Compared with my contemporaries who did not spend as much time on Kata: I couldn't spar as well , I couldn't hit with as much power, and I couldn't execute the techniques against a real opponent as effectively. So, love your katas, but you asked the question and I gave my opinion. [/B][/QUOTE]Originally posted by Old Fat Kenpoka
OK, Sorry. You asked for an opinion and I gave it. Don't diss all Kenpo people because of my opinion. Don't try and banish me to an MMA forum because I gave an honest answer...You asked a very general question and I gave a very general response.
I spent 20 years practicing Kata really hard. I did about 25 different forms including 4 weapons forms. One day I woke up and realized I had spent all my time doing forms.
Kata, is how we train our techniques without a partner. They are where we learn some of the finer points of our chosen system. They won't teach you how to fight, but from them you can learn things that you won't get by just doing your techs on someone else.
Obviously to make kata work for you, you need to add drills to your training, preferably ones that are based upon your katas. From these you will learn correct distancing and timing.
Kata are the encyclopedia of our respective arts.
Compared with my contemporaries who did not spend as much time on Kata: I couldn't spar as well , I couldn't hit with as much power, and I couldn't execute the techniques against a real opponent as effectively. So, love your katas, but you asked the question and I gave my opinion.
All I can deduce from this comment is that you may have worked hard on your katas for 25 years, but you really didn't learn anything. I have to admit I haven't been in the arts as long as you, but I have to say, if you do your katas correctly, and with intent and purpose, then you will hit harder, and your techs will come alive. If your kata is dead then it is time to put on a white belt in a kata oriented style and start again.
I can't remember who it was, but someone once said, "Movement without purpose is nothing more tham wasted motion."
As a KENPO man I would have thought you were against wasted motion
Hey, this is just my $0.02 worth.
:asian: