Kata practice is an essential component of Karate in any Karate school, regardless of the Dojo style, but there are sometimes major differences in the way Karate-ka (practitioner) practice a kata in relation to timing between each of the moves. Beyond certain moves done in slow motion for very specific reasons, this article will only focus on the timing (specifically pauses) we decide to put, or not, between each Kata move in relation to its Bunkai (interpretation/Application).
Katas are mainly structured in group of interdependent moves. They also have other moves (usually more basic) that are not interdependent with any other moves, that I call “single moves”.
On the one hand, observing a specific Kata practiced by most main Karate styles, it is obvious that there is a typical timing that is more or less used by all, while practicing the same Kata.
One the other hand, some schools tend to have their own Kata timing, sometimes very different from what most other schools do (School specific timing).
Even when the Sempai (most senior Sensei) is counting the Kata for the whole class, there are still groups of moves, and single moves.
Example of Kata practice with Sempai counting for the entire class – (Okinawa Passai Sho /Koryu Bassai)
The obvious potential problem with pre-defining a timing for a Kata, is the limitation it imposes on its Bunkai, as the pauses may not be placed at the optimum spot in relation to the Bunkai. As an example, a typical sequence of say, 2 or 3 interdependent moves can be practiced and interpreted in different ways. For a sequence: “Block / grapple and pull/ counter attack”, which one of the following sequence would you consider best practice in a Kata?
1- Block
2- Pause
3- Grapple and pull (opponent off balance)
4- Counter attack
1- Block
2- Grapple and pull (opponent off balance)
3- Pause
4- Counter attack
1- Block
2- Grapple and pull (opponent off balance)
3- Counter attack
(No pause at all)
A good example of the sequence would be in response for someone shoving you on the chest. Defending: Yoko Uke (Uchi-Uke / middle block on the outside of opponent), followed by a grapple and pull of the opponent’s wrist/arm, and a Tsuki/Punch or Teisho/Palm hit to the face with the other hand.
Among the 3 sequences in the above example, I would personally go for the 3rd option (no pause at all). Because in a real confrontation, you would never block a punch and wait before you grapple and put your opponent off balance (This should pretty much be one move!). The same way, once your opponent is off balance, or in a disadvantaged position, it is the time to finish him, not the time to wait..
I know most of you already know that a Kata is not meant to be a real fight, but rather forge your brain muscle memory towards a real confrontation, among many other things that I am not going to cover in this article (breathing, core stability, precision, multidirectional awareness…etc..). However, timing is so critical in any real confrontation that, neglecting to apply proper timing in Kata practice can really have a disastrous impact on how one manages a real confrontation.
It seems to me that whatever your preferred Bunkai for a series of move is, should trigger the location of the pauses in your Kata, not the other way around.
I do believe the answer to practicing kata efficiently in relation to pauses, is simply to decide what are the moves that are only single moves, and what are the moves that are interdependent for Bunkai purposes (According to your Bunkai / interpretation). Then simply put a pause in between “single moves”, as well as put a pause in between each interdependent trend / group of moves.
Once this is done, you can decide what timing works best within each sequence of interdependent moves (Like I just did in the 3 options example above). This way, you can always picture your preferred Bunkai, and never take the risk of practicing a timing that contradict it!
It’s a good start to follow the timing you are initially taught for a specific Kata at your Dojo, but eventually, when your level of Bunkai understanding gets more advanced and you start to personalize your Karate to yourself over the years, you should decide what is your preferred, and most realistic Bunkai, and timing , in order to maximize your training.
I know that many of you think it is a limitation to only stick to one’s best Bunkai practice of a specific Kata sequence, however, I personally believe that it is far more beneficial to stick to one “best Bunkai” per move/sequence, than to always have multitude of options that you never regularly practice, nor picture, while practicing your Kata anyways! - This in turn justifies the need to study a higher number of Katas, while the entire Kata curriculum of one school should expose you to most of the Bunkai you need in order to face most situations, without the need to stretch many interpretations with only a few known Katas.
If you are unsure of the timing of a Kata, it is probably far better to follow your Sempai’s timing until you have learned enough Bunkai to make your own. In the absence of any guidance, it is better to practice with no timing at all, than a random timing that you don’t understand, nor can explain!
Here’s a short clip of an interpretation of 2 of the moves of the Goju-Ryu Kata Seiunchin by Master Yoshio Kuba (Not translated in English, but self explanatory..)
Toronto, Alpha - KarateBoost blog
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