How to practice Karate Kata

Before you go any further, you need to understand what a karate kata is. This is a term used for the training sessions while developing a particular karate technique. In other words, the karate kata is the exercise you do before you learn the steps and moves of any karate technique. Karate is a form of highly precise self-defense. This form of fighting was first taught in China to the monks, who were previously weak and timid. This is why karate deals mostly with self-control, discipline and is always practiced as a self-defense weapon and not for attack, though the movies we see depict it otherwise. Before a person masters the karate moves, he or she needs to put hundreds of hours of meditation and exercise to have their bodies move in unison with their mind. In order for this to happen, the student would need to practice, practice and practice until all the movements come to the body by instinct and not by thought. Here is how karate kata is practiced for best results.

Things You'll Need

  • Ability to concentrate
  • Ability to stay flexible and not tense up the body
  • Imaginary opponent
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Instructions

    • 1

      Get in the right frame of mind. Before you start the karate kata, you need to have the correct mind set. The opening position should have you standing with your feet shoulder-width apart and your arms uncrossed. You should be taking a stance as if you were getting ready to go into combat. In this stance, you want to exude confidence and self-assurance. This position would also make you aware that you need to have your eyes spread to cover the whole scene around you. Awareness of your surroundings is definitely helpful when you are getting ready for combat. Knowing what your opponent is doing and also being aware of other people and elements that are present helps you control the situation.

    • 2

      Be alert, but relaxed. When you are practicing, you want to make sure that you are not tense, rather that your body is relaxed, yet ready to react. The size or the ability of your opponent will not matter if your body is tense. This is simply because your body will not be able to react properly due to the tension.

    • 3

      Rest or relax between positions. When you are practicing the karate kata, it is extremely important that you relax your body between steps or positions. The goal is for your body not to remain stiff and to recharge your energy so that you will be able to defend yourself and not tense up during combat.

    • 4

      Practice the kamae. Most of the karate kata have the opening combat postures in the middle of the practice session--these positions are known as the kamae. Do not ignore them, as this is an integral part of the training session. This means that at that particular point of time, you would give your opponent this message, "if you want to back out, here and now, this is your chance. If not, you will die." Notice that the word used here is kill, not hurt or win.

    • 5

      Continue in full alertness until the whole routine is completed--in ancient times, if a Samurai took out the sword, it had to kill before it returned to the scabbard. Treat the session the same way. The last posture of the karate kata is once again the one that you started with. In a karate kata, which simulates real-life encounters, a samurai would fight to death rather than flee. The fight would end when one of the fighters died. Therefore, when you uncross the arms at the end of the karate kata, it is meant to say that your opponent is dead. You will not relax your body or your mind until you take a bow at the end. This is to signify that the battle is over, showing that you have not submitted to the opponent, but rather won the battle.