Martial Arts Forms their true purpose?

[Inventor]

It is amusing to see so many tough guys putting kata down. It is also obvious that they do not have a clue regarding the value of kata. You should continue to develop your body to take punishment because until you unlock the meaning of kata practice you will need to. Why do so many legitimate grand masters consider kata the gold of karate. Have you taken so many head shots that you consider your knowledge superior to my teacher who has practiced karate, continuously, for over 70 years. This is not intended as a put down but a call for common sense. Because many teachers fail to teach the true value of kata is more of a reflection on their knowledge then on the value of kata training.

[Pharabus]

It is amusing to see so many tough guys putting kata down. It is also obvious that they do not have a clue regarding the value of kata. You should continue to develop your body to take punishment because until you unlock the meaning of kata practice you will need to. Why do so many legitimate grand masters consider kata the gold of karate. Have you taken so many head shots that you consider your knowledge superior to my teacher who has practiced karate, continuously, for over 70 years. This is not intended as a put down but a call for common sense. Because many teachers fail to teach the true value of kata is more of a reflection on their knowledge then on the value of kata training.

Well, that convinced me, what about you guys?

edit:
and screw you for dragging me into a necro!

[LThornton]

Well, yeah. "Because my sensei says so" is always considered a solid argument here, isn't it?

[thrutch]

Have you taken so many head shots that you consider your knowledge superior to my teacher who has practiced karate, continuously, for over 70 years.

Are you saying that people never do stupid **** for 70 years?

Who's your teacher anyway?

[It is Fake]

http://www.bullshido.net/forums/showthread.php?t=67062

Why can't we have a "Kata nutrider" just comment decently?
Why does it ALWAYS have to be insulting?
Why does everyone, from every language and every place where MAs are taught always use the logical fallacy "unlock/hidden Kata" reasoning?

Yes, Rhetorical.

[Tom .C]

The key to unlocking hidden secrets is hidden beneath a flower pot next to the hidden secrets door.

[Lindz]

Is olympic gold tough enough for you?

[BJMills]

I know a French cocktail waitress named Kata (or maybe it's Katie, her accent is a little thick). I have been trying to 'unlock her secrets' for several months now but do far it ain't workin'.

So in one sense I agree with the OP you need to put in the time and effort with Kata to unlock her secrets. On the other, after 70 some odd years...

Some secrets are probably better left uncovered- or well covered- whatever the case may be.

[goodlun]

you consider your knowledge superior to my teacher who has practiced karate, continuously, for over 70 years.

To answer your question I certainly do consider my knowledge superior to that of your teachers. Not about karate mind you, but about effective self defense and fighting. This of course is based on empirical evidence of what has proven to be effective vs bullshit.

[Vieux Normand]

It is amusing to see so many tough guys putting kata down.

THIS is what you do for amusement? See tough guys putting kata down? Hey, everyone, the life of the party has just arrived.

It is also obvious that they do not have a clue regarding the value of kata.

Why do you care what they do or don't have a clue about? Are your days that empty, that you can find nothing more important to address?

You should continue to develop your body to take punishment because until you unlock the meaning of kata practice you will need to.

Thanks for the invaluable advice. It will doubtless be given all the attention it deserves.

Why do so many legitimate grand masters consider kata the gold of karate.

Your definition of what exactly constitutes a "legitimate grand master" might be a clue as to the direction this very-promising thread will take. Also, there are a number of styles, with legitimate masters of their own, which do not feature kata or anything similar. This might lead a benighted soul like mine to conclude that opinions regarding the value of kata are divided. So what? Opinions regarding a great many subjects are divided.

Have you taken so many head shots that you consider your knowledge superior to my teacher who has practiced karate, continuously, for over 70 years.

This question borders on incoherence. Are you saying that your teacher has taken nonstop head shots for over 70 years and is, therefore, a better judge on the topic than someone who has taken fewer years' worth of shots to the head? In any case, whether your teacher is any good will depend more on what, exactly, he has done during those seventy years than it will on the length of time itself.

This is not intended as a put down but a call for common sense.

Common sense might just as easily indicate that, if you've found a fan-fucking-tastic training regimen, you'd keep it to yourself to maintain a martial advantage over the great unwashed who don't see the value of your fan-fucking-tastic training regimen. However, if Spreading The Word is your goal, you'll gain more converts to your fan-fucking-tastic training methods by publicly testing them in an open-ruleset fight against an adversary who trains without your fan-fucking-tastic method. A Kudo fighter, for instance, or an MT practitioner. Something like that. Kindly video and post the result, thanks in advance.

Because many teachers fail to teach the true value of kata is more of a reflection on their knowledge then on the value of kata training.

Maybe they disagree with you. If you are not of the opinion that they have this right, simply find one (such as a teacher of one of the aforementioned two styles, for example) and put it to the test. Again, please video and post the results.

By the way, my current style is Karate, and--in addition to the other training and conditioning I do for my nightclub-security job--I practise the 26 Shotokan Kata, plus Sanchin Kata, several times daily, at home and at the dojo.

Do I find value in kata? Yes, or I wouldn't practise them.

To ensure that value, I also take bunkai from them and practise those against fully-resisting adversaries, in open-ruleset sparring, to ensure that I can use them on the job if necessary. My paycheck--and occasionally my life and limb--depend on that practice. As well, I've found things in kata the value of which I wouldn't have known had I not also had a pre-Karate background in Judo and wrestling.

What I don't do is get all upset that others might not see value in kata. What others think is entirely their affair, and it's not my job to go around trying to convert them--or even to pay attention to them. I've got better things to do with my time. Don't you?