No matter how much of a beginner one might be, there is no karate practitioner who has not heard this small four-letter word or who hasn't witnessed the execution of a kata.
To untrained eyes, this type of practice may seem like a mere dance, an aesthetic component. For traditional Okinawan karate (non-sport), the kata holds a profound significance; therefore, it is much more than a simple choreography.
In the words of Morio Higaonna Sensei, the kata is a concrete manifestation of techniques [1]. According to Higaonna Sensei's understanding, katas crystallize the essence of Karate. In turn, Seikichi Toguchi Sensei emphasizes that the goals of kata are the practice of budo and physical conditioning [2].
To better grasp what these great masters teach us about katas, let us take a journey through the time.
Today information technology brings unimaginable advancements to our lives. Thanks to powerful processors, high data storage capacity, advanced algorithms, and the internet, we have significantly transformed the way we live over the last two decades.
In present day, we communicate in real-time, experiencing an unprecedented flow of information in this world! Something that has impacted and will increasingly impact our lives, including Karate!
But what does all of this have to do with Kata?
Well then, try to imagine scholars of the art of combat living in ancient times in the depths of India and China. During that period, humanity was far, far away from the technological advances of today in terms of information transfer.
Of course, in those times, individuals (or 'states') interested in the 'arts of combat' would have aimed to find means to defend themselves from threats or to attack adversaries. In that context, wisdom about combat could even lead to a prominent status in society back then!
Now picture those people developing their combat systems. How important it must have been to keep the techniques secret so that enemies would not discover ways to neutralize their defenses or attacks in confrontations.
The scholars of the 'arts of combat' in the past would have developed their fighting techniques through the study of Kumite ('fighting') 組手 [2]. Thus, starting from man-to-man combat, the first masters collected numerous Kumite techniques. With the continuous development of combat systems (schools), vast collections of these techniques were formed [2].
Over time (centuries!), this began to make training difficult. Just try to imagine the significant effort required to remember countless techniques. Another disadvantage was that Kumite training required (and still requires!) a training partner (obviously!), which would not always be available...
Katas were developed!
Through trial and error, a choreographed training system was created that allowed the practitioner to remember various techniques used in Kumite [2].
That's right!
In absence of video cameras and extensive databases, the first masters ingeniously devised a way of compressing, storing, and transferring information, all while enabling solo practice – the katas!
Remember how we discussed the need for secrecy in teaching techniques earlier?
Well then!
Kata also allowed advanced techniques to be transformed into other movements, concealing the most important ones from the eyes of observers (spies).
We can observe that beyond resembling a choreographed dance, katas are like "books" where important knowledge from the past is recorded. Traditional Karate katas store a wide variety of Kumite techniques.
The traditional katas are still practiced by the grand masters of Okinawa, and within them, ancestral combat secrets are preserved. Therefore, the katas of Okinawan karate can be regarded as treasures of an ancient culture. In this sense, only the practice of traditional karate schools (Ryus) originating in Okinawa can offer practitioners the opportunity to truly understand the essence of Karate techniques through the katas.
It's important to note that katas originated from combat techniques and serve as a way to practice these techniques. Understanding the origins and functions of katas is crucial in order to comprehend the relationship between kumite and kata [3].
"The gap between kata and kumite leads to a misunderstanding of Karate." - S. Toguchi.
"Just as books are essential for students and tactical exercises are important for soldiers, katas are the most important elements of Karate." - Gichin Funakoshi
Referências: 1- Hiagaonna M. 1985. Traditional Karate-DO - Okinawa Goju Ryu Vol. 1 Fundamental Techniques. Sugawara Martial Arts Institute 169 p.
2- Toguchi S. 2001. Okinawan Goju-Ryu II: Advanced Techiniques of Shorei-Kan Karate. Ohara Publications 173p.
3- Kaisai No Genri: le tecniche segrete del Kata. Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica https://www.hombu-dojo.it/contatti.html (assecado em jun. 2023).
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