Karate Essence, ‘Ethical Philosophy’, Kata, what is it Good for?
Karate Essence
Ethical Philosophy
形 型
Kata… what is it good for?
By T.D. McKinnon Hanshi Photograph & Editing by Zoё Lake
I first wrote this article seven years ago for my monthly column, Shotokan Essence, in ‘The Shotokan Times’ an international martial arts magazine out of Düsseldorf, Germany.
I can just hear the sighs, moans and groans: ‘Not another Kata article!’ and, ‘How many things can you say about Kata?’ or, ‘You are either a fan of Kata or you are not!’
Table of contents
Kata and the Cultural Heritage of Karate.
Etymology of Kata, the Word and the Kanji.
Maintaining the Neural Pathways.
The Ever Widening Gap between Sport and Practical Bunkai.
Kata, what is it Good for?
The Roots of Kata.
The Himitsu within the Kata: real or just the Stuff of Legend?
Lao Tzu, 6th Century BCE, Founder of Chinese Taoism.
Personal Kata Training in the Vintage Years and Beyond.
Torakan Eye View.
Conclusion.
Kata and Cultural Heritage of Karate
Firstly, well… yes, ‘This is an article about Kata. There are so many things that can be said about Kata that one could write volumes.’ In fact there are whole books written; ‘The Way of Kata: A Comprehensive Guide for Deciphering’ is just one of many.
Secondly, and let’s just get one thing straight… the, ‘You are either a fan of Kata or you are not,’ statement just doesn’t hold water. Kata is the very essence of Karate! Let me just clarify that; if Karate-Do is your ‘Way’… Kata, in its varying forms and patterns, is the defining ‘Path’; with the many capricious names serving as the guiding signs along its length.
Kata, Taolu, Hyong, Jurus or whatever term your particular system uses, and there are too many to name here without getting lost in a quagmire of names that ultimately describe a pre-arranged, choreographic, solo martial arts form designed for learning and practising a multitude of self-defence situations. A structured lineage of practices passed down through generations, where practitioners spend a lifetime studying, sometimes paradoxical, techniques and exercises that inevitably lead to a highly personal, unique experience and illumination of the art they are studying.
Etymology of Kata, ‘Word’ & ‘Kanji’
Kata is of course a Japanese word (型 or 形) meaning, quite literally, ‘form’: and in Karate it refers to a detailed pattern of movements designed to be taught and passed on down through generations of practitioners. The practicality of Kata (by whatever name it is known) is that it can be practised alone. There are actually 16 different kanji that are pronounced ‘Kata’, but only two are used for ‘a form within a Japanese martial art.’
For instance, this kanji, 型, takes the meaning to be, the basic form or accepted pattern, the conventional, traditional form or matrix. While this kanji, 形, means the outer shape, form, or manifestation during the performance; and which allows for individual adaptations.
Nagamine Shôshin prefers 形; and claims the 型 has ‘no life’, because it implies formality, no character of individual expression.
Hokama Tetsuhiro prefers 型; he asserts that it has the meaning of ‘archetype’ and is more ‘spiritual’ than 形 which only designates the material form.
Funakoshi Gichin and Motobu Chôki used this Kanji 型 in their writings. The Japan Karate Association (JKA) uses 形, and Shotokan Karate International Federation (SKIF) prefers 型.
Nakayama Takatsugu explains that Kata evolves in the sense that as long as you train the basic forms and perform the moves and techniques in the traditional manner you perform 型. However, once you adapt them to your individual body type, applying them to practical application, therefore interpreting the practice and performance, 形 applies.
The WKF (World Karate Federation) has decided to write Kata with 形 and this has become the more common way to write Kata as far as I can see in Japanese martial arts magazines. The irony is that Kata performed in the WKF lack individuality and all look the same; quite the same and robotic, because the karateka perform them in a way they think will please the judges, rather than as a way of personal expression.
In the sporting world the 形 kanji is mostly used, but both are technically correct. Jesse Enkamp ‘AKA the Karate Nerd’ prefers the 型 kanji which, broken down, translates to ‘punishment and ground’. The 形 kanji, broken down, translates to ‘vessel and water’. The first link here will take you to a discussion on Kata Bunkai as Jesse interviews Iain Abernethy, and the following link is another worth checking out as ‘Iain Abernethy’ gives some, well worth watching, demonstrations on some of the real uses of Kata.
The characters used for writing ‘Kata’ are quite a long and ongoing discussion. The meaning that the Kanji have, in their usage, reveals quite a difference.
