While practicing all my kata are important, I’ve had to choose a couple for extra practice at the 2009 Canadian National Karate Championships in Calgary in October. The questions I’ve been tossing around are:
- should I determine my body type and choose two kata from that type? or,
- choose a kata from the two main types of kata: sho-rin and sho-rei?
Let’s see…
The advantage of doing two kata that match my primary body type, probably sho-rei kata, is that these are inherently more tuned to my body structure and I could potentially improve my proficiency in these faster.
However, choosing two different types of kata is probably for my own personal benefit as it can help me acquire more consistency and balance throughout my karate curriculum. Sho-rin for improving my speed and ability to reverse directions, sho-rei to improve focus, muscle tension and relaxation, and strength.
My gut tells me to do just the ones I know best and that suit my body best. The reason for this:
“the judges aren’t going to give extra brownie points for showing diversity because they aren’t going to remember me that much”
With regards to my own personal benefit, after a little more thought, I won’t improve my proficiency during a competition by any measurable amount (not that you can ever measure short term progress in karate), so this point kind of becomes moot. GSP said it well: “while you train, its 80% physical, 20% mental, and when you get in ‘dat ring, it’s 20% physical, 80% mental”. Then I should just stick with what works for me and my body type.
Am I right in thinking this?
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