What is Kata, to you?

[MasterH]

Again another thread has opened up another question. I know the technical definition of Kata (form, to the Korean MA's) but what is it to you? Just a pattern, to practice combos and technique? Or is it a form of visualization? Or how about something completely different? Is there something you really like about patterns? Or do you think it's all a waste of time?

Share.........

[rikimaru]

Didn't general Choi say that TaeKwondo was meant to be an aesthetic art amongst other things? If so then forms and katas may be the arty, aesthetically pleasing side of a the martial art.

Again, I will stress that i don't know much about kata. However, the way I see it, it's not essential for learning how to fight. Look at proffessional boxers and MMA fighters for example. They can fight well but they don't ptractice set katas.

[MasterH]

rikimaru said:

Didn't general Choi say that TaeKwondo was meant to be an aesthetic art amongst other things? If so then forms and katas may be the arty, aesthetically pleasing side of a the martial art.

Again, I will stress that i don't know much about kata. However, the way I see it, it's not essential for learning how to fight. Look at proffessional boxers and MMA fighters for example. They can fight well but they don't ptractice set katas.

They shadow box. Do they practice set combo's or is it an add-lib?

And this is a place for you to learn about Forms and patterns, the reasons behind them and weather it's something you can adapt to your training.

The General, to say the least, was a complicated man, in life and death. Where I do fallow his teachings as much as I can, I can't fallow all his philosophies. Sure forms are beautiful to watch and preform, If you have a chance look up the form Moon-Moo (my personal favorite), the practical side of it is an imagined partner or set of partners who you defend yourself from.

[MasterH]

Thanks for moving this thread, I noticed it's miss-placement after I posted. My bad.

[Aefibird]

Does Moon-Moo have an equivalent Japanese kata (such as Kong Sang Koon is known in karate as Kushanku/Kanku Dai and Naihanji Cho Dan is Naihanchi/Tekki Shodan)?



I'm a kata/patterns freak. I love practising my forms and get quite a bit of 'spiritual' (for want of a better term) satisfaction out of performing a kata well. I also think that they're a great visualisation tool and are useful for learning sequences of techniques, as well as helping to refine techniques.

However, I don't think that sections of kata/patterns should just be taken as they are and 'forced' to work exactly as they are in that kata. There has to be some thought in their use and application, even with the so-called 'basic' kata and patterns like Heian Shodan and Taeguek Il Jang. The "down block then step in and punch" is a good application for beginners to help them get to grips which what a form is about, but it has to be taken further than that. There's so much more to those basic patterns that just the obvious.

I think that the martial arts community is basically divided into two camps - you either like kata and 'get' it or you see is as an outdated mode of training and something that is a waste of time. I also think it will be a case of "never the twain shall meet" as it is usually very difficult to convince a kata-hater that they're wrong and vice versa.

[MasterH]

I do love forms. I keep saying the word, it's just an outstanding visualization tool. Check out the fallowing web sight:

www.natkd.com/tkd_forms.htm

TKD forms galore! All three major groups are represented. Unfortunately Moon-moo is not on that sight, and I don't know why.

Also I don't know any of the Japanese Kata's. So I can't compare. I wish a few of you were on this side of the pond, I'd get with you on this.

[jadedragon]

I do japanese katas, So far I have gotten: taikyoko shodan, heian shodan and heian nidan. I am going to move on to heian sondan soon.

Katas to me are forms to teach you how to move about in a multiple attacker situations, they also teach hidden applications as well as the obvious ones, As well as balance and correct body allignment and on a mental note focuse. To me katas seem to connect everything for me.

[random]

Kata for me is really important, I love it, although I am struggling to relearn remember a lot of them. Kata will be the part of my MA I can continue to do when I am too old and wrinkly to fight. I would hate to have to give up MA because I was unable to take part anymore. Kata means I will be able to take part as long as I can.

[Aefibird]

masterh said:

www.natkd.com/tkd_forms.htm

TKD forms galore! All three major groups are represented. Unfortunately Moon-moo is not on that sight, and I don't know why.

Yes, I've visited that site before, the video clips on there were/are very helpful. I was hoping that Moon Moo would be on there - I checked out the NATKD site when you mentioned that form in your previous post! I don't suppose you know of any other sites with it on do you? It's a Korean form that I've never seen performed, only heard about.

[miffersy]

Kata is simply the essence of any MA

[MasterH]

aefibird said:

masterh said:

www.natkd.com/tkd_forms.htm

TKD forms galore! All three major groups are represented. Unfortunately Moon-moo is not on that sight, and I don't know why.

There may be a could sights TKD tutor for example but I don't know if they have any of the forms on vid. I'll look around.


Yes, I've visited that site before, the video clips on there were/are very helpful. I was hoping that Moon Moo would be on there - I checked out the NATKD site when you mentioned that form in your previous post! I don't suppose you know of any other sites with it on do you? It's a Korean form that I've never seen performed, only heard about.

Try TKD tudor.....I don't know if it has any forms posted but you never know.

[kataguurl78]

I love kata.

In kyokushin it has helped me find my center

Ooossssss

[Aefibird]

Thanks Master H, I'll give it a go.

[subzero72]

I love performing Kata and always will