When applicating karate kata, what do you think are the most important principles to keep in mind?
(VM) My views are probably so well-known here, that this could become boring. The fact is kata reveal principles through techniques. The techniques themselves are almost of secondary importance, which is why you can frequently find the same principles being demonstrated in different kata by different techniques, thus exemplifying master Funakoshi’s statement, that if you understand one kata, you understand them all. However, saying that doesn’t help, if you do not know what the principles are and how to apply them. This is exactly the same as having to know and apply the rules of grammar in order to speak a language correctly. Realizing this, I analyzed and wrote a book about the rules of combat; Principles, which apply in any armed or unarmed confrontation and which need to be understood and applied in order to make the techniques effective. Some of the principles of combat are: – Awareness, distraction, optimum positioning, understanding the enemy (physically and mentally), unbalanci
