Kata ( Karate Routines ), are the bread and butter of Karate. These routines are a textbook of each styles karate movements and techniques. I believe, more importantly kata if properly conceptualized during training is a great confidence builder. If the karateka imagines themselves battling a great opponent or opponents then we should be victorious in our battle on each and every move.
I heard a motivational speaker many years ago comment that the subconscious can’t tell the difference between real and imagined input into the brain. If you imagine yourself winning then it is registered in the brain as a win and you have conquered a foe and gain much confidence in doing so. You may be fighting multiple opponents and winning multiple battles in each kata.
Kata is also like and alphabet of fighting. Just like we don’t use every letter of the alphabet for every word or sentence, we don’t use every move of a kata in every confrontation. A kata tells you many ways to defeat an opponent and each move can be used in a multitude of way just like some letters may be pronounced differently depending on the usage so we may not even need to do them in the exact some way as the are done in the kata. The kata is a guideline of thoughts on how to win. Kata’s can also be a strenuous workout, some have many difficult moves and jumps.
So as you do your katas use a good imagination, use good focus, wining power and winning techniques. It’s hard to believe you’ve won if your techniques are lacking.
I had a martial artist friend that told me make what you do your workout. I worked on mainly katas and push ups after that. When I competed after that i felt like I couldn’t lose. Kata is a great workout so use them.
Practice kata more and you win more. You then gain more self confidence and everything else that comes along with that.
Thanks
Perry Culver
