The Foundations Of Karate

As a karate practitioner you would have heard of the 3 foundations of karate. They consist of kihon, kata and kumite. Kihon translates to basic techniques and is the foundation of all subsequent learning in karate.

All students start karate by learning basic kicks, strikes and blocks.  The reason why we practice these moves repeatedly as it building muscle memory and becoming a fluid motion. However, these techniques won’t be much good to you unless you understand how to apply and adapt these techniques in an actual self defence situation.

That’s where kata and kihon come into play. Each aspect is quite different from the other, but both are essential to your study as a karate practitioner. Let’s dive in and learn all about these important elements of karate.

WHAT IS KATA IN KARATE?

 

The foundations of karate shows In order to execute a perfect kata. It relies on many other elements such as power, speed and correct technique to name a few. Having a clear mindset, strong technical skills and complete focus are vitally important.  From the beginning to the end, the movements in a kata should be liquid and flowing evenly.  Emphasizing having a loud kiai, while also showing great control.

The 3 other fundamentals required to consider when performing a kata.

• Fast and slow movements in techniques.
• Light and heavy application of strength.
• Correct breathing while applying techniques.

There is no point using strength indiscriminately and speed itself may have little purpose.  The combination of the above fundamentals gives you great meaning and depth to the performance of the kata.

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT?

As you go through your belt ranks you will need to learn and perform at least one kata in order to pass your next grading. When performing a kata, you will find they are very rigid.  Any every technique must be performed flawlessly. The reason why katas are performed this way is to stay true to the original form of each technique. Just like when it was created in Okinawa Japan.

Furthermore, performing kata consistently helps build your physical conditioning. Stances in kata are often long and deep. Often having to hold them for a long period of time. Horse stances are my least favorite stance for this very reason. But doing these types of skills helps build strength and conditioning in the legs, core and glute muscles. In other words, katas are essential part of modern karate practice and it’s a safe bet to say it always will be.

BUNKAI (The foundations of karate)

Literally meaning “analysis” or “disassembly”, is a term used in Japanese martial arts referring to process of analysing kata and extracting fighting techniques from the movements of a “form” (kata).

Bunkai is usually performed with a partner or a group of partners which execute predefined attacks, and the student performing the kata responds with defences, counterattacks, or other actions, based on a part of the kata.

This allows the student in the middle to understand what the movements in kata are meant to accomplish. It also illustrates how to improve the technique by adjusting distances, timing, rhythm and fluidity in combat properly, in order to adapt and adjust any technique depending on the size of an opponent.

A single kata posture or movement may be broken into anywhere from a few to a few dozen applications, and the same sequence of kata moves may sometimes be interpreted in different ways resulting in several bunkai.

It helps the student to unlock new techniques and expand their understanding of known ones.

WHY IS IT  AN IMPORTANT SKILL?

By using repetitive techniques which form the basic foundations of karate is a vital part of all our training. Particularly kata by executing a technique a hundred times without knowing the actual application of that technique,  gives the student no depth of knowledge of the art. Seeing the application and meaning of a particular kata technique can also aid in the execution of that skillset . So by analysing, explaining and demonstrating a kata technique, an instructor can get across the true meaning of that element of a particular kata and this is the importance of bunkai in the study of kata.

But why is bunkai movement in a kata is so important ? To answer this, one needs to go back to the understanding that kata were designed hundreds of years ago and the originators embedded movements in their kata that simulated actual combat situations.

KARATE KATA NAMES

These are a list of Katas performed in my style and meanings

KATA AT TOURNAMENTS ( The foundations of karate)

If you have ever watch karate competitions at international level. You would understand that even though kata is not as explosive to watch as say a sparring match at a tournament. Kata is still very impressive to watch. Practitioners from all over the world are judged. Not only on the flawlessness and power of their technique but also their fighting spirit and focus. Judging is based 70% on technique and 30% on athletic prowess.

 

WHAT IS KUMITE IN KARATE?

 

 

Kumite is an essential part of  your karate training program. This is my favourite part of karate as I loved how you have to react and adapt to each other very quickly.

In tournaments kumite often takes place inside of a ‘ringed’ area similar to that of a boxing ring. If a karateka steps out of the ring, they are given a warning. If they step out of the ring two times, the other person gains a point. Many international tournaments use a “point sparring” form of kumite that requires control (‘pulling punches’) and therefore warnings can be dealt for excessive force on techniques to the head, or sensitive areas.

I myself am not a great fan of sport karate and this because I train purely for self defence. Kumite in an arena where there are rules and you know up you not get physically hurt. Where you will find in a real life scenario.  There are a lot things to consider fear, anger and environmental factors that can’t be replicated in a dojo.

 

KUMITE IN TOURNAMENTS

Karate kumite in tournaments follows a set of strict rules in order to protect all of the participants.

International competition under the World Karate FederationWorld Karate Federation (also known as the WKF) also includes the following point scoring:

1 point (“YUKO”): A straight punch to the face or torso of the opponent (but not to the back of their head or body)

2 points (“WAZARI”): A kick delivered to the adversary’s torso (including the back, sides and front).

3 points (“IPPON” – A) : Any scoring technique (such as a controlled stomp kick or punch) to a grounded opponent.

Full-contact blows are typically only permitted to the torso. Blows to the head and abdomen are not permitted in some competitions or are restricted to senior-level participants only. When permitted, it is not common that full-contact is allowed. 

A kumite round typically lasts for 3 minutes. To win, a participant must either reach 8 points within the 3-minute round or have the most points at the end of the round. If there is a tie, the first participant to have scored a point wins. If neither participant scores a point, judges determine the winner based on form.

KARATE IN OLYMPICS

Karate made its debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo featuring eight events. Two karate disciplines were featured: kumite was the sparring discipline. That composed of three weight classes each for males and females. Kata was classed as solo form discipline, and had one event each for male  and females. Competitors chose the kata to demonstrate from 102 kata that were recognized by the World Karate Federation. Competitors were not allowed to demonstrate the same kata twice during the tournament.

The judges used the following seven technical points to judge the performances:

• Transitional movements
• Timing
• Stances
• Techniques
• Focus
• Conformance
• Correct breathing

In addition, the judges considered the following three athletic points:

• Speed
• Strength
• Balance

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF KARATE)

It’s pretty incredible when you think about how these ancient martial arts techniques have been preserved and passed down. Though the named art itself of Karate has only existed for less than a hundred years, it is based on a philosophy that stretches back for centuries. Katas have been instrumental in preserving that heritage and helping to pass it down.

And Kumite, though point fighting in competitions has its critics, is an excellent way for students to put their techniques to practice against a live opponent. 

Both solidly have their place in the “Way of the Empty Hand” and will continue to be passed down for generations to come.

By breaking down our karate training into the ‘Three Ks’, we are able to focus on each core training element individually, and consequently improve our overall ability through a very systematic approach. The  ultimate goal is to combine these three elements seamlessly so that the ‘Three Ks’ become the one true essence of Karate.

When this seamlessness takes place, you begin operating from a level of what is known as unconscious competence. You don’t have to think of the individual pieces and parts. Everything fits together and works in harmony almost totally without any direction from the conscious mind. This is the level from which the masters operate.  And that is why observing them is like watching missing pieces of a puzzle finally coming together.