Kata are not combative in nature. Kata are not directly related in any way to kumite regardless of the type, i.e. sport or combative, etc. Kata do not teach you to protect yourself in either the school yard scuffle or, especially so, true violent attacks. Kata are blueprints of what can be created to handle all these situations.

Kata are not meant to be a complete drill for fighting or protective ability. Kata are not supposed to be a group of techniques linked in a fighting scenario. Kata are blueprints of fundamental techniques meant to be stripped out of the form and incorporated into those techniques and combinations that will achieve your goals be it competitive kumite or self protection.

Just take a look at the kata as they are "traditionally performed." They start with a bow, then begin, in most cases, with a defensive move, i.e. a block or some such defensive technique, and that warrants my view/opinion that kata as they are practiced as a whole teach indirectly how to fight the "school yard scuffle" fight which Rory Miller and Marc MacYoung call the "monkey dance." This involves posturing, etc. and may or may not escalate to actual fist-to-cuffs.

If you truly want to protect yourself in a violent attack then you MUST take the blueprints and morph them into those tactics that will allow you to protect yourself. If you limit your use of kata to strictly the kata kumite drills then you are not even preparing for the inevitable school yard scuffle/monkey dance. It won't even help with competitive kumite. Remember that kata are blueprints. Kata are predicated on the school yard scuffle. [this was not the original intent but came about from the sport/academic orientation/implementation on Okinawa and Japan] You have to take the blueprints and see how it all fits together to build a complete structure that will do what you desire be it competition or self protection, i.e. either or both monkey dance and violent attacks.

One reason I use traditional kata to set the foundation, then honto type kata to help learn and strip away the aspects not directly beneficial to protection, and finally the chaotic practice that takes each and every individual technique I can use from the kata and morph it into those techniques and/or combinations that will do what is necessary in the appropriate situations. It must be stressed that practice, practice, practice must be done in the primary area first so that the brain is programmed to see the distinction and keep sport from entering into the violent protective situation. Often practitioners in a hurry to get to the end of the road try to assimilate to much to quickly and the brain/mind can't make the proper distinctions. It also leads to the tendency to drop the one that is not providing immediate gratification and immediate sense of progress while losing site of the goals of practice/training.

If you teach, or if you practice for self protection, make that primary and a priority with emphasis on due diligence and appropriate time and effort; anything else is a roadmap to failure where it results in injury or death along with all the mental anguish that comes with fighting. Plan out your objectives and goals up front, plan out the tactics/steps you need to take to get there, now, stick to the plan and remain on the path and you will succeed.

How many of you actually sat down and wrote out your philosophy, which dictates your path, and a plan to follow in training/practice? If you have not then you have made an error in judgement, do it now. How many of you have figured out and written out your strategies and tactics? Just a couple of questions to get you thinking for if you have just been going with the flow as it comes moment to moment then you may be missing focus and direction and allowing someone else or some program dictate it all, is this good for you?

Is there really an original and authentic bunkai for kata practiced today? Is it the original taught by its originators? I can answer both of these questions with one emphatic and resounding, "No!"

I say this, my opinion only, because almost all of Okinawan Karate brought to the United States was done so by military folks who, in most cases, never learned the bunkai from their teachers. It should also be noted that due to the reorientation of karate from its combative roots to both sport and academic the bunkai pretty much also became less. The focus almost exclusively was on kumite which then and today involved teaching combinations that were tagged as karate moves to appease the strong inclination, of military combat mindset, to do combat.

Kata then and now were something that the Sensei wanted to use to indicate a series of requirements to achieve a black belt. Even if they were taught some type of fundamental bunkai they didn't hold on to it as they did the same when they opened dojo here in the States, i.e. kata for competition, form only, and sport kumite combo techniques for sparring competition.

I would surmise that if they are taking on kata bunkai again it is either reverse engineered by experienced combative professionals or pulled out of a hat for those who have experienced nothing more than competition. In which case they should get someone with experience to critique the bunkai to ensure that it is valid and works.

