| The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner
performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed
as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with
stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are
perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor
variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of
the kata, e.g., Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may
also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in
Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (divisors of 108) are common.
The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and
his or her responses, as actually occurring, and karateka are often told to
"read" a kata, to explain the imagined events. The study of the meaning of
the movements is referred to as the bunkai, meaning analysis, of the kata. One explanation of the use of kata can be looked at as a reference guide for a set of moves. Not to be used following that "set" pattern but to keep the movements "filed". After learning these kata then the practical application of this set of learned skills can be used in the sparring scenario, particularly without points the main objective is to disable your opponent, to then find different combinations of uses of certain selected techniques. |
