Is there a need for Kata in todays martial arts?

[unknown warrior]

Im just curious to see what people believe about Kata practice. I personally believe Kata is very important. it contains the fighting styles of old masters. It builds strength and speed and great concentration. It also teaches techniques that are not formally taught in a class.

What are your views?

[ryanhall]

Good Lord...not this one again.

[Toudiyama]

Kata as it is done nowadays(couple of koryustyles excepted) is not much more than calesthenics which train a senseof timing and balance

For the vision of the old style look at http://clubsoc.dit.ie/karate/katafacts.htm and http://www.society.webcentral.com.au/ for the views of Patrick McCarthy a respected teacher of Kyusho and Koryu Karate

[kengar]

I'd have to agree with you. The same applies when a boxer shadow boxes or a grappler shadow grapples. Your body becomes accustomed to movements through kata, thus enhancing techniques.

[Szczepankiewicz]

Ryanhall,

You're not surprised are you?

[Guest]

Please lock the thread....... Please. I'm begging you......

[Szczepankiewicz]

For only about the 5th time in my life, I totally agree with BT.

[seeker]

I just want to say this to BT and some others. If you think that some thread is stubid/uninteresting you can choose not to read it!

[Guest]

I can't. I am insanely drawn to the naive stupidity of believing that Kata builds fighting ability.......

It's like driving past a road traffic accident. You can't help looking at the mess on the floor........

[Szczepankiewicz]

Or you can choose to ask the moderator to close it.


I think kata is a valuable tool for learning techniques. However kata does not explicitly equate to fighting skill.


But we've hashed this out at least a dozen times already.

Hence the request to close the post. Stubid.

[Guest]

No. I still liken kata to the road traffic accident.

You'll look like the mess on the floor if you tried to train for real fighting using Kata.

[Szczepankiewicz]

That's just it biatch, Kata doesn't teach you how to 'fight' that's what 'fighting' is for.

Full contact sparring/grappling. I.E. Randori.


Posting on internet forums doesn't make you a good 'martial artist' but that doesn't seem to stop YOU from doing it you great big idiot!

[Guest]

Thats where you're wrong. I'm signing up for the on-line Black Belt.

So watch out!

[Szczepankiewicz]

Too late chum, I already have three online blackbelt ninja certificates.

[ryanhall]

Spanky,
Elmore Sensei won't appreciate you talking about your Super Secret Certification in His Uber Deadly Art. You will reap the fearful consequences for your inability to keep quiet. Never forget the old adage 'Loose lips make Ninjas angry.'

As for this thread:
Keep it on topic and (God willing) brief. I'm not going to close it outright, but it won't take much for this thread to end. There was a very long discussion on kata that took place a few weeks ago. Look through the archives. Thank you.