What is Kata, Why is Kata…

The other day a new student remarked that he was unsure about a part of a kata because he didn’t think someone would use the attack that was implied. It wasn’t the first time I have heard a thought like that, so; I think it would be prudent to discuss just what a kata is, isn’t and why they are used. A kata is not a fight! A kata is a series of moves to teach a certain reaction that applies the proper principles that must be utilized for one’s martial arts to be effective. A kata is a set pattern. Fights can change continually and endlessly.

As an example lets look at a kata such as “Ni Kajo.” In this kata we start with an ‘attacker’ grasping your hand in a cross hand fashion. We learn to totally relax that arm so that the attacker has no way to ‘gather’ you. one places the same side foot as the wrist that is held below the grasp and turns the body such that his waist moves to the hand. This comes from the experience of having the hand grabbed so that you cannot access a tool like a knife and rather than fighting the grasp, you relax and move the weapon to your hand. At this point you drop your elbow which allows you to have your hand over his, without having raised your hand, Now you can place your free hand over just a finger of his grasping hand and cut/reach through him. The result will cause him to fall backwards into the void. Done correctly, there is no pain to his wrist and, therefore; nothing to warn him of his impending fall.

Now, how likely is it that a fight will start with such a grasp? Not very, however, the kata teaches one to relax in an attack, gather the attacker without relying on pain, speed, leverage or force. How to take the attacker into the void, all the while maintaining proper posture. There is more, but even that is a lot for one kata to teach!

If you would like to see how this all works, please join us at River of Life, we’d love to meet you!