Do you think katas/forms are useful? All the much debated subjects. No swearing or insulting allowed!
Your martial art opinion
Do you think katas/forms are useful? All the much debated subjects. No swearing or insulting allowed!
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This is my opinion. Katas are just easy ways to test people. If you do a down-block in the wrong direction, for example, you don’t pass. In my four years of tae kwon do training, I learned less than in reading Bruce Lee’s books. Also, do not use a style. It is simply hindering your progress by blocking your natural body. Do what you think is right!
Err… Can I make a thread on debatable subjects? (i.e katas useful or not)
It is the newbie Part, so I guess it is fair game.
I find Kata Helpful in my art, it builds foundation in your legs and the instructors tell you what each exact movement does and how it can be incorporated into a regular stance.
I think Kata varies from Karate Forms.
As far as the Bruce Lee comment, it really should be whatever you feel comfortable with.
Then again, I’m a newbie as well.
Do you think katas/forms are useful?
I personally don’t think they are useful. But you know what is? The search function. Welcome to Bullshido.
Discussions regarding kata are the equivalent of Pandora’s Box on these forums - all hell breaks loose. There’s numerous threads debating the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of kata, so I suggest you read through those.
As for Bruce Lee’s “no style” philosophy - no comment.
I find it nice that the members of this website prep us for dissapointment and online debates(not sarcasm.)
You know, there have been many threads on the subject.
Personally, I think kata are useless.
Since you posted in Newbietown, you are somewhat protected from swearing and insulting.
That’s probably a good thing, considering that this issue is such a dead horse.
Hey, remember that time you made two identical threads about this?
That was awesome.
All katas/forms/patterns are not created equal, From Judo, Nage No Kata, Katame No Kata and Gonosen No Kata for examples that all use a partner and demonstrate/practice the principles of the techniques in a way that bridges the basics to resistance gap.
However Kime No Kata is debatable in its effectiveness as a training mechanism for either self defence or Koryu Waza.
If they do not demonstrate the technique in a way that can be transferrred to the sparring/randori/resistance phase then they are not useful at all and could have a negative effect on your training.
Katas are like learning the alphabet before learning how to read. Essential basic tool. no one is going to tell you that by learning a kata you are going to be a bad ass at fighting but katas will give you the base to build on. Katas have been defined as a re-enactment of a fight. I find that to do kata by memory only is useless although people have made it to BB that way, Bunkai, which is the application of kata, and a good imagination, will help you develop some of your fighting skills. Get away from the idea that continuous full contact sparring is the only kind of fighting. It is an essential part of any MA but there is also defensive skill development. This is more where the techniques found in and developed through kata will be applicable.
Basics or Kihon = letters or alphabet both ay be see and ah bah kuh
Pre set sequences or Kata = Basic words and phrases in the form of a speech or monologue or paired feed line like i knock knock jokes
Sparring or Randori or Kumite = Conversation or Debate or Argument with interruptions, rudeness, ill mannered comments, foul language and or good points intelligent and well mannered perspectives…etc etc etc
I’d argue this with you but it’s been overdone in many other threads and it’s all opinion anyway.
I still do forms (kata) but my opinion is that they are completely useless as far as helping your fighting skills any more than Mr Miagi teaching you to wax on wax off will teach you how to block a punch.
They are however a great way to pass down history in TMAs and they can be great exercise if done correctly. Unfortunately in most systems they have gotten so watered down as to not evev be worthwhile exercise.
Why not train individual techniques, make your own combination, and see if the teacher thinks it would be feasible in a fight?
Because you are not a special, unique, or revolutionary martial artist. There have been millions before and millions after you, and they have and will do it better than you.