Kata: Doing It Right

For anyone who has been a regular reader of this site, you may know that my views on kata (forms) training are somewhat divided. Kata has some uses which I'll state, but from much of what I've seen they've survived largely due to their convenience for belt promotions, tournaments and a way to use up class time.

On a more positive note, kata training brings to light something that is referred to in Zen as "monkey mind". This is actually the normal state of consciousness exhibited by most people. Let's say you're doing your strongest kata, one you've performed countless times. At some point you'll start running through this form on auto-pilot. Now this is potentially both good and bad. Ultimately, you want techniques to unfold naturally and without hesitation. On the other hand, if you're performing your kata strictly by rote the mind will tend to wander. You're just going through the motions and the mind becomes restless. Losing one's kime (focus) is a common problem for students at any level, so the trick is to become mindful of it and get back on course. This is the task of meditation, and the kata should be regarded as a moving meditation of sorts. If you're really concentrating on your form, bare-minded awareness (mushin) follows suit.

Real kata training should be done rigorously and with sincere effort, i.e. sweating bullets and heavy breathing by the time you're finished. No lollygagging. Any half-assed attempt at running through your forms is not only a waste of time but counterproductive. I once witnessed two candidates for nidan (2nd degree black belt) fail their tests because it was felt they didn't put enough gusto into their rendition of kata. Every strike within the form should be regarded as the finisher, or as Mike Tyson used to say, "thrown with bad intentions." Is your training good enough that it will allow you to perform every kata you know back-to-back with full power and speed without losing your lunch? We all appreciate the precision, grace and aesthetics of a master kata practitioner, but realize these artistic movements were built on a solid foundation of hard work over a long period of time.

As you practice your kata, envision your imaginary opponents as real and approximately your size. Look before you change direction within the form. Some beginners have a tendency to look down while in the midst of their kata which conveys an absence of confidence. Before you begin your kata take a single deep breath. This will clear out the mind and calm the nerves, especially when you're testing or competing.

Aside from gleaning its technical aspects and applications (bunkai), kata training should be approached with a strong will and proper spirit. The way is in the training, said Musashi.