Insights
What makes a good Kata?
Answer: ‘Form’.
Our ‘own’ form makes a good Kata. All too often, nowadays, people strive for so
many values within Kata, and yet miss the basic principles of what it is. Kata is
the ‘raw’ energy that Karate is all about. Kata is ‘the way’.. It is spirit, method,
and foundation of what we do. Kata is the ‘freedom of martial expression’. We
should not ‘dwell’ or ‘concern’ ourselves on whether one Wado Kata is different
from another Wado kata (I know three versions of Wanshu - who cares?!). We
must be true to ‘ourselves’ not to others. Our Kata is what we are, appreciate it
for all its worth and just get on and practise it. The secret of the Kata is contained
within, and it can only be discovered by constant practise. Explore and
understand the ‘geometry’, ‘mechanics’, ‘bunkai’, ‘rhythm’, and the ‘shin’ of each
of the Kata, for every Kata, although similar, are so very different. Remember:
Ikita-Kata - Kata must be alive and done with feeling and purpose.
Inen - Kata must be performed with spirit.
Chikara-no-Kyojaku - Kata should be done with changes in application of power.
Technique can be strong or yielding, hard then soft.
Waza-no-Kankyu - Kata should be done with variations in the timing of movement,
sometimes fast, sometimes slow.
Kisoku-no-Donto - Kata must be done with proper breathing rhythm, when to inhale
and exhale.
Kinto - Proper balance must be maintained in the performance of Kata.
Gary E Swift Kyoshi.