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Kata
Kata (bunkai) is a combination
of basic techniques arranged in a stream of consecutive body movements, consisting of various attacking and defending techniques,
using both hands and feet, against a number of imaginary opponents, covering attacks from every possible direction. This requires
good balance and posture, correct stances, speed, strong focus, swift and accurate perception and correct breathing.
Katas train: punches; kicks; strikes; blocks; and stances.
In a deffensive manor they suggest and train:
- trapping nerves
- attacking blood passages
- twisting bones
- attacking tendons
- take downs
- throws
- grappling
- ground work
- counter attacks
- impacting the bodies venerable zones
- digging into the cavities of the body not protected by the skeletol structure
In my opinion kata is a very important
aspect of karate, and many consider it to be the 'Life and Soul' of Karate-Do, having been practiced and developed for
centuries by literally millions of Karate-ka. It has been passed down through the generations, acting as a vehicle for the
secrets of karate.
Kata is said to be an expression of both mental
and culture and human nature.
Initially your
katas will be slow, but you will gradually build up pace as you get more experienced as well as improve on you breathing technique,
power, and accuracy. You could describe kata as a chapter in a book. It has full stop's and comma's. Places when u
stop and places where u pause. You should learn to perform a kata like you would read a book.
As well as learning a kata, in order to fully understand it you can also
study 'kata application'. Techniques can be used as restriants, to perform neurological shut down, as a method of stopping/harming
the respiratory sytem, or stunning the opponent.
Kata is a decipline of karate that is performed in competitions. For
international competition katas of Wado Ryu are by many, considered to be too short. Therefore, as well as performing original
Wado katas, some karate-ka lengthen/merge the katas, and others learn katas from other karate styles.
- Pinan Nidan
- Pinan Shodan
- Pinan Sandan
- Pinan Yodan
- Pinan Godan
Pinan translates as 'peace of mind'. I am not sure
but it is very likely that these katas were formed from parts of kushanku. Anko Itosu composed these katas in 1907. They were
used as beginner katas. At the start of this century these katas were used in Okinawan schools as part of the Physical
Education programme.
- Kushanku 'sky
viewing'. In 1762 they were brought too Okinawa by a Chinese ambassador named Kushanku. They were later developed
by the Okinawan masters of the day. It is said that this is the most difficult Okinawan kata to perfect and that it can take
more than a decade of practice to master. The first movement of this kata (circling the arms) represtents observing the world,
this is why Gichin Funokoshi named this kata: Kanku Dai (kanku-observe. Dai-Big). This kata is made up of more moves than
any other wado ryu kata (possibly with exception to suparinpi)
- Nai Hanchi (Naifanchi) 'Battle in a narrow place'. This is the only Wado Ryu kata in which all the moves are made in
a straight line. The stance is a very important aspect of the kata that needs to be perfected. It is the first tim ethat a
inner circle stance appears in a wado kata...further inner circle stances go on to be practiced in chinto kata and sheishan.
- Chinto 'Fight
to the East' or 'Fighting to the East'. The crane stance (one leg) it introduced in this kata andis featured again
in Wanshu and Rohai.
- Seishan 'Crescent
Moon.The first half on this kata is performed with a high level of tension, exploding half way through and then
performed in the second half at normal speed.
- Bassai 'To storm
a Fortress'
- Niseishi '24 Steps' Different ot many kata that take you up and down and side to side, oftern between four
and eight points, this kata is performed in a triangle... with three points of attack and defence.
- Wanshu 'Flying Swallow'. As kushanku, it is thought that this kata was also brought to
Okinawa by a Chinese ambassador or messenger around 1683. He may have been named Wansu.
- Rohai 'White
Crane'. It carrys similarities with Bassai and Wanshu.
- Jitte 'Ten
hands'. It is thought that this indicates that anyone that manages to master this kata has the spirit of 5 men.
From all of the Wado katas this is the only one that does not feature a kiai.
- Jion 'Buddhist Temple'. As in the Pinan katas the grouping of actions in to threes is alsoseen here.
- Suparinpei the lost kata? Suparinpei
means 108 in Chinese and is sometimes called 108 hands; the final 108 hands; 108 techniques.
Hironori Otsuka on Kata "A
kata may be regarded as an integration of offensive and defensive techniques, but it is more than that. One should try to
understand the spirit of the master karateka who created the kata, for it has a life of its own and requires five or six years
to be mastered."
Hironori Otsuka on Nai Hanchi kata "Every technique has its own purpose. I personally favour Naihanchi.
It is not interesting to the eye, but it is extremely difficult to use. Naihanchi increases in difficulty with more time spent
practicing it, however, there is something "deep" about it. It is fundamental to any move that requires reaction. Some people
may call me foolish for my belief. However, I prefer this kata over all else and hence incorporate it into my movement."