I agree with Rob of the 24FightingChickens, The Rise of Kata Applications post, that the comeback of kata applications is totally modern. I also agree that very few, if any, actually know and practice the original karate kata apps from Okinawa [see previous notes on sport/academic reorientations]. Even in my style I have deduced that bunkai of Isshinryu was developed with the watchful eye of Tatsuo Sensei, sometimes, but with Cisco Sensei and other senior Marine practitioners and still are not original to old Oki masters.

I will venture a guess that any and all original bunkai disappeared prior to 1901 when it was reduced and watered down for implementation into the school systems as well as the strong influences from Japan readying for the war. We can also include the changes due to sport, to military and to military short tours, etc.

Don't forget that the urgent need for teachers to earn money also did not foster this type of practice because it was slow and required dedicated effort along with the commercial industry needing to box it up, i.e. standardize and control teaching and practice to create viability for income and general competition.

Rob also said, and I agree, just because they are not original does not make them any less effective today. It would seem that we Americans are drawn to this mystique and the urge to "one-up" the next guy, i.e. competing with the Joneses syndrome, like to say, "Original Bunkai."

In old karate I believe, my opinion, that kata was the tool to combative self defense/protection or civil fighting arts methods/techniques. The only difference from the old karate days to the current is that the old karate days depended on those techniques drawn from kata, etc. as defense against attacks from persons who were not trained in karate. The attacher uses some non-karate like attack and the karate person uses the appropriate karate kata technique to subdue, etc.

Old Karate has its purpose and today the only difference I can perceive is that the kata technique modified and used to provide self protection in a civil fighting sense is the understanding that today there will be attackers who are proficient in karate as well even if it is only the sport kumite karate combinations, which in my opinion other than adding in kicks is really a boxing thing.

What I would say to today's karate-ka who emphasizes self protection in practice is to find those techniques in kata that actually work against the various types of karate techniques. We must also remember that it must encompass those UFC/MMA type techniques as well especially since they are the current fad in today's "Marital Art" world.

The most one must understand when connecting kata and its practice to self protective techniques is that regardless the kata are still only a blueprint for this and once you pull a technique from kata to combat you will have to practice, experiment, and change it as needed to make it work. You see, kata are for this type of usage but only as a fundamental blueprint to draw from as well as a means of passing them along and allowing the practitioner to utilize its source as future practice and teachings.

Is it necessary? Nope, not even but it can be enlightening and productive regardless of why and for what purpose, i.e. sport or self protection, etc. Just be sure you are ready to create a kata. In my case I waited about twenty-five years before I gave it thought and to be honest it stemmed from new knowledge acquired as to "real self defense" vs. what I was teaching to that point which was NOT self defense/protection.

Some styles and/or dojo will say that to achieve sho-dan, black belt at level one or grade one of black belt, you must create a kata. In those cases, mostly from my experience, this is a faulted process as, in my opinion, one achieving a black belt does not have the experience and proficiency to create a valid kata. Yes, they can and do create one and often the instructor evaluating it has no idea how to evaluate it thus propagating useless kata unless it remains simply a kata performed for the beauty vs. functionality.

Many times we will see a string of basic technique put together to move in a pattern and that is all that is required but to achieve a functional kata it may require to show functional capability for either sport/competition or self-defense, etc. Often none of these folks even know of or understand any kind of bunkai since it may be drawn from someone who made it up and has no real life experiences or it looks cool or because they never were taught fundamental bunkai (fundamental bunkai is that technique and its purpose that sets a foundation to which all other bunkai will begin or be derived from later, etc.).

Some excellent tips on the way to create a kata is provided by the 24fightingchickens web/blog site run by Rob Redmond but specifically written by David Krueger on Jan 7, 2008.

In this post, since this is the only valid reason I would create a kata, I will focus on defensive/protective kata.

First and foremost why are you or why do you want to create a kata? This is important yet it is not my place to provide guidelines as to what constitutes a good reason/a valid reason for creating a kata. Kata creation is a unique and very personal endeavor that only the person can say whether or not they should create one. Personally, I don't feel anyone should dictate/recommend a person create a kata for any reason be it dojo requirement, dojo promotion requirement, etc.

