TAI-SHIN DO
KARATE ACADEMY
KATA
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KATA
The KATA (form), used in TAI-SHIN DO are drawn mainly from Okinawan Goju-Ryu. Two KATA have been adapted from Okinawan Shorin-Ryu or its derivative, Japanese Shotokan.
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"When you Perform Kata, the most Important thing is Mental Attitude".
Kata is the attitude of self-defense that you perform with a presumed attack in mind as well as your defense on a fixed embu-line (the line of movement of the kata), to protect yourself from a hypothetical enemy with your body that is trained well by strict practice. Which means you structure the attack from the hypothetical enemy with a meaningful and effective counterattack systematically. You perform individually with the interpretation based defense and on that theory.
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Moreover, the purpose of Goju-ryu kata is not only the practice of techniques but also the training of the body, as a result, you can say that kata is the expression of yourself when you learn karate.
THE METHOD OF PRACTICE AND POINTS TO PAY ATTENTION TO
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When you perform kata, the most important thing is your mental attitude. Kata is not a play. You have to perform it seriously. It is easy to remember the order of kata, but the essence is not only to have performed the kata, but how you acted. For that reason, you have to practice the basics, such as the standing position, how to defend, how to thrust, and how to kick every day.
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When you remember the order of kata, you have to practice the used techniques in kata individually and repeatedly, then you can connect the techniques you practice. When you are able to do this basic practice, you have to think of the technique as kata and not the individual techniques. You have to pay attention to how long it takes, strength, and speed, so that you can move and turn the body without waste.
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The embu-line is fixed. You start from the starting point and come back to the starting point. One way to practice is to put a mark on the starting point when you act.
There is no end to the practice of kata. Even though a person who has a high dan performs, the acts are never perfect. The practice is unlimited because kata is for improving yourself mentally and physically. Yet the performance has to be improved in different ways with each step as a beginner, whether you have kyu (colored belt level) or dan (black belt level), although you are performing the same kata. Knowing a difficult kata does not mean you have a high dan.
ABOUT EMBU-LINE
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An embu-line is the fixed direction and angles of the body when you perform kata or when you attack, defend and turn the body.
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There are 8 Basic Directions
Front and Back, Left and Right, Oblique of Front, Back, Left and Right
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For performing kata, embu-line has to be structured in these eight directions in a fixed order and you have to perform the prescribed technique from a prescribed standing position on this line. Each kata has a different embu-line.
KATA IS COMPOSED OF THESE ELEMENTS:
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The Manner of Rei (bow)
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The direction of embu-line (pattern of movement)
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The combinations of techniques
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The uses of attack, defense and postures
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The strength and speed of techniques
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Kiai (shout) and Kihaku (projecting the Spirit)
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Gathering one's thoughts
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The strength and speed of whole kata
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Introduction, development, turn and conclusion
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How to breathe (Ikibuki)
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The time of embu (kata performance)
THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS ARE:
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How to Bow
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The Posture
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The Placement of the Eyes
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Kiai (Shout), Kihaku (projection of spirit)
