KATA COMPETITION

Introduction

Kata is the essence of Karate. Kata study has and always will be the very definition of Karate study. Within the Kata lies every single detail of every single technique of each Karate system.

In order to promote Kata in any objective way, that is so that it remains truly the foundation of the science of Karate study, the rules and regulations concerning its judgment within the sport must be based on a Karate system's true Kihon (basic) fundamentals.

WKF is an authority on the technical aspects of Karate including that area which is essentially the science of Karate--the Kata. One of the foremost attractions of WKF for those who would dismiss the "sport" of Karate as arbitrary and even threatening to the integrity of the Martial Arts, is WKF's ability to attract the most respected world-wide Masters on the subject who have been traditionally at odds and diverse. Their role, through the Referee Corps and Technical Committee, has been to arrive at a consensus on the correct (and incorrect) pedagogy which governs the Karate standard. With this in mind, that standard should be challenging, and be the definitive "library", if you will, of all traditional Karate knowledge. In addition, WKF should be able to be presented as the ultimate educational institution with full inclusion of the four major Japanese styles. This defines WKF as the only Karate "university" available as well as the foremost arena in which to test that knowledge as a master of the subject, and as a competitor.

Important Points Concerning the Judgment of Kata

Competitors must demonstrate that they have an understanding of the characteristics of the Kata through the Kata performance. Those characteristics as described below:

Understanding the meanings of the moves which are manifested through:

1. Correct rhythmic combinations of the Waza.
2. All moves should be based on valid applications.
3. No additional or stylized moves which are meaningless.
4. The multi-point criteria of Kata judgment:
   • The Kata must be performed with competence and must demonstrate a clear understanding of the principles it contains.
   • The Kata performance must have demonstrated correct focus of attention ("Chakugan"), use of power, good balance, proper breathing, correct timing and distance.
   • The performance should also be evaluated with a view to discerning other points.

Reasons for Understanding the Characteristics of Kata

1. Each Kata has unique characteristics which serve as special learning tools to the developing Karate-ka. If these moves are mixed, or arbitrary, the Kata loses its effectiveness as a development exercise on many different levels. There is no longer a systematic development which serves as an incremental process toward imprinting correct form, correct physical stimulation, the honing of impulse and breath control, etc.
2. If alterations are made often, on an individual basis or whim, Kata as a learning Corps will lose their characteristics thus standards will be lost.
3. When performing Kata, body applications must be true to the Karate system's Kihon (fundamentals) and must not be altered to make it easier to maintain control for appearances sake (i.e., stances must have correct transitional phases and not be allowed to lift up and down for the sake of easier stability. The level of difficulty is eliminated as well as the efficiency of movement when the Hara is disregarded and the performer allowed to move incorrectly from stance to stance. The validity of the movement in Kumite can be lost to theatrical value. When performing Katas, such changes of body applications belie the original purpose of Kata which is the physical and spiritual (character) development. Perfection of movement and perfection of character are the focal points.

Example of Errors

• Large movements are altered to small ones
• Deep stances to higher ones
• Timing stylized too much which does not prove the physical conditioning of the performer
• Short movements are exaggerated as large ones in order to impress an audience rather than to demonstrate the correct Bunkai or inside technique
• Using the feet and arms which are divorced from the body - "pushing off" from the feet rather than initiating the moves properly through the hip
• The body does not move as a unit with arms and legs trailing the form incorrectly

Judgment of Kata: Attention to Kihon

When judging Kata, the critical attention must be paid to the proper use of the body. While there are different styles in the WKF, there are small differences in the same Kata. These differences are minimal in nature and not important. What we must emphasize is not the minimizing the number of Katas in general, but place educational emphasis on that Kihon underlining each of the four major systems. The basic application is what counts. Correct Kihon is the determining factor when it comes to evaluating valid and practical application.

