In my younger years, I always had a love /hate relationship with Kata,. I loved doing them, but I was often feeling frustrated because I was not finding any practical applications. Maybe the more mature of us can remember, but in the early 70-80s the bunkai were kind ridiculous, like jumping over swords, blocking two attacks from different directions , turning 180 to parry a strike an so on. Glad to see that people have the courage to break the traditional mold , discovering more realistic applications. At 63 and being disable, Kata has been the main component of my training. At the same time, understanding them in a more deeper way can help also to perform them in a pure performance way, Thank you for keeping us inspired!
I am a Shotokan instructor in Aylmer Quebec and I believe kata still has a place in our training however not necessarily for combat / self defense. Those of us who practice kata could list off many of the benefits. That being said, I believe it is also my responsibility to start teaching free sparring ( jiyu kumite ) at a beginner level as well as effective self defense techniques. There is a big difference between sport karate and karate jutsu which incorporates nage waza ( throwing ) ne waza ( ground techniques) joint locks etc. Enjoy your content and share a lot of your views. I love combat of all types and still love to practice kata! ( aka meditation in motion )
@@mizukarate exactly, you integrate all purposes together. Some preferred to separate them all….. and that’s fine, I would never criticize anyone for practising these things for a purpose other than self-defence….. as long as you are happy and healthy this is what counts! The whole purpose of my channel is to unite rather than segregate…. what’s the point of doing that? It destroys the human race.! Just look around us…. We are a broken species…… if I can utilize martial arts to unite, I will!
@@KarateUnity Well keep in mind that we all have our reasons for training. I never got into the sports end of kata. Wrestling kinda was my end of sports martial arts.
@@KarateUnity Thanks your channel is very good. You have a good martial mind. Check my channel out too. Not as focused as yours but I have some martial arts content as well.
I was told the word KATA, was exclusive to Martial Arts in it's founding days. It meant," Dance," in reference specifically to the Martial Arts. As in; Warrior's Dance, Dance of Death, the Final Dance. This meant routine or combination. That being said. You can create KATA and be successful. Seanchi once said," dance often, dance everyday. That's what makes a great fighter."
@@KarateUnity I have been using KATA for most of my life as a platform for training anything. It was not an exclusive means of education. Many different cultures used a similar system. Vikings would turn Martial Arts Training into daily routines and games in their community. The Ancient Hebrew had one as well that had very strict reading and writing as part of it's daily routine for the children. All Martial Arts and Sciences are beautiful in my eyes.
Guys I spent 8 years to BB in Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu . Had 20 kata for BB , 14 empty hand and 6 weapons . I left Karate and moved on to Judo and then to Brazilian Jujitsu . After 15 years of BJJ I attained Brown belt with two stripes . I also trained JKD and FMA for the past 15 years while training BJJ and attained a second degree BB in both , I do zero kata now , instead I spar ,drill, and pressure test all sequences and techniques. Let the kata go and spend time on functional martial arts . Just my opinion . Thanks guys , good channel. ❤
@@nightrod2237 that’s a great mix of training man. I’m starting to delve into the grappling arts now. I’m just loving my Japanese jiu-jitsu club. It’s not your traditional japanese jiu-jitsu, in my opinion it’s a great mix of striking, clinch and ground.. in our network, we have JKD players and tactical combative instructors along with police officers and law-enforcement personnel. It’s great to have this mixed because you get different perspectives on pressure testing. I fully agree with you, at the end of the day it comes down to functionality. You don’t need kata….. I rarely use it anymore, but it’s cool to see connections to it through cross training. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the support🙌
I partly agree. I think kata had its origins in drill-work but over time it lost its meaning. I think that kata CAN be a legit form of training at home solo if it’s taught as drill work.
