Kata Training

A kata is like a secret textbook, containing the distilled life protection wisdom of warriors from times past. The more one studies a kata, the more one sees the depth of its contents. Unfortunately, kata training is often discounted by modern practitioners. It is said to take three years of diligent practice to develop one kata. Modern practitioners question why this so. Serious students must understand that it has never been easy to develop true life protection techniques. It required unwavering dedication for those ancient warriors whose knowledge is passed on in their kata. It requires no less of us today.

Taika Seiyu Oyata identifies five different training levels for kata training.

• Learn the sequence of the kata correctly

Memorization: In this level, you learn the individual moves of the kata. The kata gives you the basic ideas of how hands and feet move together for self defense. Each move must be performed correctly in the proper order, with each movement repeated until it becomes natural.

• Practice each movement of the kata slowly, with full power and concentration

Foundation: In this level, you cultivate strength, accuracy, coordination, and balance. Each move must be performed exactly, with correct angles and correct hand and feet positions. This step is like building the foundation of a large house. A great deal of perseverance, willpower, and concentration are required.

• Practice kata with full speed

Speed: In this level, you cultivate speed with accuracy. Strength without speed is useless for protection. A quick reaction is essential and can mean the difference between life and death. To move efficiently, you must learn to relax the body.

• Combine each movement of the kata with realistic timing, to be applicable for protection techniques

Timing: In this level, you develop a flexible and adaptable body and mind, to gain total control of the body. There is no time to think when attacked. You must react, using your body freely without losing control. To achieve this, kata must be practiced with soft and hard motions and with varied timing.

• Cultivate detailed protection movements, with accuracy and total body control

Application: In this level, you gain a complete knowledge of kata movements with the ability to apply that knowledge. The detailed and precise motions needed for effective techniques are added at this level. In this stage, mental and physical control are refined, and natural strength, speed, balance, and timing are cultivated.

References:

Oyata, Seiyu. Ryu-Te No Michi. Oyata Enterprises, Inc, 1998

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