FAQ

The Kata-A-Thon is a day push your limits and test your endurance, punctuated by fun "Bonus Challenges" and inspiring advanced performances.

There are two different challenges that participants can join, completing up to 100 katas or 500 kicks.  The event is divided into separate rounds - 11 rounds for the kata challenge and 5 rounds for the kick challenge.  You can participate in as many rounds as you want.  After each round, participants will get to watch instructors and high rank students perform an advanced Showcase Kata.  The wide variety of Showcase Katas will demonstrate the breadth and depth of Cuong Nhu, including weapons, animal styles, and soft style.

The Kata Challenge gives participants a chance to do as many as 100 katas, over the course of 11 rounds.

Participants must know First Form well enough to do it alone to join the Kata Challenge.  Note that the Kick Challenge is designed for students who are not yet ready for the Kata Challenge.

For the Kata Challenge, there are two katas to choose from each round, a higher level kata in the Upper Ring and a lower level kata in the Lower Ring.  The Upper Ring katas will include Pinan 1 through Chinte.  The Lower Ring katas will include First Form through Pinan 1 (participants in the lower ring can always choose to do First Form instead).  

Each round, participants will do the same kata a total of 9 times: 4 times with an instructor counting, 1 with a surprise “bonus challenge,” and finally 4 times as a group within their ring without a count.  After each round, participants will get a short break to watch the advanced Showcase Kata before the next round begins.

The Kick Challenge is new in 2025, giving younger and newer students a chance to participate in the event.  This challenge is designed for kids below yellow belt. Yellow stripe kids who can do Taikyoku on their own may join the Kata Challenge with instructor permission.

In the Kick challenge, participants have a chance to do as many as 500 kicks, over the course of 5 rounds.  It runs during the second half of the Kata Challenge.  

Each round, participants will do the same kick a total of 100 times, in 5 sets of 20 kicks.  The final set of kicks will have a surprise “bonus challenge” as well.  After finishing the 100 kicks, participants will have a break while the Kata Challenge finishes their round, and then they will get to watch the advanced Showcase Kata before the next round begins.

You can register here.  The suggested donation is $15 for the Kick Challenge participants and $30 for the Kata Challenge participants.  Everyone can participate regardless of donation amount.  T-shirts are $25 after tax and can be ordered when registering (order by August 1st). All after-tax proceeds from this event (donations and shirt sales) go to the Redwood Dojo Scholarship Fund. 

The expected schedule is here.  If some rounds run longer, the second half or potluck may start a little later.

The check-in table will be at the pavilion (the shade structure next to the Recreation Center).  All participants should plan to check in 10-15 minutes before their starting round.  Potluck items should be dropped off in the designated area at this time. 

Arrive 15 minutes before the start time of your first round.  Adults are encouraged to start at the first half (check-in at 9:45 am).  Kids may also start for the first half or can join after the break for the second half (check-in at noon).

The Kata-A-Thon will be outside in the park.  There will not be as much direct supervision as there is in class, particularly if participants sit out some rounds.  Younger children who want to do one or two rounds and sit out to watch other rounds should have an adult with them.  Older kids who plan to participate in all rounds can stay without a parent if they are responsible enough to stay in the Kata-A-Thon area.  The playground will not be supervised (and is currently closed for construction). 

Showcase Katas are advanced katas performed by high rank students and instructors.  Sensei Lara will speak to you ahead of time if you are invited to perform one of these katas.  These not-to-be-missed performances will include weapons, animal styles, and soft style.  Each round will include one showcase kata.

All participants are invited to join the final Showcase performance of Taikyoku.  Taikyoku or "First Cause" is the first kata that Cuong Nhu students learn and is the foundation of many that follow.

Each round of the Kata Challenge has two rings, one higher level kata (Pinan 1 through Chinte) and one lower level kata (First Form through Pinan 1).  The full list of katas for the Kata Challenge is here.  

The Kick Challenge includes the 4 kicks learned before yellow belt.  The full list is here.

Yes!  

The Kata Challenge is designed for teens and adults of all ranks, as well as kids yellow belt and above.  The goal of the challenge is to practice and push yourself, to whatever degree works for you.  Students who knows Taikyoku and higher may join the Kata Challenge.

The Kick Challenge is a new addition in 2025, designed for kids below yellow belt (ages 4 & up).  This challenge is ideal for younger students and those kids who are not yet ready to do Taikyoku on their own.  Yellow stripe kids who want to try the Kata Challenge may do so with instructor permission.

Yes! Everyone is encouraged to come and watch. You’ll see Cuong Nhu katas from white belt to black belt and beyond.  With bonus challenges and showcases interspersed throughout, it promises to be an exciting event.  If you are just watching, you do not need to register.

The Kata-A-Thon is designed to give you a chance to challenge yourself but is also structured in a way that allows you to pace yourself and take breaks.  

You can choose to sit any round out and then join back in on a later round.  There will be a longer break halfway through the event.  Younger kids (or students who don’t know as many katas) may want to start at the halfway point for the Kick Challenge or part of the Kata Challenge. 

The full Kata Challenge is 100 katas over 11 rounds.  The full Kick Challenge is 500 kicks over 5 rounds. How many rounds you challenge yourself with is up to you.  

Of course, we all love katas! Keep practicing at home and in class, not just at special events :)

Outside Redwood Dojo, on the Redwood Heights Recreation Center field, 3883 Aliso Ave, Oakland.  The parking lot will fill up, but street parking is available.

All participants should come in their gi and closed-toe shoes.  Since we will be outside on the grass, there will be some uneven terrain (and sometimes gopher holes), so please wear good foot-wear and be aware of your footing.  Sunscreen and water bottles are also recommended as the kata area will not be in the shade.  Higher rank students who know weapon katas should bring their bo and tambo.

Spectators can watch from under the trees, so there should be some shade.  Feel free to bring folding chairs or something to sit on.

Anything you’d like!  The potluck will start after the Kata-A-Thon at about 2 pm, so please bring a dish that can sit for a few hours without refrigeration.  

Plates, napkins, and silverware will be provided.

Yes, the bathrooms of the building will be open.

Yes, there will be a water refill station.  Participants should bring a water bottle for use between rounds. 

The Kata-A-Thon fundraiser t-shirt is a limited run printing that is only available by pre-order through August 1st.  T-shirts are $25, after tax (proceeds go to the Redwood Dojo Scholarship Fund). When you register for the event, you can add t-shirts to your order.  To order a shirt without registering, email Sensei Lara by August 1st with the size and quantity that you would like to order. 

All post-tax proceeds for the event (Kata-A-Thon registration and t-shirt sales) go to the Redwood Dojo Scholarship Fund.  These funds help students attend West Coast Training Camp, International Training Camp, and other Cuong Nhu seminars and special events.  These extra events provide valuable (and fun!) training, and the scholarship fund helps ensure that these events remain accessible to Redwood Dojo students.

Yes!  All donations are welcome.  If you would like to donate more after you register, just let Sensei Lara know and she will send you an invoice.  The funds go through Cuong Nhu Redwood Dojo LLC, so donations are not tax-deductible, but all after-tax proceeds will go to the scholarship fund.

We will need volunteers to help check people in, take pictures, distribute t-shirts, and set up the potluck.  Let Sensei Lara know if you want to volunteer in any way.