The Kata argument continues...usually from people whose Sensei didn't teach bunkai or show students how the kata techniques adapt to circumstances. If all you do is Kata and you are NOT able to break it down and adapt it...then, yes...useless. If you understand the Kata and can adapt it to fight circumstances for defence...then, it's priceless. Pretty simple. Karate works. Kata is useful. It's the practitioner. Teachers, Senseii, and owners need to ensure all students understand that part about bunkai....or they are sitting ducks with a BB and 10-20 Kata that will do them No good. I like that they discussed the metaphor of reading and learning to spell. Good relatable topic.
Great video I haven’t read the comments yet but I’m sure they will not disappoint. Prepare yourself for lots of testosterone & buzzwords like Pressure Test BJJ The streets Full contact Muay Thai ( even though some MT practice kata ) Wrestling Waste of time Useless MMA & the best is the story about how someone has trained for 50 in some karate then quit to start bjj , boxing, judo or MT and how those 50 years of karate training was useless & now they only go full contact 100 percent of the time
@@bobafatt2155 sounds like you have experience with all of this. Yes I’ve seen quite a variety, and all this means is that people are quick to judge and have not really exposed themselves to various opinions and practises. Anyway, thanks for your support 🙌
My channel has a playlist called Video Examples of Kata Applications in MMA. There, you will see those unconventional things from Karate such as the U punch, shovel kick, upper block, double punch, and many more.
Kata has always been a method of passing knowledge and history of a particular martial art. Do you think kata will still be a part of karate in the future?
@@SoldierOfChrist1124 for sure, if you look at the masses, many schools, still have it…. What varies is how they practice it… some just stick to the form, some break the form…. It all depends on purpose….. When my sensei passed away, I was looking for another school, I joined a goju place., great place for form and technical knowledge, but zero self-defence and sport fighting training…. It was just a different focus that’s all….. So as Andy said, it all depends on context But to answer your question, yes kata will always be part of Karate because that’s how it all started…. It all boils down to how you’re gonna use it…. either for form, for exercise, or for self-defence ideas and principles (which by the way you don’t need kata)
The biggest problem with Kata is no body seriously make scientific study about them. And before talking scientific study on Kata, we do not have even have a clear idea about Hikite. Thanks to MMA tv show we can now and then see similar movements in real fight with technique we learn in Karate etc. May be one day, AI can find the secrete connections between Kata and real combat especially do to abundant video in the internet.
Thank you for your comment. And for the support on here much appreciated.! However, to say that “nobody seriously makes scientific studies” about forms is not necessarily true. There is a devoted practical karate group out there, who cross trains, and mixes specific case studies with Kata…me included…. Check out the works of Iain Abernethy, Andy Allen, Brian Bates… just to name a few…. These said gentlemen, continuously study these things from a strategic and scientific point of view. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to come across their work, let me know what you think? Thanks again for popping by 🙌🇨🇦
I’ve studied forms for thirty years plus and have many questions that are not usually within most investigations. Why were most Karate Kata designed to walk the Hung symbol that looks like a capital I? I noticed this earlier on when I discovered that Hung Gar used this in its tiger crane form as well as many Karate Kata. I believe that this was the modern trend of the time that became popular to give Karate a more direct connection to Shaolin even and I do not believe that Karate is descended from Shaolin in any way. I think the creation of kata especially the Pinan and Taikyoku is the best example of walking the Hung and a homage to the myth of Shaolin. Kata are a plethora of unrelated styles re imagined and reconstructed to teach what I would term a form of MMA of its time. Maybe it’s war dance like Maori Haka and a peculiar Okinawan equivalent but I think it was a two man exercise that was condensed into a solo practice to protect the art form and it’s practitioners from the Satsuma. How much of the Jigen Ryu influenced Karate is debatable but we can see influences in Bojutsu and the many lengths of staffs used by the Okinawan. I went a on a very eclectic journey shifting from Shotokan to Egami Shotokai concepts which is very different. I trained a lot in Ashihara and street Karate so I actually enjoyed the lack of Kata and believe that 90% of effective Karate is conditioning and full contact experience. Back in the early 80s in the JKA we always joked that you could tell a semi contact Shotokan practitioner by the two missing front teeth. 😂This is very true that injuries abounded in this type of sparring in comparison to full contact. I would often do kata backwards. Take a kata and keep the footwork and use the handwork from another. Create Kata from Kihon and influences. I’m old and nearing sixty so I only train baguazhang and enjoy HEMA now. I trained many Chinese styles proper such as Chow-gar mantis which is perfect for Uechi buffs but the external styles are no longer my focus. I’m going to choose Relic with modifications to relevant depending on the person. Kia Kaha Kia Toa.
