certain alertness or full mind by which we can control the opponent and respond to him. Kata helps us to transcend beyond merely mechanical reaction to the many circumstances we could encounter into a level of "unconscious" reaction which we don't know what our action would be while doing it. Through Kata we can transcend techniques so that Karate becomes an "artless art", this is the level of mastery.

Freestyle (Open) Kata or Form: sometimes referred to as Sport or Open Kata, were created by true martial arts Black Belts. These Katas were created for the purposes of sport, conditioning, or spiritual reasons. Like the masters of the past, Freestyle Katas have many hidden meanings and secret hidden techniques within their forms.

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