Suparinpei the lost kata...
Information on this kata is hard to come by and often very contradicting. Its
original name is thought to be Pichurin. It is mainly a Gojo Ryu kata but also previously performed in Wado Ryu. It uses all
the techniques from all the Gojo katas apparently.
When wado ryu was first put forward to be registered as an official karate style,
Hironor Otskua registered 16 katas. The ones we all know Pinan Nidan to Jitte (ie katas 1 to 15) plus kata 16, Suparinpei.
This kata is no longer taught in the wado ryu style. It is rumoured that Otsuka may have registered as many katas as he could
to give wado ryu improved chances of being accepted as an official karate style. He may have then decided that this kata
was no longer needed in his training system. Please note that this reason is not a fact, merely an opinion that
I have come to after posing many questions over why suparinpei 'disappeared'.
It is thought that this kata was composed by Sensei Ryu Ru Ko form the southern
province of China, Fukien or Foochow. He then passed the secret of this kata to Kanryo Higaonna, and on to Kenwa Manubi. It
is the only kata still pronounced in it chinese form. To watch it looks similar to the Chinese White Crane kata and the Kempo
Kata of the Dragon.
Traditionally there were three levels to this kata.
- jo high
- chu middle
- gee low
Suparinpei is now performed as jo.
This Kata Holds Buddhist routes, as Buddhists believe that man has 108 evil passions.
A bell is rang on the 31st Dec ever year in Buddhist temples to drive away those 108 evil passions.
Hannya Sinkyo is a Buddhist scripture describing when
the six aspects of kon (eye, ear, tongue, nose, body, and spirit) touch the six aspects of jin (Colour, voice, smell, taste,
touch, and justice), the six kon create three worldly desires of good, bad, and peace, and become eighteen worldly desires
(sepai).
Then another three worldly desires pain, pleasure,
and abandonment touch the six kon. This make another eighteen worldly desires. This makes thirty-six (sanseiru) altogether.
Obviously 3 x 36 =108.
36 is a significant number from the kata sanseru. 3 represents the past, present,
and the future.
Suparinpei Could also relate to the 108 thieves that robbed from the rich and
gave to the poor in the 1600s in China. (Robin Hood Style)
Suparinpei contains more techniques and applications than any other kata. It
is made up of quick blocks and simultaneous strikes. In order to finish this kata with the same strength in which you start
it you need to build up your ability to pace yourself and your breathing.
As it is a 'worshipping kata' it is also important that when you are performing this kata you do so from the bottom of
your heart, and respect your sensei, the kata, and the discipline.
Pairs Pre-arranged Kumite
When performing any pre-arranged kumite in karate
the same rule applies...
'The attacker moves
first (usually on command of the instructor), the defence/person blocking only moves once the attack has been initiated.'
In most groups of pre-arranged kumite (ippon-kumite,
mae-geri uke, etc) both parties (attack & defence) first bow, and then assume ready or 'yohi' stance. The person assigned
as attacker then moves forward to fighting stance and the defender moves back to fighting stance. The pre-arranged technique
is then performed and to end with both parties assume a side-facing fighting stance (or occasionally kneeling position)
and the move their feet together and bow.
When you first learn a pre-arranged kumite you should start off performing
the techniques slowly, the kumite should be repeated many time to ensure that you have learnt and understood it meaning, and
pattern of techniques. As you become more familiar you should work on perfecting your stances, and accuracy of strikes and
blocks. The next progression is to add further speed and power, and continually improve this until the technique flows, looks
and feels sharp, and shows the level of strength and discipline necessary.
Bare in mind that you should work together with your partner, and
not build up the pace until you are both ready, and are sure of the movements. Also, the attack must final be performed as
though 'you mean it' as the blocks will look untidy and inaccurate.
Attack
It is sometimes a habit for the defender to position themselves straight
away in their blocking position, the attacker should still aim for the face or solar plexus for example where the attack is
supposed to be directed. Do not pre-empt the defenders movement and position when the move to block, just continue to take
the attack to the correct area of their head/body baring in mind that you are not supposed to know where they
are going to move to.
If once you have moved to stance to attack you realise your distance
from the defender is not correct you can work (shuffle) your way forward to close the distance, or back to increase the
distance.
Defence
Be careful not to anticipate the attack, wait until the attacker has
begun to move before you move yourself. Block every attack as though 'you mean it', imagine it as a 'serious' attack.
Be sure that as the defender you do not begin your defence on
the command of the instructor, but as a reaction to the attacker. If you were to begin on the command of the instructor your
block would be wasted as the attack may not have yet reached the stage at which it is a threat to you. Once you have moved
it also leaves you in the wrong position for the attacker to complete there technique and you may have to start again.
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