@@KarateUnity He never replies to his videos comments and probably keeps a closed door policy. I think many may have tried to illicit a response to messages and fallen short. It’s a shame as his material is so copacetic with the great work you are doing. Keysi and even Baji would also harmonise with many concepts on this channel. I suppose we can just wish for more exchanges from some of the other excellent content creators in the future as this channel should be more patronised in my view.
![How To Use Frame Structures for Unstoppable Karate and Self Defence [Part 2]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-NonGsmtaw8/mqdefault.jpg)
In my younger years, I always had a love /hate relationship with Kata,. I loved doing them, but I was often feeling frustrated because I was not finding any practical applications. Maybe the more mature of us can remember, but in the early 70-80s the bunkai were kind ridiculous, like jumping over swords, blocking two attacks from different directions , turning 180 to parry a strike an so on. Glad to see that people have the courage to break the traditional mold , discovering more realistic applications. At 63 and being disable, Kata has been the main component of my training. At the same time, understanding them in a more deeper way can help also to perform them in a pure performance way, Thank you for keeping us inspired!
Thank you, brother for your reflection and for your ongoing support
Great stuff guys. 100% agree, build the application into the form and people will get the form correct from the beginning.
🙏
Your content is incredible brother! Keep blowing up 💪🏽
Thank you, brother that means a lot coming from you🙏
I am a Shotokan instructor in Aylmer Quebec and I believe kata still has a place in our training however not necessarily for combat / self defense. Those of us who practice kata could list off many of the benefits. That being said, I believe it is also my responsibility to start teaching free sparring ( jiyu kumite ) at a beginner level as well as effective self defense techniques. There is a big difference between sport karate and karate jutsu which incorporates nage waza ( throwing ) ne waza ( ground techniques) joint locks etc. Enjoy your content and share a lot of your views. I love combat of all types and still love to practice kata! ( aka meditation in motion )
Kata is about fighting, self-defense and health to me. This is how I was taught and I used to teach.
@@mizukarate exactly, you integrate all purposes together. Some preferred to separate them all….. and that’s fine, I would never criticize anyone for practising these things for a purpose other than self-defence….. as long as you are happy and healthy this is what counts! The whole purpose of my channel is to unite rather than segregate…. what’s the point of doing that? It destroys the human race.! Just look around us…. We are a broken species…… if I can utilize martial arts to unite, I will!
@@KarateUnity Well keep in mind that we all have our reasons for training. I never got into the sports end of kata.
Wrestling kinda was my end of sports martial arts.
@@mizukarate osu!
Hey brother, just want to say thanks for engaging in my content. I appreciate you.
@@KarateUnity Thanks your channel is very good. You have a good martial mind.
Check my channel out too. Not as focused as yours but I have some martial arts content as well.
I was told the word KATA, was exclusive to Martial Arts in it's founding days. It meant," Dance," in reference specifically to the Martial Arts. As in; Warrior's Dance, Dance of Death, the Final Dance. This meant routine or combination. That being said. You can create KATA and be successful.
Seanchi once said," dance often, dance everyday. That's what makes a great fighter."
That is an amazing perspective and it really adds to the historical aspect of kata!