So, writing Kata either way is legitimate; however, I believe, if a preference is shown, it should be plausibly explained.
Maintaining the Neural Pathways
In most Japanese martial arts, Kata is seen as an essential teaching and training method by which successful combat techniques can be preserved and passed on. Practicing Kata allows the karateka to train, in a repetitive manner, the ability to execute tried and proven techniques and movements in a natural, reflexive manner. This certainly does not mean that any given Kata is meant to rigidly represent a complete combat situation.
When you practice Kata you reinforce the neural pathways (something I used to refer to as cellular memory). I am not going to delve into neuroscience here… basically, you practice something enough (as in a technique that you fully understand) in response to a certain trigger (as in a particular attack) and eventually the required response happens, seemingly, automatically. For this to happen you need to not only practice your Kata, repetitively, you need also to be aware of the Bunkai within the Kata. If, as I claim, Kata is the essence of Karate, then Bunkai can be said to be the essence of Kata.
The Ever Widening Gap between Sport and
Practical Bunkai
Bunkai (分解)… meaning ‘analysis’ or ‘disassembly.’ Even the seemingly obvious techniques can be deceptively elusive. In fact, there can be many stages in the depth of understanding of Bunkai applications. Through the passage of time and in-depth study, the Bunkai can evolve to be simplicity itself, or to be as complex as the karateka who is interpreting them.
Many years ago, I performed Kata for competition; and I performed it the way I was taught. As I grew and developed as a karateka I performed my Kata differently, to more suit the way I interpreted the Bunkai… realistically. The following link will take you to an interview, where Jesse Enkamp asks Patrick McCarthy, an eminent Karate Historian, for his take on Kata and Bunkai.
Today’s competition performances take Kata in an entirely different direction. In fact, it seems that I am watching a completely different concept. There are a couple of different reasons for this trend. One of those reasons, I believe, is definitely the concept of sport that more and more karateka believe Karate is all about. Instead of training for self-defence (defence against attacker/attackers), karateka train to fight each other, with rules. The distancing for sport Karate – or any conflict where two parties voluntarily agree to take part in some form of combat – is probably double the distancing of that in an attack from an antagonist in an adverse situation. The flow through of that kind of training is that Kata becomes viewed and performed with the same kind of distancing in mind as viewed through the sport… Consequently, the original techniques and body movements are completely misinterpreted.
The other main reason for the ever widening gap between reality based Kata (transferring into realistic Bunkai) and Kata for competition might be the multi-style competition arena. It appears – particularly in the multi-style arena – that certain Kata seem to dominate: the clipped, staccato type of performances with over emphasized, melodramatic pauses, almost like a martial tango. And I find that the Bunkai demonstrated in team Kata competition to be almost comical in its dramatic, acrobatic presentation. The following link is to a team Kata competition and a performance of Bunkai that is more about flash and entertainment than it is to do with reality.
I understand the reasons it has gone this way; and I can tell by the “Oohs” and “Aahs” of the spectators that that is what’s expected: entertainment. However, to me, and I believe to rest of the Budō Karate community, it all seems a little staged. When I began performing Kata I aspired to emulate Danny Bryceland Sensei, Kawazoe Sensei, Enoeda Sensei and Kanazawa Sensei who all appeared to me to be in the midst of battle and not, as it now appears, a theatrical Karate dance.
During Kata performance, my goal is to internalise the feeling tones and the holistic sensation of the movements and techniques. Along with proper understanding of the Bunkai – in that adverse situation we hope will never come – the movements and techniques can be adapted and executed, without thought or hesitation.
Over the years, I can’t count the amount of times I have been asked, “What good is Kata training to real conflict situations?” I’ve found the simplest way to answer is with a question, “What good is shadow boxing?” Invariably, they will just nod, with at least a little understanding.
Kata Roots
It is accepted now, by most Karate practitioners, that the very origins of most Karate can be traced back to Bodhidharma and the Shaolin Priests’ method of self-defence. A major part of the Shaolin Gung Fu, or Kung Fu, method of continuing the cultural transmission is via their Kata, or more accurately, Taolu; of which there are literally hundreds.
In fact, the number of Kata, Taolu, Lul (Korean), Ram Muay (Muay Thai), or simply combinations of fighting techniques (the label does not matter) would probably number in the thousands. If you think about it, almost any fighting art has combinations of techniques that represent attack and defence procedures. A Kata does not need to be a long, complex combination of moves. For instance:
Iaido is almost entirely practiced through the learning and perfecting of 12 Kata with the number of Techniques in each Kata varying between 4 to 10 moves only.
