Kata
型
A prescribed sequence of movements against imaginary opponents or with a partner, literally “form”. The core of teaching in karate, judo, kendo and aikido.
Quick Facts
Word breakdown
Definition
Kata (型, also 形) means “form”. It is a precisely prescribed sequence of movements that lets the practitioner master techniques well enough to perform them in various situations without thinking or hesitation. In karate, kata are practiced solo against imaginary opponents and have roughly 20 to 70 movements with steps and turns. In judo they are performed in pairs, were created by Kano Jigoro, and include nage-no-kata, katame-no-kata and kime-no-kata. Kata in kendo, where the roles of attacker and defender alternate, and in aikido are paired too. Counterparts in other traditions are the Korean hyung, poomsae or tul, the Chinese taolu, the Indonesian jurus and the Vietnamese quyen.
Relations to other terms
Equivalent in another art
See also
Analysis of a kata: finding and practising the fighting use of its movements with a partner. Literally “disassembly”, the techniques used are called oyo.
Kumite組手The part of karate in which one trains against an opponent: from pre-agreed exchanges through semi-free sparring to free and competition fights.
Embusen演武線The line along which a kata is practised, and the point where it begins. Almost every Japanese kata begins and ends at the same place, the kiten point.
Kihon基本Basic techniques of Japanese martial arts and their repeated practice: stances, punches, kicks and blocks. In karate it forms a triad with kata and kumite.