So, for the sake of this post, you have decided to create a self-defense kata. Before you begin ask yourself, "Do I truly know what self defense is?" Then ask yourself, "Do I know the law as it covers self defense?" Before you even attempt to ask this question of yourself you should read the "entire" site, i.e. No Nonsense Self Defense and then look up the actual law on self defense for your state.

Something I automatically advocate regardless of the reason to either practice kata or create a kata, you should perform and practice it on both sides, i.e. do it normally then do it in reverse. Then make the kata flow. Its flow/rhythm should move you from one technique to the next as well as one combination of techniques to the next. It should incorporate the universal martial principles.

It should have fundamental bunkai that actually work and are functional in all ways. It is not to be permanent but a starting point. If for self defense it should be instantaneous in nature. Kata and kata technique with out a valid and useful purpose is not a self defense kata. Kata that does not address the universal martial principles is also not appropriate.

The techniques and movements should be as natural as possible. Once you read the no nonsense site this will be a bit clearer to you while making the kata. You need to know exactly what each technique or each combination does each and every step of the process.

The kata should "fit you and fit your body." If it is not natural to you then when the adrenaline dump hits your body it will not do it, you will freeze; you will probably freeze anyway so that is another part of training and practice but keep that in mind in the creation of kata, especially the step off point.

Don't worry how it looks or how others perceive it for it is not theirs, it is yours. You don't have to worry about kiai; you don't have to worry about where you start or end up at, i.e. the enbusen line; what you should be concerned with is body alignment and body mechanics [all the martial principles apply] for the functionality of the kata. It has to be functional; it has to work, that is all.

Don't assume that the bunkai or kata are perfect on the first try or even several. It is another recommendation that you take time with it, there is no hurry, it is yours and yours alone. I can tell you from my experience building my self defense kata that I am making adjustments to it from time to time as inspiration and experience dictate but I do not make changes simply for the sake of change or to incorporate some cool technique I might have seen. I also keep it as simple as possible so it will work when that adrenaline dump hits.

Bibliography:
Redmond, Rob. "How to Create a Kata." 24fightingchickens blog. http://www.24fightingchickens.com/2008/01/07/how-to-create-a-kata/

On the island of Okinawa before the beginning of the 20th century, circa 1900's and beyond, each karate-ka pursued karate as an individual and in that endeavor took what they were taught by each teacher and adjusted it to suit them personally, i.e. they made the kata their own. A kata unique to that person and that person only.

I believe this is why we hear stories of Tatsuo Sensei doing kata different all the time even tho he did the same kata many times. In the old days I believe that there were no formal dojo, no formal instruction and that each person was taught one way and they practiced another where two who are taught the same kata by the same person end up soon doing it - but different.

It was when they pushed to institute karate in schools and militarizing karate that regimentation and such appeared along with style names and kata specifications that were rigid in nature. If you add in the sport aspect it also promoted that regimentation and rigidity so it could be judged in point values, etc. much like floor exercises in gymnastics.

Bibliography:
Redmond, Rob. "The Folk Dances of Shotokan." Pub by Rob Redmond digitally, 2006

ThThe performance line for a kata. When you begin you set the point of departure and enbusen brings the kata when done to the destination, which is the same point. Enbusen is Japanese for performance line. I believe the requirement to start/end at the same point came about for kata competitions because the start and destination is not so rigid and fluid in nature. Each of us doing the same kata will end up in different end points.

Interesting Rob once again puts a twist to the meaning of something, kata. The single character that represents the kata is made up of "three characters combined," notice the number three, and they mean, "shape, cut, and ground." So, he says that kata cut a shape in the ground. The resulting shape is the kata enbusen or like I say, the kata signature.

Rob alludes to the possibility that kata enbusen actually form kanji characters when done properly. Kata enbusen, he writes, may be related to kanji which have some meaning to the kata. He warns us tho, "There is a feature of the human mind called Reticular Activation. It works like this, after I purchased a Jeep Wrangler, I suddenly noticed Jeep Wranglers were being driven by what seemed to be every other person. Before I bought it, I was unaware of their existence. After I purchased it, I was looking for them. The same can be said of this little mental play of mine into kanji found in kata enbusen."

