Kata Tips for Beginners.

Starting Kata

For me learning Kata is always very slow, as I am a slow learner, but once I learn I don’t tend to forget what I have learned.
So I have to try each move piece by piece until I get it right, and then of course there is the correct footwork, stances and so on.

I may start, and do 3 moves, and then spend the rest of the day just practicing those three moves as they should be executed in the Kata until I get them right, and then add 3 more moves, or one move at a time.

Like learning strikes and blocks there are ways of doing this.
One is that we “do the moves” but put no energy into the moves, thus getting the moves perfectly right, looking good, but not being very effective in a real fighting situation.

One of the reasons I like working out on a bag is that I can really hit the bag with effort enjoying the feeling of impact and of seeing the heavy bag move with my efforts.
In the Kata we can act as if we are hitting a bag and use the same speed and “snapping” moves to great effect.

So, for example, lets consider Gedan Barai, a low block.
You can make the move gently at first, concentrating on making sure that you are doing it right so that it is effective, and then you speed it up.
But like a punch we need to put effort into the move so that if we were really in a situation where we needed this low block we would execute it with speed, efficiency and with full impact.

The point I am getting at is when you do a Kata do it with fierce enthusiasm.
If you make a mistake, go back a few moves, and when you come up to the place where you made the mistake make the move slower, carefully, and then execute the move as you should, and then as you get better add speed, power and determination into the move.

I have known of good martial arts people, getting black belts, yet in a true fighting situation not being capable of fighting correctly, making mistakes, and in some cases not even trying. This is sad. I remember reading of a Black Belt woman being chased and raped by one man without a fight, and reading of her martial arts achievements, great form, yet more as a sport or for show than as a self defence.

So first thing to remember, you are learning a way to defend yourself, and protect other people.
You are not doing martial arts to impress other people, or to make yourself shine for someone of the opposite gender, or to win prizes, you are learning of ways to defend yourself and others in certain situations, so please treat your Kata as something valuable, healthy, good for the body and soul, helping you learn mental and physical body and mind control and so on.

In Karate we are taught to punch as if we are “going right through the stomach or head” of our opponent, this means punching with much force determined to punch through the opponent.
Your Kata should be the same.

Kata can get kind of boring, and we can slow down without even really noticing that we are slowing down.
So please be aware of the amount of enthusiasm that you are putting into your efforts, find ways to keep strong, determined and motivated.

Ask other martial arts people if you are putting in a good effort, and be determined to do so, please listen to good advice from people who you respect.

All the best from
James Martin Sandbrook.
7th of February, 2022.