MOVED: RDKI: Favourite Shotokan Kata

[Karate Resource]

RDKI wrote on the old board:

OK, lets get this party started ;D

I'd be interested to hear what people's favourite kata are and why? Being a non-Shotokan stylist I want to hear what appeals to the Shotokan karate student about their kata.

Is it the strong, powerful moves?
Is it the intricate, graceful moves?
Is it the practical uses the kata has?

I have some experience of Shotokan kata and favoured 3 above all else

Jion - because I could do it quite well
Jitte & Chinte as they had obscure moves (the 2 finger thrust & "bunny hops" of chinte and the "staff grabbing move" of jitte) that I had fun trying to devise workable bunkai for.I think I managed it - hopefully I will get the chance to show some of you.

Anyway, that's my tuppence worth. What about you guys? I'd be nterested to know.It may even get you to think about things that may not have occurred to you before.

All the best,
Martyn Harris

[Karate Resource]

Searcher 1 wrote:

Hi Folks
I thought my favourite kata was Tekki, because of the mystery around it, because of the Motobu quote about it being a complete fighting system and all of the research that that entails.

I thought my favourite kata was Bassai when my Japanese grading examiner said it was "good". It was the only thing he had ever said was good of mine.

Then RenshiAnthony Blades made me sweat. He made me work for a while, ran through haps of kata. "Favourite kata" he demanded; I had been set Unsu so I dutifully tried to do Unsu. "Favourite kata" again I tried. Then given Kanku Dai. Twice.

Sweating, no breath left, no strength in my body, very quietly he said
"I want you to say the first thing that comes into your head after my next question. I don't want you to think about the answer. Just answer...
"Favourite kata?"

Meikyo.

Now I never knew that.

John Burke
Eikoku Karate-do Keikokai

[Karate Resource]

Angela G wrote:

Hi

My favourite kata to watch would probably be Kanku Dai. It looks like a powerful dangerous kata. It has a little bit of everything. It's fast, long and powerful, and when well done exhilarating to watch.

The kata that I most like to do would be Heian Yondan. For me it seems to flow, all the way through from beginning to end. It's whippy, yet strong. The kiais seem to be in the right place and I like the applications for it.

I expect my choices to change as Ilearn more kata ;D


Angela

[Karate Resource]

RDKI wrote:

Hiya Angela ;D

Those are all very valid reasons for Kanku Dai being a fave of yours. It is indeed very dynamic and powerful.

However, I personally hate that kata probably above all else as it's so darn LONG!!!

I feel that your choice will change once you've learned it and Burke Sensei has put you through it 3 or 4 times in a row in class.

Happy training
Martyn

[Karate Resource]

Searcher1 wrote:

To clarify:

Meikyo may be my favourite kata;
that doesn't mean I'm any good at it.

Sometimes a kata is your favourite because you find it fascinating, full of potential, beautiful (when performed by "the masters", ;)not necessarily because you are good at it.

[replying having been reminded once again of my own inadequacy]

John

[shotopants]

Interesting site this.

[Aefibird]

I have a set of 'favourite' kata that I love to perform.

My top 3 of today (ask me again tomorrow and you'd probably get a different answer or same kata, different order!):

Bassai Sho
Meikyo
Heian Yondan

H. Yondan is my favourite out of the Heian Kata series. I love the changes between slow and fast movements and the combinations within it.

Bassai Sho is my new favourite kata (as it's the one that I have most recently learned). I've also been trying out B. Sho as a weapons form - I'm finding that it works the best with a Bo or Jo or Escrima Sticks. I've tried it with Tonfa (OK, but I prefer other Tonfa kata) and with nunchaku (didn't work well, but that's probably because I'm pants at nunchaku).

Meikyo (also known as Rohai) is a great kata and one that has won me several shiney trophies. LOL, that's not the reason I like it. I seemed to pick up Meikyo very very quickly. I love the slow, dynamic start and the explosion into the first gedan-barai. The jump/turn at the end is nice too.

I chose to perform Empi for my Shodan grading. I deliberately chose this kata because I usually hate kata with jumps in them (although not Meikyo for some reason). Unsu is the bane of my life... Anyway, I picked Empi to grade with, as I knew that it was my weakest kata out of the list (Empi, Kanku Dai, Jion, tekki Nidan, Hangetsu) and therefore I was the most determined to get it right.

The greatest kata for 'cool' or 'obscure' moves has got to be Gojushiho Dai - the "getting the pickled onions out of the jar" move in that one is ace. That's my instructors nickname for it, BTW.

[Karate Resource]

Bumping so our newer members can give their input!

KR Admin