@@KarateUnity I have been using KATA for most of my life as a platform for training anything. It was not an exclusive means of education. Many different cultures used a similar system. Vikings would turn Martial Arts Training into daily routines and games in their community. The Ancient Hebrew had one as well that had very strict reading and writing as part of it's daily routine for the children.
All Martial Arts and Sciences are beautiful in my eyes.
17:08 I know you said “BJJ” but it almost sounded like you said it the way Master Ken does “Bu Jay Jay” and now I can’t stop laughing
Guys I spent 8 years to BB in Shorin Ryu Karate and Kobujutsu . Had 20 kata for BB , 14 empty hand and 6 weapons . I left Karate and moved on to Judo and then to Brazilian Jujitsu . After 15 years of BJJ I attained Brown belt with two stripes . I also trained JKD and FMA for the past 15 years while training BJJ and attained a second degree BB in both , I do zero kata now , instead I spar ,drill, and pressure test all sequences and techniques. Let the kata go and spend time on functional martial arts . Just my opinion . Thanks guys , good channel. ❤
@@nightrod2237 that’s a great mix of training man. I’m starting to delve into the grappling arts now. I’m just loving my Japanese jiu-jitsu club. It’s not your traditional japanese jiu-jitsu, in my opinion it’s a great mix of striking, clinch and ground.. in our network, we have JKD players and tactical combative instructors along with police officers and law-enforcement personnel. It’s great to have this mixed because you get different perspectives on pressure testing.
I fully agree with you, at the end of the day it comes down to functionality. You don’t need kata….. I rarely use it anymore, but it’s cool to see connections to it through cross training. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the support🙌
I partly agree.
I think kata had its origins in drill-work but over time it lost its meaning.
I think that kata CAN be a legit form of training at home solo if it’s taught as drill work.
@@robcubed9557 and I FULLy agree with you
The Kata argument continues...usually from people whose Sensei didn't teach bunkai or show students how the kata techniques adapt to circumstances. If all you do is Kata and you are NOT able to break it down and adapt it...then, yes...useless. If you understand the Kata and can adapt it to fight circumstances for defence...then, it's priceless. Pretty simple. Karate works. Kata is useful. It's the practitioner. Teachers, Senseii, and owners need to ensure all students understand that part about bunkai....or they are sitting ducks with a BB and 10-20 Kata that will do them No good. I like that they discussed the metaphor of reading and learning to spell. Good relatable topic.
@@jamesemond1446 thanks James for your respectful and insightful comment. And thanks for the support on here.🙌
Hi from NB Canada
Greetings from Canada! 🙏
Great video
I haven’t read the comments yet but I’m sure they will not disappoint. Prepare yourself for lots of testosterone & buzzwords like
Pressure Test
BJJ
The streets
Full contact
Muay Thai ( even though some MT practice kata )
Wrestling
Waste of time
Useless
MMA
& the best is the story about how someone has trained for 50 in some karate then quit to start bjj , boxing, judo or MT and how those 50 years of karate training was useless & now they only go full contact 100 percent of the time
@@bobafatt2155 sounds like you have experience with all of this. Yes I’ve seen quite a variety, and all this means is that people are quick to judge and have not really exposed themselves to various opinions and practises.
Anyway, thanks for your support 🙌
@@KarateUnity , experienced it all in the RUclips comments section of any and all martial arts videos
My channel has a playlist called Video Examples of Kata Applications in MMA. There, you will see those unconventional things from Karate such as the U punch, shovel kick, upper block, double punch, and many more.
That is a really cool concept and I’d love to check it out! Thanks for sharing!
Chris who gave you shodan?
@@Seven8adam Quai Wong
Kata has always been a method of passing knowledge and history of a particular martial art.
Do you think kata will still be a part of karate in the future?
Fantastic video btw!!!!
