IMA Karate is a hybrid “Style Free” Karate academy.
This page provides a link to a popular YouTube Channel related to Karate Kata (or Karate Form). Kata is a solo form of Karate practice (Solo Drill). There are different schools of thought and different concepts as to why people choose to learn and practice Kata in this modern day. Please Note: IMA has no affiliation or relationship with the instructor YouTube channel linked below. The instructor in the videos below is not one of our instructors.
Four common reasons to learn and practice Kata include:
1. Cultural immersion & tradition: Karate was formed on the island of Okinawa (previously known as the Ryukyu Kingdom) hundreds of years ago with influences from Chinese martial arts.
2. An alternative form of physical exercise: Kata practice can aid in developing, balance, coordination, strength, conditioning, flexibility, breath control, focus, concentration, self-discipline, visualisation, memory and mindfulness.
3: A form of competition: In modern times Karate practitioners can compete against each other based on how well they perform their Kata.
4. A reference source for principles, tactics and techniques of civilian self-defence: Solo practice or individual kata was created from two person drills (or combative partner training) and is based on solutions to civilian self-defence.
IMA Karate has adopted the view that the original intention of Kata was to help preserve and pass on combative civilian self-defence solutions/options to common acts of violence. Practical two person drills (partner training) provided the foundation for what became a solo drill (form) which is referred to as Kata.
IMA Karate places more emphasis on learning the practical application of combative principles and techniques that can be applied against a resistant opponent, compared with kata as a martial arts performance and martial arts game (competition).
References: Patrick McCarthy’s Habitual Acts of Physical Violence – HAPV (https://www.koryu-uchinadi.com/), Iain Abernethy’s Practical Karate https://iainabernethy.com/ & John Titchen’s Habitual Acts of Violence – HAV https://titchen.com/).
The Kata listed below are derived from the Shotokan Style of Karate, although at the core of Kata simularities exist across all styles of Karate. The videos are included below to assist parents and students learn and practice their Kata outside of the Dojo. Please note that there will be slight variations between different practitioners of kata depending on their instructor, dojo, lineage, association or training group. This is natural and common when comparing different martial arts academies. If you are unsure about any variation or difference seen in the demonstration below, please consult with your instructor for the preferred method.
Source: Jason Pierce Leung https://www.youtube.com/@ULTIMATEKARATEOFFICIAL,