JAMA article on kata

The way of kata in Kodokan judo by Jones and Hanon in the 2010 fourth quarter issue.

I found this very interesting on several levels. I took judo when I was young and had started to learn the kata. Yes, judo does have kata - ten of them. The points the authors make apply to karate or kenpo kata, too.

The authors say Judo instruction has four components - freestyle (randori), lecture, discussion and kata (forms) and that it never got beyond Japan. The exception was the London school under Leggett and students there were alarmed when asked to write an essay. I have seen that alarm in kenpo students when I tell them they will be doing a thesis. It was an Ed Parker requirement for 1st black. We maintain that requirement and expand it to include medical implications theses for 5th degree and higher. Some of the submissions have been very good and we are building a library. Candidates typically cross-check their work with medical professionals in the process and this results in some quality information to be passed along.

The author says kata now is only considered as an opportunity to win medals and that kata practice was outdated and had no relevance or value. I’d seen this in the late 1970’s when forms were criticized as just being dances and that “kata was for fairies”. I’d also been told that fighters who did kata were typically better because they practiced the moves over and over. I agree with that but there seems to persist the notion that people are either forms people or fighters.

With judo kata being ignored, the authors state that judo became pared-down and distorted. They state that kata is a living textbook. Seems Mr. Parker, as always, was way ahead. He called our technique forms encyclopedia forms, the basic forms are dictionaries and the sets are appendices. They are not just technique-polishing tools because technique can be polished other ways. They are ways to get to know yourself and reinforce principles. They state that each kata has a thread or theme – and we do the same.

They state that the self-defense applications of judo in a real fight are developed. This correlates to the techniques in kenpo forms. They are typically the “meat of the system” and serve the same purpose. In addition they list the other values inherent in good practice such as harmony, concentration, purity, mindfulness, good use of mind and body, use of physics, inner feeling, chi, and no-mindedness (mushin). All good stuff.

The positive aspect is that more people practice kata now than before because they can compete. The man who made the “kata is for fairies” statement later produced some fine kata performers who won in competition. I rest my case.

Here’s a very interesting observation from the article, a quote from A. Oltremari: “The same barbarism that has pervaded contest and turned it into an inferno conducted in a pit in an arena is about to break forth on kata. A new gymnasium for the ego is about to rise, while a kata created for completely different purposes slowly disappears… the introduction of the principles of modern sport in kata will distort its essence and meaning, first condemning it to its cultural contextualization and then to it’s very ending.” I think this has happened to sport karate already.

Further observations on the negative points of judging kata competition take a few more pages with lack of improvement of the whole being being a focus. They just don’t think kata should be judged like figure skating or gymnastics, which is what we do. They are particularly upset that “ignorant and incorrect information is being promulgated” regarding forms instruction. Agreed. They say kata should be done for educational purposes, not just to look good. Agreed. I have met too many people who have come to me not knowing just what the forms do or why. They look good but they were just mimicking movement. Then it’s just dance.

They make a point of saying that judges are often not qualified to judge. How true, in many cases. I’ve seen people on a board who just didn’t know what they were looking at. And so have you, if you’ve competed for any length of time. They close their article with the statement; “Real kata” is one of the tools a “real teacher” uses.

If you’re interested in forms, find a copy and read the article. If you go to the website of the Journal of Asian Martial Arts you can buy individual articles.