Judo practitioners learn the principles of techniques through Kata practice, and utilise Kata to demonstrate their knowledge and skill during advanced gradings, and they consist of only a few techniques.
Traditional Muay Thai, or Thai Boron is the original battlefield martial art, and has many forms or Kata; also weapons. Muay Thai, the combat sport, is often referred to as the ‘Art of 8 Limbs’ and has many and varied combined punch, kick, knee, elbow, practised strikes and blocking combinations: anywhere from 2 to 15 techniques.
Boxing has more practiced combinations than you would think; from 2 punch to 10 punch and body movement Combinations.
The Himitsu of Kata
The literal translation of Himitsu would be ‘secret’, ‘undisclosed’ or ‘hidden’. However, to avoid the inevitable clash with those who would arguably say there are no secrets in Karate, I prefer to see Himitsu as meaning that the purpose of the Kata, or certain moves within the Kata, for various reasons, is not obvious. Every Kata has its own essence (underlying principles). Once the basic pattern of the Kata has been learned, the Myō (meaning ‘essence’ in this case) must be studied…
Over time, each karateka will find their individual level of understanding in regard to the Myō and interpret the Kata accordingly. The Myō is generally not readily seen by the novice karateka; however, a more intense study, when the karateka is ready, will reveal the Himitsu within (Keitai no naka ni kakusa reta mono).
Lao Tzu: 6th century BCE priest, philosopher and founder of Chinese Taoism, purportedly wrote:
The Uses of Nothingness
Thirty spokes meet in the hub, but the empty space between them is the essence of the wheel…
Pots are formed from clay, but the empty space inside is the essence of the pot…
Walls with windows and doors form a house, but the empty space within is the essence of the house…
A single movement may be anything from one simple delivery, to the entry of a dozen applications. The same sequence of Kata moves may be interpreted in radically different ways, resulting in several completely different Bunkai. After learning the classical Kata pattern, Karateka should be encouraged to seek out the Myō of that Kata.
When a Kata is performed to capacity, no matter who that karateka is or where they are performing it (a competition, an examination, a demonstration, a student for his sensei, or simply done to experience the intensity) it should be performed with Zanshin, Mushin, Fudoshin and Senshin.
Now, at 76 years of age, Kata is a major part of my Karate training. In fact Kata forms the basis of the preponderance of my entire martial arts training. I have, committed to memory, 29 Shotokan, 2 Goju, 2 Shito Rye, 12 Iaido, 2 Shaolin, 1 Thai Boron (Muay Thai), 4 Bo and Jo, and 2 Nunchaku Kata/Taolu/Ram Muay/Forms. Also, many boxing, Muay Thai, and close-quarter combat (armed and unarmed) combinations are committed to memory and practiced.
Torakan Eye View
For those readers who are newcomers to the ‘Karate Essence’ Blog post, my origins in the martial arts run deep; and began more than 70 years ago with boxing. Continuing, more than sixty years ago, with a five year stint in the British Parachute Regiment where, also continuing to box, I trained in the type of fighting that elite Parachute Regiment soldiers learn (mostly with weapons), including close-quarter combat. Fifty-four years ago I began my classical Shotokan Karate training, and fifty years ago I opened my first dojo. One year later, 1977, I registered the ‘Torakan’, Shotokan Karate-Do, Dojo with the Karate Union of Scotland, affiliated to the JKA.
During the following fifty years, I both learned and taught a plethora of martial arts – including but not limited to Bushido (Jujutsu & weaponry), Shaolin Kung Fu, and Muay Thai – while serving thirty years in high-risk security. With an extensive practical self-defence involvement, I also taught close-protection to the security industry for twenty-five of those years. Torakan has become an expression of my life’s martial arts experience; and evolving into Torakan Karate-Do… a true self-defence art unto itself.
Precisely because Torakan is primarily a self-defence art, rather than a fighting art per se, the practice of its Kata begins by learning the basics of that Kata, which makes it expressed this way: 型.
However, that Kata then becomes an exercise, a study if you will, and an ongoing research into the Myō of the Kata; and therefore, researching the Himitsu (‘undisclosed’ or ‘hidden’ aspects) that make it a treasure trove of practicality for the individual, the Kata should then be expressed thus: 形.
The following links take you to short, 3 to 5 second, clips. Number 1 is from a Kata, and number 2 is a realistic Bunkai clip inspired by the portion of the Kata in number 1.