Intriguing thought especially when you consider the symbolism found in Chinese classics that are sometimes connected to the art of kung fu by the gokui's, etc. Academic but fun.

Try using the google translator on line, put in the words for the kata kanji and see what you get. Do the enbusen and then find it, if possible, plug it into the translator and see what happens. No matter what, it is fun and can open the mind to other possibilities.

Bibliography:
Redmond, Rob. "The Folk Dances of Shotokan." Pub by Rob Redmond digitally, 2006

Rob Redmond's book on kata has two terms, taken with a grain of salt but feel his experience indicates it is correct, that explain a "way" to view, practice and train in "kata."

I have mentioned this in past postings, i.e. my pension for taking kata practice and training down from quantity to quality. In that postings I have explained that a practitioner should find the two or three that best suits them.

Apparently, if I have it right, the differences between those kata you know that are required vs. special kata for your unique and complete practice are called, "Tokui: manning speciality or forte in Japanese; Shitei: compulsory kata to learn."

Everyone who joins a training hall will have the compulsory kata to learn for the system and for promotions. Some will feel or seem natural while others may not but you have to learn them.

I proposed that you learn the systems kata as required then practice diligently until you achieve a level of proficiency then reduce the kata to those that seem to "fit" and focus on learning them extensively. When done, then if you desire other kata they can be acquired fairly fast allowing for thorough practice and thought along with your "core kata."

Even tho Mr. Redmond's book on kata is focused toward the Shotokan kata it is still a valuable source of general information for the practitioner. I recommend you visit his 24FightingChickens site and get the electronic copy, he is kindly providing it free; cool huh?

The first time I read the reference to "open source" as used to describe kata I had to laugh cause I am in the IT industry and we depend a good deal on open source software, etc. So this reference along with other material in the digital book "freely distributed" by the generosity of Mr. Rob Redmond of 24FightingChickens fame. Here it is:

A movement that provides elegance to a kata simply because it was taken from its original fundamental form and all those who learned and practiced it took it apart to refine parts and those parts accumulated into the kata you may practice today.

It may be that kata were simply a variety of techniques or combination's that Okinawan's put together to make it easier to remember and teach with techniques/bunkai pulled apart and used individually in practice. After all, writing and documentation is non-existent and the reason "may be" that education was restricted to the higher classes or those with money and time to get educated. Just a guess on my part.

It was put forth in one article that Tatsuo Sensei just knew some fundamental Sai techniques and that either he or one of his senior students put them together into a Sai kata which would keep with the tradition used in those days. There are benefits to having kata beyond documentation but this may be the original and only intent of kata in the beginning.

It would also seem to me that this is something many of us do today. I have witnessed a requirement to achieve black belt where one has to create a kata with bunkai, etc. It must make sense and the techniques and bunkai should be usable/effective but we all know that many have no real experience in fighting outside the dojo so that is a subjective hypothesis.

I can tell you I found using the elbow an effective means of self protection in fights so I created a kata, I named it some innocuous name for close in elbow, i.e. chikai no empi, which I am assuming is correct but only a Japanese would know hearing the name of the kata and then again only if they were relating it to karate, etc.

What tends to happen when creating a kata is some inflate this to mean they can change the kata and thus claim master rank with naming of this new version into their own specific style. This once sounded pretty cool to me and I did give it thought but then again it smacked of egoism so promptly forgot it.

My kata is mine alone and presents me with a kata that provides a fighting system with elbows, it provides exercise, it looks and feels good, and it provides a way of looking and practicing that isn't done anywhere else (ops, ego again ;-).

One of the only reasons I can fathom as to why kata still exist is the mystique of the kata's ancient past, a thing passed down from some mystical and unknown master giving the idea of some lineage that seems important to the belief system most hold dear and near to their hearts.

Being of ancient and mystical origin with the hint of some "secret" promotes the belief system and provides the individual and group a means of practice and discussion - bonding and connecting the tribe. After all we as a species need and require tribes or societal bonds for self preservation, i.e. survival, and this brings strength to the belief system even if not exactly accurate or even true.

