| Kata (form) Tips | | | | 6. Bunkai. Every kata practiced at speed, should be |
| 1.Technique. This is the first area to work on in kata, | | | | thought of as a fight. Try to take the kata |
| concentrate first on getting the order of the kata | | | | combinations into kata and real world applications |
| correct, then slowly but surely work on the small | | | | (Bunkai), giving the karate moves focus and |
| detail of each karate move. | | | | application. |
| 2. Kime (focus). Kime is where your body is relaxed, | | | | 7. Center of gravity. Keeping the center of gravity |
| then tensed, then once again relaxed. On the fast | | | | low and at the same height In the basic karate kata |
| moves in kata, try and stop completely, for a split | | | | is very important, try and remain the same height |
| second. | | | | throughout the kata, with this only changing if there |
| 3. Timing. Each kata has its own rhythm and timing, | | | | is a jump or karate technique from the floor. |
| noise becomes music when timing and different | | | | 8. Mushin (no mind) Bruce Lee once said 'When I hit, I |
| pitches of sound are added. Karate kata is the same, | | | | do not hit, it hits all by itself'. This can only come |
| without rhythm and timing kata is just a mess of | | | | after many, many repetitions and the same applies |
| karate moves. This rhythm and timing can be | | | | to kata. The ultimate performance of kata is where |
| changed later on to suit the individual karateka. | | | | the kata is executed with the Mushin state of being. |
| 4. Breathing. Kata is a great for working on correct | | | | No thought, it just happens! |
| breathing, there are fast, light and slow moves in | | | | Your kata will be as strong as your spirit and |
| karate kata, moves that hold tension and moves | | | | imagination, as each fast move should be delivered as |
| that are relaxed with zanshin (awareness). Try and | | | | if it was your last! |
| breathe silently and smoothly. | | | | When you first attend karate classes, many sensei |
| 5. Agility. When practicing the kata at speed, try and | | | | say kumite (sparring) is the spirit of karate and kata |
| turn, spin and change directions quickly, this will | | | | is the soul. I completely agree with this saying and to |
| improve your karate agility immensely. | | | | me, kata is karate. |