2. Bunkai.
2. Bunkai.
2. Bunkai.
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
2. Bunkai
Conclusion
In my humble opinion, if Kata (or whichever handle your system uses) is the chosen instrument for passing your heritage down through the ages; then, it should initially be expressed as 型; which has the meaning of ‘archetype’, the conventional, traditional form or matrix.
After the basic pattern of the Kata is learned, however, and it becomes a personal study and an expression of growth as you discover your personal Himitsu, your interpretation of the Kata should be expressed thus: 形. This Kanji suggests manifestation, allowing for interpretation and individual adaptations as the different karateka apply practical applications to suit individual Bunkai.
This corresponds to the shu-ha-ri 守・破・離 principle. As long as you learn the basics you are in the stage of ‘shu’, preserving the tradition, you do 型. Once you ‘break’ with tradition (破), in the sense of finding your individual way to express or even transcend it (離), you practice 形; and therefore, all Kata should evolve from 型 into 形 during a lifetime of practice.
There is a saying in Japanese: ‘Kata o yaburu 型を破る’= ‘to break the mould’.
Thank you
A big shout out, and thank you, to our demonstrators from the Torakan Dojo; without whose assistance the ‘Reality Check’ Blog would be sadly lacking. This month, those assisting me were Alan, Tyler, Raoul and Rainer; and of course, behind the scenes, our IT Tech wizard, Kelly.
Thank You to the Readers
As always, thank you to our readership for following the ‘Karate Essence’ and I hope you are all taking value from the 2026, ‘Ethical Philosophy’ Blog posts.
Thank you also for continuing to support my latest book, ‘A Budōka Odyssey’. The reviews continue to be excellent!
Top reviews from Australia
Reviewed in Australia on 8 April 2025
Verified Purchase
This book is easy to read in short or long sessions - such an inspirational life story of an amazing guy. Well worth the read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed in Australia on 28 May 2024
Written by a man who has lived the life of a modern warrior. His ability to recognise the lessons and gifts in any situation and the having the humility to seek out those who can help you better yourself are important traits we should all endeavour to achieve not just in our own martial arts’ odyssey but in life.
Top reviews from the United Kingdom
Carl Slee
5.0 out of 5 stars
‘A Fascinating Book’
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 October 2024
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A fascinating book, and not just for those interested in martial arts. Although if you are, this is one of those rare books that will help in not just the development of karate skills but in the facilitation of those psychological states (rarely discussed) of the true karateka.
From early childhood to the present day, Shihan McKinnon shares his adventures as, Truant, Soldier, Nightclub bouncer and Bodyguard as well as Business man but always as a fighter. And in this book he shares with us the ‘gifts’ and ‘Lessons’ that come from such a ‘life worth lived’.
A rare book, in that I found myself re-reading pages, chapters or passages over and over to further understand how such insights related to my own life. And this is the ‘gift’ of this book, I think that each person, whatever gender, age or interest will find something at some point within it, that is very personal and that will reverberate for them, long after reading.
Thank you Shihan
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 July 2024
I have to say that I found this book to be compulsive reading. For someone who was born and raised in the West of Scotland I was immediately drawn to T.D. McKinnon’s Scottish roots. He writes in such a concise and realistic manner. As someone with no knowledge of karate and martial arts, I have nevertheless found the main themes of the book easy to follow and this has made me review experiences drawn from my own life. The concept of ‘gifts and lessons’ applies to all life, not just karate. I would recommend this book to anyone, particularly those who are deeply involved in a sport of any kind, and who is striving to be the best person they can be. Read, learn and enjoy.
Thank you for this book, T.D. McKinnon.
Top review from the United States
Minimal shopper
5.1 out of 5 stars
‘A Fine Man Shares a Life of Budō’
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
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At over 500 pages there is a lot of content in this autobiographical journey. A quick overview is as follows:
Author Shihan TD McKinnon has had ALOT of fights in his life; starting under the age of 6! He tells the narrative of his life through all those fights and what he learned about himself and life along the way. I appreciate that he doesn’t make self-defense fighting seem glamorous and one sided. He talks about injuries, dangers, and making alternate choices to physical violence as a reality.
This book emphasizes lessons like ‘never quit’, ‘move on to the next venture’, ‘stay in the moment and learn what you can along the way’. I recommend it for young and old, karate people and non-karate folks. He carries the journey into today with a very relevant subject - training and aging. Take it on your next plane trip, or beach vacation. And if you’re a karate instructor, you can work it into your teaching. This book does not disappoint!
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