2016
DOI: 10.18002/rama.v11i1.3693
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Kata – The true essence of Budo martial arts?

Abstract: This paper uses documentary research techniques to analyse the use of kata, forms, in the Japanese martial arts. Following an introduction on the existence of kata practice, using existing sources of information the paper first examines the spiritual developments of bushido, secondly, the social changes that led to the redevelopment of bujutsu into budo is scrutinsised. Next, the position of kata in relation to budo martial arts is explored followed by a discussion on the use of kata as a pedagogy. Finally, ka… Show more

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Cited by 7 publications
(5 citation statements)
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“…The macuahuitl, the Aztec obsidian bladed club, has been adapted as a ceremonial weapon, while naturally occurring objects such as conchas (shells linked to armadillo level)-key to the conchero dancing-are also used as weapons, as well as deer horns (following the deer level of the art). These animal stages of training merge together in real fighting, and the four directions seen in the account of a training session (North, West, South and East corresponding to the four Tezcatlipocas) progress to multidirectional movements of jumps, leaps, rolls, falls, kicks and other dynamic techniques of the body [72] according to the forms (or Kata in Japanese)-a central pedagogical tool that is the essence of Japanese Budo arts [73]. The students learn to "become animals" as in many Chinese martial arts [74], through the forms, preparatory exercises, visualisation, and meditation as well as playful exercises devised for youngsters, such as writhing across the studio on one's back like a snake-a surprisingly physically demanding feat for adults.…”
Section: Discussion: a Comparative Analysis Of Xilam As A Bodily Art mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The macuahuitl, the Aztec obsidian bladed club, has been adapted as a ceremonial weapon, while naturally occurring objects such as conchas (shells linked to armadillo level)-key to the conchero dancing-are also used as weapons, as well as deer horns (following the deer level of the art). These animal stages of training merge together in real fighting, and the four directions seen in the account of a training session (North, West, South and East corresponding to the four Tezcatlipocas) progress to multidirectional movements of jumps, leaps, rolls, falls, kicks and other dynamic techniques of the body [72] according to the forms (or Kata in Japanese)-a central pedagogical tool that is the essence of Japanese Budo arts [73]. The students learn to "become animals" as in many Chinese martial arts [74], through the forms, preparatory exercises, visualisation, and meditation as well as playful exercises devised for youngsters, such as writhing across the studio on one's back like a snake-a surprisingly physically demanding feat for adults.…”
Section: Discussion: a Comparative Analysis Of Xilam As A Bodily Art mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…David instructs his students to repeat the same motions dozens-and often hundreds-of times within a single class, stressing the mantra of "it's how you do it, not what you do" and "learn less, practice more", which was once expanded to a paraphrasing of the 10,000 things in Daoism (see [46]): "I don't fear the man who has 10,000 techniques; I fear the man who has one technique he's practised 10,000 times". As a Shotokan Karate black belt with martial arts training since his late teens, David sometimes refers to his foundational art, making reference to the book Five Years, One Kata [47] as an exemplar of this kind of mindset of deep training and unpacking of one pedagogic, formulaic sequence (see [48]) over the training of many forms in a superficial manner. This unpacking is seen as a form of reverse engineering, as explained by one story that David is keen to recount to his students, from when he encountered a professional who repaired coffee makers: "Most coffee machines are made from the outside in; real coffee machines are made from the inside out".…”
Section: The Treacle Is Really Heavy and Drops Slowly […]mentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Xilam has other practices common in martial arts such as formulaic sequences of forms or kata in Budo (see Dodd and Brown, 2016), which are sometimes imbued with nationalist and religious meaning, as in Kendo (Sakaue, 2018) and Taekwondo (Martínez Guirao, 2018). The Xilam practitioners have added a pre-Hispanic philosophical and historical meaning to their practice.…”
Section: Ritualistic Sittingmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Body techniques are learned and refined within the context of specific micro-practices that constitute the overall martial art. Kata is one pedagogical model for solo and collective learning that constitutes the philosophical and technical essence of Budo (Dodd and Brown, 2016). The pad and bag work of contact sports helps develop the techniques with correct distance, power and accuracy, while the slow motion practice of Taijiquan forms helps to establish correct body structures and relaxation necessary to enact the principles of the art (Frank, 2006).…”
mentioning
confidence: 99%