One of the oldest forms of martial arts training is the practice of techniques in a choreographed pattern. Each pattern has it's own name and purpose. This is known primarily as "Kata", taken from the Japanese language. Korean schools call it "poomsae" and most Westerners just call it a "form". Regardless of what name you use, it's the same thing and most martial arts schools swear by it and regard it as the most important aspect of one's training. However, I disagree.
My opinion on Kata comes from my approach to martial arts, which is that of a full contact practitioner and one who strives to be prepared in the event of a realistic altercation. The basic theory behind Kata is that the continual practice of the technique will allow it to be perfected and ready for application and that the discipline required for this practice will ready one's mind.
Many instructors, such as a Wing Chun instructor I spoke to, also argue that Kata helps the practitioner remember the many techniques of their chosen martial art. A Tae Kwon Do instructor I spoke to went so far as to say that Kata "is the basis of ALL sparring". There are several flaws in this entire line of thinking. Lets begin with the idea that rehearsing Kata will ready your technique.
I agree that people who continually practice Kata have good looking techniques. I don't think there's any argument about that. The problem is that a good looking technique is not necessarily a realistic and efficient technique. The main problem comes with the fact that Kata, with a few exceptions such as Kendo, is not practiced against a target or an opponent. There is no way to judge your distance, timing, accuracy, or power. Imagine a baseball player who practices fielding pretend baseballs, throws baseballs at the air instead of to a team mate, and practices his batting without having a ball thrown to him. It doesn't take Mickey Mantel to tell you that when the time comes, this individual isn't going to perform very well. Why then, when it comes to fighting, is there such a difference? I don't think there is. When you practice, make contact against targets. You can practice all the same techniques and learn to add power, timing, and distancing at the same time. Hitting the air will not prepare you for hitting a person.
Can Kata help you remember the techniques? Of course, any type of repetition will help muscle memory. But a problem arises. The techniques in Kata are performed with incorrect movements. When someone throws a punch during a Kata, their stance is usually far too wide. When your stance is too wide, you cannot move freely or use effective footwork. Your legs are also very vulnerable to cut kicks. The next step of the punch requires the student to draw the punch back. This is a serious mistake in sparring and a deadly mistake during a real altercation. When you draw any technique back, you are telegraphing your movements. You might as well wear a sign with your intentions written on it. Then the punch is snapped out and held at it's extended point for a brief moment. This pause is meant to allow the practitioner's instructor to view the form of the punch. However, this promotes one of the biggest mistakes in all fighting which is leaving gaps in your offense. Gaps in your offense will create the gaps in your defense. If you pause at any moment, you are vulnerable to a counter attack and will most likely be hit by one. It's called "waiting for a receipt" or "asking for an autograph". There is also a major flaw in the application of defensive postures during Kata. Practitioners will draw their rear hand back to their hip when throwing a punch. This is highly unrealistic. You should keep your rear hand up by your chin. Your opponent is not trying to hit you on the side of the hip. Of course, instructors will say, as my instructor said to me at one time, that you should first learn this "proper form" but you won't use the techniques in this manner when actually fighting. Then why practice them that way? This cannot be equated with any other sport. All other athletic endeavors require their practitioners to practice movements the same way they will use them in competition. Kata does help you to memorize the techniques but you are memorizing them in an unrealistic fashion.
Now lets take on the idea that Kata is the basis for "ALL sparring". Is the practice of these choreographed routines necessary for one to become an efficient combatant? The answer is no. Boxing, Kickboxing, wrestling, Muay Thai, and Jiu-jitsu are just a few examples of fighting arts that do not use Kata and these arts turn out world class fighters on a regular basis. When you think about it, how can a choreographed routine possibly prepare someone for a fight in which there are no set patterns or movements. Fights are always chaotic and the very nature of combat is centered around the fact that your opponent will resist your intentions. Lets go back to our baseball player. Imagine now that his entire team practices the same way he does. Lets also add the idea that his team practices entire choreographed games with no actual opponent. Imagine they told you that this method of practice is "the basis of ALL baseball". You would know they were crazy. But when a seventh degree "Grand Master" tells you about Kata, you sit and listen to his "wisdom", and join this practice in hopes of one day becoming a master through it's application. It's no different than the fake baseball game. Real opponents do not follow choreographed patterns and routines. It's just not going to happen in the universe we live in. By the way, if Kata is the basis for ALL sparring, where are the katas for ground fighting? Think about that for a while.
Does this mean that a martial artist should not practice Kata? Not necessarily. Although not an efficient method of preparing for combat, it may be useful for elderly practitioners who may not enjoy hitting a heavy bag or sparring anymore. Kata is also part of the traditional art form of many martial arts styles. If you are looking into martial arts for traditional purposes or learning a specific style as an art form, then you should practice the Kata. I do not practice Kata and because of this I do not claim to be a practitioner of any one specific style. I am simply a free style martial arts practitioner who focuses on full contact and training for realistic altercations. For this purpose, I have no need of Kata. In the end, the choice of learning Kata is neither right nor wrong, just don't expect it to save your life.
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