@@SoldierOfChrist1124 for sure, if you look at the masses, many schools, still have it…. What varies is how they practice it… some just stick to the form, some break the form…. It all depends on purpose….. When my sensei passed away, I was looking for another school, I joined a goju place., great place for form and technical knowledge, but zero self-defence and sport fighting training…. It was just a different focus that’s all…..
So as Andy said, it all depends on context
But to answer your question, yes kata will always be part of Karate because that’s how it all started…. It all boils down to how you’re gonna use it…. either for form, for exercise, or for self-defence ideas and principles (which by the way you don’t need kata)
The biggest problem with Kata is no body seriously make scientific study about them. And before talking scientific study on Kata, we do not have even have a clear idea about Hikite. Thanks to MMA tv show we can now and then see similar movements in real fight with technique we learn in Karate etc. May be one day, AI can find the secrete connections between Kata and real combat especially do to abundant video in the internet.
Thank you for your comment. And for the support on here much appreciated.!
However, to say that “nobody seriously makes scientific studies” about forms is not necessarily true. There is a devoted practical karate group out there, who cross trains, and mixes specific case studies with Kata…me included…. Check out the works of Iain Abernethy, Andy Allen, Brian Bates… just to name a few…. These said gentlemen, continuously study these things from a strategic and scientific point of view.
Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to come across their work, let me know what you think?
Thanks again for popping by 🙌🇨🇦
I’ve studied forms for thirty years plus and have many questions that are not usually within most investigations. Why were most Karate Kata designed to walk the Hung symbol that looks like a capital I? I noticed this earlier on when I discovered that Hung Gar used this in its tiger crane form as well as many Karate Kata. I believe that this was the modern trend of the time that became popular to give Karate a more direct connection to Shaolin even and I do not believe that Karate is descended from Shaolin in any way. I think the creation of kata especially the Pinan and Taikyoku is the best example of walking the Hung and a homage to the myth of Shaolin. Kata are a plethora of unrelated styles re imagined and reconstructed to teach what I would term a form of MMA of its time. Maybe it’s war dance like Maori Haka and a peculiar Okinawan equivalent but I think it was a two man exercise that was condensed into a solo practice to protect the art form and it’s practitioners from the Satsuma. How much of the Jigen Ryu influenced Karate is debatable but we can see influences in Bojutsu and the many lengths of staffs used by the Okinawan. I went a on a very eclectic journey shifting from Shotokan to Egami Shotokai concepts which is very different. I trained a lot in Ashihara and street Karate so I actually enjoyed the lack of Kata and believe that 90% of effective Karate is conditioning and full contact experience. Back in the early 80s in the JKA we always joked that you could tell a semi contact Shotokan practitioner by the two missing front teeth. 😂This is very true that injuries abounded in this type of sparring in comparison to full contact.
I would often do kata backwards. Take a kata and keep the footwork and use the handwork from another. Create Kata from Kihon and influences. I’m old and nearing sixty so I only train baguazhang and enjoy HEMA now. I trained many Chinese styles proper such as Chow-gar mantis which is perfect for Uechi buffs but the external styles are no longer my focus. I’m going to choose Relic with modifications to relevant depending on the person. Kia Kaha Kia Toa.
@@lawrencecron672 thanks for sharing your thoughts and process. And thanks for supporting this video.
@@KarateUnity Maraming salamat po. Thank you for the great content.
@@KarateUnity Kia ora. I wanted to ask if there was any possibility of having Adam Chan as a guest?
@@lawrencecron672 I am open to it, if you can arrange for that happen, let me know.
@@KarateUnity He never replies to his videos comments and probably keeps a closed door policy. I think many may have tried to illicit a response to messages and fallen short. It’s a shame as his material is so copacetic with the great work you are doing. Keysi and even Baji would also harmonise with many concepts on this channel. I suppose we can just wish for more exchanges from some of the other excellent content creators in the future as this channel should be more patronised in my view.
Bagpipes?!
@@johnnyworzel3741 lol ya….. is Scottish flavoured province