What are Karate Kata’s and what is its purpose?
Katas (sometimes referred to as Shadow Boxing) are an integral part of Karate and many other martial arts, where they are also sometimes called forms or patterns. The martial artist follows a particular sequence of movements that include the attack and defense against one or several imaginary attackers. Practicing Kata is a good way of exercising the pure form of techniques. Many Katas also contain secret or hidden Karate techniques that are not obvious to the unsuspecting bystander (and often not even to the student performing the Kata). Katas are a means of maintaining the true form of an original style, and its tradition from master to student, who may then in the future teach his own students. The meaning and application of techniques found in Kata is called Bunkai. As the student progresses through the ranks more and more Katas and the techniques contained therein (see Bunkai) are mastered. Thus, Katas are also an important aspect of the grading procedure, where student undergo an
