Old Fat Kenpoka
Master Black Belt
- Thread Starter
- #141
Clyde: I actually spent a large percentage of my Kenpo career focusing on Kata, practicing kata, analyzing kata, teaching kata. I certainly have NOT gotten everything out of kata that is in there. I think there is much subtlety in timing, transition, etc. I do recognize that many of the techniques in the katas are different from the stand-alone techniques.
The kata/anti-kata debate is older than the Kenpo on the ground debate. Of course, there are many many non-fight related benefits to doing kata and not everyone does Kenpo to be a better fighter. My position is that Kata practice makes you good at Kata: at movement in the air, at dance performance, at moving meditation.
My point is that solo Kata practice is not the best way to learn technique application and to make the Kenpoist an effective fighter. Practicing Kata techniques against a resisting opponent makes you better at applying those techniques and makes you a better fighter. I wish I had spent more of my Kenpo Kata practice time doing bag work, practicing techniques against resisting opponents (instead of cooperating partners), and free-sparring. I wish I had spent less of my Kenpo time doing Kata in the air and in front of a mirror.
The kata/anti-kata debate is older than the Kenpo on the ground debate. Of course, there are many many non-fight related benefits to doing kata and not everyone does Kenpo to be a better fighter. My position is that Kata practice makes you good at Kata: at movement in the air, at dance performance, at moving meditation.
My point is that solo Kata practice is not the best way to learn technique application and to make the Kenpoist an effective fighter. Practicing Kata techniques against a resisting opponent makes you better at applying those techniques and makes you a better fighter. I wish I had spent more of my Kenpo Kata practice time doing bag work, practicing techniques against resisting opponents (instead of cooperating partners), and free-sparring. I wish I had spent less of my Kenpo time doing Kata in the air and in front of a mirror.