International
The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, eg. Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (divisors of 108) are common. The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and his or her responses, as actually occurring, and karateka are often told to "read" a kata, to explain the imagined events.
In teaching the open handed kata, most styles of Karate start with a series of three, or sometimes two, very simple kata called blocking forms before advancing to five basic kata named Pinan in some systems and Heian in others. By working through this series (in order: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan (except in Wado Ryu Karate, where Shodan and Nidan are reversed)) the practitioner learns all the basic stances and techniques before moving on to more advanced kata. Traditionally, kata are taught in stages. Previously learned kata are returned to in order to show more advanced techniques or ways of doing things, as beginners do not have the same knowledge and experience that practitioners further up the ranks have. It is not uncommon in some styles for students testing for Shodan (first rank black belt) to have to repeat every kata they have learned from the first belt, but at a "black belt" level, for example, with better technique, power, amongst others. This system is often used for the lower grades as well. The student will perform one new kata and one or two previous ones, to demonstrate how much they have progressed and how quickly they can learn new things.
I don't even go to karate and I learned this in one day.
By Terroristbc [Affiliate User] 1210463943 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI'm currently half way with learning this kata. I can only so far go to the 45 degree knife-hands. Its cool when you get a kata right.
By cekicgrad2006 [Affiliate User] 1209041657 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removei trained in oregon, jka school. there colors went white purple blue green brown black.
the american martial arts school i am training in now goes... white yellow orange green blue purple brown (brown w black center, 1/2 brown 1/2 black,) black
color wise i am am still the same color for my kata.
Haha i see. So how many years have you been practicing Karate for?
By mekaal [Affiliate User] 1208316041 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveI am a green belt working on heian Yondon, my next color would have been brown in JKA. I have already had a blue belt and purple belt in JKA Shotokan, now i am taking American Karate and there next belts are blue and then purple??? then brown wtf??? i feel like I am going backwards now.
By xsxthunderxsx [Affiliate User] 1208281758 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveWhat Belt are you?
By mekaal [Affiliate User] 1208207500 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removethats ol school!
By karatekasteve [Affiliate User] 1207846764 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveHuh? Isn't it..
White belt - Taikyoku Shodan
| White belt with strips - Taikyoku, Nidan - Sandan
| Orange/Yellow - Heian Shodan/Nidan/
| Green/Blue - Heian Sandan/Yondan
| Purple/Brown - Heian Godan/Tikki Shodan (Some: Basidai)
| Black belts (Depending on their rank)- Black belt katas.
[Had to make it more understandable.]
Huh? Isn't it.. White belt - Taikyoku Shodan | White belt with strips - Taikyoku, Nidan - Sandan | Orange/Yellow - Heian Shodan/Nidan/ | Green/Blue - Heian Sandan/Yondan | Purple/Brown - Heian Godan/Tikki Shodan (Some: Basidai)| Black belts (Depending on their rank)- Black belt katas.
By BlackEclipseB [Affiliate User] 1207791406 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removewhite=heian shodan, yellow=heian nidan, orange=heian sandan, green=heian yondan, blue=heian godan... brown and black..
By ciadorina [Affiliate User] 1207671605 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveWOW.
By EnergyKI [Affiliate User] 1207529057 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removeat eugene karate club JKA i did heian shodan to go to purple, heian nidan to go to blue, heian sandan to go to green... n now heian yondon i would go back to blue at american martial arts academy??? then purple then brown why???
By dollarbill6913 [Affiliate User] 1207381588 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down Removei am now in american martial arts school there belts go as follows white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, brown, brown w black center stripe, brown 1/2 black, full black. there green is the same kata as where i was at eugene karate club. i have already had blue n purple belts???
By dollarbill6913 [Affiliate User] 1207367268 Reply Spam [+0] Moderate Up Moderate Down RemoveYou must not be traditional, then. Traditional Shotokan Karate, from my experience, goes white, yellow, blue, purple, brown, then black.
That's why I study Traditional; it's the same everywhere, no matter who you study under.
ok you all confuse me... i trained in oregon are belts went from white (shodan)to purple (nidan) to blue (sandan)to green (yondan, godan, n tekki) to brown??? wtf ??? i am green n on heian yondan
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