Reddit reviews Five Years, One Kata

Oh I just love this discussion :D I have heard it many times, it keeps coming around, doesnt it?

First of all, yes, it was just an anecdote, and I did stress that it was a show in the middle of the competition. It was a funny story, that is all (sledgehammer guy was just demonstrating body conditioning...and I'd be suprised if he can hold his own fork/knife/pen today because of it). Neither of those things have much to do with self defense training...at...all... ;)

As for the general teaching of forms, I happen to agree wholeheartedly! People teach them as coursework. Therefore they're treated as such. I remember doing a seminar with a world champion (the woman is a goddess of Kata, don't get me wrong) but she had never seen the application of the form she was teaching. It was incredible.

Check this book out. I would very much like to use the name of the man who recommended it to add validity to the argument that, in fact, kata(forms) is where everything you fight with comes from(because, again, I'm not even qualified to make the argument...I just get to shut up and train) but I can't, thats crappy, and especially on reddit of all places.

As a traditional Japanese competitor who loves both kata and kumite for competitions sake, I can honestly say the current teachings and use of both are next to worthless for self defense' sake. You're absolutely right...I still do it, however, because I love the competition. You are right that forms are your toolbox...I have been taught that they are also every bit of material you ever need, we just dont realize it in the infancy (first 15 years, depending on your age) of our martial arts careers.



I'm currently reading this...what do you study for self defense, and what are your thoughts?

Kata were originally the distillation of fighting techniques. But because of the Japanese obsession with secrecy it is pretty clear that most - and by most I actually mean practically all - sensei have no idea of what the techniques actually are. "Bunkai" is the name for the application of the techniques contained in the kata, and most bunkai you are taught is bunk. Some sensei have made an effort to find more realistic bunkai - Iain Abernethy is one, Bill Burgar is another, and there are a few others, but take it as read that the bunkai you will be taught won't be remotely realistic.

Having said that, kata are a way to demonstrate your control of your body, your form, your technique; and for that reason they are important. They are the heart of karate, and while they are a pain to remember, once they are internalised they become the expression of your karate. And they are never perfect, they only get better with time.