Some believe historically that kata was never this rigid adherence to set forms and patterns but rather a starting point so the practitioner can create their own kata suitable to their uniqueness. Maybe this is how the "create your own kata" fad started, a student of the earlier times, i.e. fifties, etc., learned of this training method and used it where others added the requirement for promotion which does not hold water historically, i.e. as much as that is held true since no documents bear this out as true or false.

Today's requirements to commercialize and teach (lets not forget the sport influences) has removed this creative process that provides for individual expression to the more rigid and stoic repetitive practice. It might be nice to take it back to what may be its original form. The only caveat is that to practice this form to early will do more harm than good. Time and experience in this form would be required to reach a level of uniqueness and creativity.

Taking the kata of old along with careful scrutiny, practice, and experience along with attention to detail to the minuteness of each techniques of the past you can create new kata every bit as unique and useful as those passed down to us.

Redmond, Rob. "The Folk Dances of Shotokan." Pub by Rob Redmond digitally, 2006

Fundamentally Teaching Kata

StaStart with just the moves. The moves as related to proper body mechanics. The breathing, fundamentally beginner phase, related to body mechanics and the application of the individualized technique. Do not teach or consider combinations in the kata at all. Let the student learn the moves and then the individual techniques in the forms.

Teach the student to understand exactly what each technique is doing with and to the imagery they use, i.e. an opponent attacking, etc. Teach that there is no useless move, no set up move, no prep moves in kata; everything has an application even the beginning position assumed before starting a kata or form. In real street situations there is no time to set up anything. In violent surprise attacks this is critical to know and practice.

It is imperative that beginners remain at this fundamental level until they reach brown belt or what level is determined by the instructor so they will have the ability to "see" a wider range of applications, i.e. combinations and variations of the basic/fundamental bunkai or applications. As they progress it also will include stances, breathing and stances, stance transitions, and how it all flows into reality.

Remember in your imagery there are no useless applications and if you visualize them you are not visualizing the correct applications. As one progresses in practice their comes a fluidity in the performance of the kata.

Remember that the breathing, body mechanics, etc. will also morph as progress is made and more is achieved in the interpretations of kata for karate-do. Initially breathing might be specific in and out breaths with all techniques to then be adjusted to be in-breaths on say parry type techniques followed up with out-breath techniques for the actual strike that could follow.

No move, no technique is wasted in kata. Each move should be visualized and practiced as if they are, as they they are, so there are no openings that the opponent can use against you. In reality the fundamental applications are complete with out having to expand them into so called hidden techniques thus using them as explanations as to why a kata is perceived to have missing explanations or as such is just a smoke screen to hide the fact they may not actually know and understand the kata purpose. It can be used later to expand on your draw of kata effectiveness but is not actually a part of the explanation of kata.

It is important to keep beginners focused on the fundamentals and leave the morphing and extensions of kata practice for more advanced rated practitioners, i.e. brown belt or higher, etc. depending on the training facility and instructor requirements for each individual, etc.

All the moves of kata are linked yet unlinked. Initially they are linked by the body mechanics, the breathing, and the imagery/applications. All of them are self protective applications and nothing is useless, i.e. a set up routine, etc. Any time a hand or foot is in a place that seems on the surface to be preparatory in nature it is not, it is a technique for defense and/or attacks, etc. Most are parry, deflect, or escape type techniques while others are attacking.

Kata are also useful in taking segments or combinations outside of the kata and placing four or more persons around the practitioner and attack with major types of attacks and the kata person moves through the sequence/combinations to see how they work and are adjusted accordingly with out losing their basis for delivery, etc.

Each kata should be fully explored in such a manner before attempting to move on to the next kata. They should be practiced individually and in kata drills by all practitioners until they can freely express, demonstrate, and use them with conviction, etc.

Bibliography:
Schmeisser, Elmar T., Ph.D. "Advanced Karate-Do: Concepts, Techniques, and Training Methods." St. Louis: Tamashii Press, 2007.