is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your styl

Most martial arts kata are so different to one another that certain body types will handle them better than other body types. Everybody has a different muscle structure, flexibility and other physical characteristics to everybody else, so do not expect to be able to outperform everybody else in every kata. Some kata will suit you, others will not - but you should still practice them all.

The point I am trying to make here is that you should be the best that you can be for yourself and not try to outdo somebody else. When you can overcome your failings in a kata your skill level will increase.

I have always said that if you show me a martial artist who is a good kata performer, that person will have little difficulty learning the skills of free-fighting. However, in my opinion, a naturally talented free-fighter will usually only ever be a good puncher and kicker. Eventually the punchers and kickers get weary of free-sparring (especially as they grow older and sustain more injuries). This causes them to drift away from their clubs. I find this rather sad.

Another benefit of kata performance is that it can remain a worthwhile activity as the practitioner gets older. There are many examples of karate exponents well into their seventies and eighties still performing kata at a high level of skill. One that springs readily to mind is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your style

ill not - but you should still practice them all.

The point I am trying to make here is that you should be the best that you can be for yourself and not try to outdo somebody else. When you can overcome your failings in a kata your skill level will increase.

I have always said that if you show me a martial artist who is a good kata performer, that person will have little difficulty learning the skills of free-fighting. However, in my opinion, a naturally talented free-fighter will usually only ever be a good puncher and kicker. Eventually the punchers and kickers get weary of free-sparring (especially as they grow older and sustain more injuries). This causes them to drift away from their clubs. I find this rather sad.

Another benefit of kata performance is that it can remain a worthwhile activity as the practitioner gets older. There are many examples of karate exponents well into their seventies and eighties still performing kata at a high level of skill. One that springs readily to mind is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your styl

kata performer, that person will have little difficulty learning the skills of free-fighting. However, in my opinion, a naturally talented free-fighter will usually only ever be a good puncher and kicker. Eventually the punchers and kickers get weary of free-sparring (especially as they grow older and sustain more injuries). This causes them to drift away from their clubs. I find this rather sad.

Another benefit of kata performance is that it can remain a worthwhile activity as the practitioner gets older. There are many examples of karate exponents well into their seventies and eighties still performing kata at a high level of skill. One that springs readily to mind is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your styl

hem to drift away from their clubs. I find this rather sad.

Another benefit of kata performance is that it can remain a worthwhile activity as the practitioner gets older. There are many examples of karate exponents well into their seventies and eighties still performing kata at a high level of skill. One that springs readily to mind is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your styl

is Shinpo Matayoshi, the renowned Okinawan 10th dan karate and weapons expert. In his twilight years he was still able to make instructional video tapes on weapon katas and techniques. His level of dexterity would make most men half his age shake their heads in disbelief.

So, if you are a traditional martial arts person and your style includes the practice of kata, be proud. Next time you hear a kickboxer or boxer or “no kata type” person say : “You can’t use it in the ring!” just be polite and say “Yes. You’re quite right.”

You see, katas were never designed to be used for spontaneous fighting. In other words, “you can’t do a kata on a person.” You may, however, be able to extract a technique from a kata and apply that to a real confrontation situation. And therein lies the greatest, but by no means only, benefit of practicing kata. Kata give you ideas. They stimulate the imagination. They lead you into deeper study.

Kata practice simulates dozens of separate encounters to dozens of separate situations. It is a form of shadow boxing. The benefit you can receive from the proper practice of kata is only limited by your imagination.

I often tell my students that practicing kata forces the body to follow the instructions of the brain. Unfortunately, these days, there are far too many “Norms” and “Normas, who refuse to do anything at all if it causes any stress, pressure, effort, discomfort or new experience. These people are hedonists - those who are only motivated by physical pleasure. Such people have a brain ruled by a lazy body. The practice of kata forces the body to respond to the demands of the brain.

When practicing kata new abilities are revea