Kata Judgment

1. Understanding the meaning of each movement and the realization that each Kata and its required movements have various levels of Bunkai.
2. Be able to differentiate between those unnecessary and meaningless movements and those which are valid.
3. Be capable of expressing proper mental concentration (spirit), decorum and character.
4. Proper application to achieve maximum performance, (slow/fast; expand/contract) the ability to demonstrate range and contrast of movement. Full inner and outer body control.
5. Proper footwork and distribution of body weight. i.e.:
6. Understanding the proper distribution of Back Stance in Shotokan system. Whether the Neko-Ashi-Dachi distribution of the Shito system is the same as the Wado system's three different ones, etc. The difference between each stance in each system.
7. No meaningless stamping of the feet for sound effect. No extra movement (telegraphing movements or after-movements) at all.
8. Proper breathing. Do not use upper body to breath; do not raise shoulders; loud unnecessary noises - all of these are poor examples of breathing. Knowing when breathing should be audible and when it should not. "Shorting" or audible breathing through the nose is a gross error.
9. Understanding the sable stance (which is able to demonstrate the ability to deliver as well as to receive the action) with the hip level down, shoulders down, elbows in and armpits closed; proper foot position with proper weight distribution on the foot (edge down, ability to control stance is also demonstrated in the transition of that stance into the next. Power and control is demonstrated with the ability to transfer with the Hara level and evenly. Rising up after the foot placement is a gross error instance and diminishes greatly the level of difficulty. Also the "settling" motion of the hips in a stance is a gross error. Each movement must have Kime, each series of techniques must have Zanshin.
10. Proper Embusen. With some exceptions, this is a very important element of Traditional Kata which ultimately signifies a "safe return home", Zanshin, perfect finish and the idea that Kata is a pre-arranged pattern in which we demonstrate consistency in a thoughtful, scientific way.

Inclusion of the Body of Knowledge - Kata

Confusion of Kata judgment comes in on various points, but the argument that Kata understanding relies on the pattern itself is a poor one. The understanding and therefore the correct judgment of Kata relies upon an intimate knowledge of the Kihon being demonstrated. Therefore, our emphasis should be on the continued exposure to the myriad of Katas developed by all traditional systems and most specifically on the Kihon of those system. With Kihon understanding a Kata Judge can well judge all Katas before him armed with a conceptual knowledge of the pattern and system and with the absolute understanding of that Kihon. Levels of difficulty are judged not by the length of a Kata, the obscurity of a Kata, the theatrics of a Kata, but it's flawless application of Kihon within that Kata. Zeroing in on Kihon immediately separates the "performer" of Kata from the true Karate-Ka who is performing. Kihon knowledge makes the judgment objective, not subjective; scientific, not theatrical.

In the last 15 years, the world of Karate has worked to standardize Karate through Karate's four major system: Shito, Wado, Shoto, and Goju. Painstakingly, the WKF Referee Council and Masters world-wide gather to consolidate knowledge and communicate among their peers in order to promote their systems intact and with integrity. Gradually, each Kata is reviewed, examined, refined to the last detail. Each system has submitted to the WKF Referee Council all of those Katas incorporated and promoted within their respective system. From this material, an official list (the full body of knowledge) of Kata is made up from those system. For competition, there is selected from this greater body of Kata a minor list which best reflects a sample range of Kata from which competitors may freely select to perform in the first two rounds of Kata eliminations. This "minor" list now includes 22 Katas. From the major list, the Kata competitor may select any Kata to perform. The "mandatory" or minor list referred designated as the "Shitei" list. The major list is the "Tokui".

Master Seminars and Referee Clinics delve into those points of fundamentals specifically required for uniform judgment of any Kata from the major list and further promote the minor list by going over each Kata by Karate system in a systematic way. In this way the WKF has expanded itself as the largest and most specific Corps of Karate information world-wide.

Kata will hopefully remain as the essence of our Art, so Karate-do is able to define itself indeed as an Art and sport incomparable to the typical "fighting" sports of boxing, kick boxing, wrestling, fencing, etc.

The integrity of the Karate systems will remain intact as the Kihon are preserved within the Kata and are recognized as the primary points of Kata performance in the competition field. Therefore, the sport of Karate and WKF will be alluded as the body which preserved the tradition and pedagogy of Karate rather than diluted or diminished it.

As with any construction of any library of renown, our success as a University of Karate knowledge and ideas depends upon the quality and quantity of books dwelling within. This collection of information is done piecemeal, bit by bit, book by book, with no editorializing of the pages within. To limit Katas, to remove Katas for the sake of expediency in uniform judgment would be the same error made when competitors change moves or eliminate moves within the Katas themselves in order to justify their personal physical limitations or lack of knowledge. Our role is to expand, define and promote World Karate in a way in which we honor the work presented before us by passing it to the next generation intact and with greater understanding.