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Japanese name
Kanji1. 型
2. 形

Kata, a Japanese word, meaning literally: "form" ( or ), is a detailed choreographed pattern of movements made to be practiced alone, but are also practiced within groups and in unison when training. It is practiced as a way to memorize and perfect the movement being executed. There are many professions which use the term Kata, but Kata as a term is known generally by the Martial Arts world, and typically reserved for Japanese empty hand combat systems (Karate -meaning empty hand). Traditional Korean Karate, called (Tang Soo Do) uses the term Kata and some Tang Soo Do schools do not, which is brought on by the memory of the Japanese and Korean war, where in at that time traditional Korean Karate was introduced.

Kata are used in many traditional Japanese arts such as theatre forms like kabuki and schools of tea ceremony (chadō), but are most commonly known for the presence in the martial arts. Kata are used by most Japanese and Okinawan martial arts, such as aikido, judo, kendo, kenpo, and karate.




Japanese martial arts[edit]

In Japanese martial arts practice, kata is often seen as an essential partner to randori training with one complementing the other.[citation needed] However, the actual type and frequency of kata versus randori training varies from art to art.[citation needed] In iaido, solo kata using the Japanese sword (katana) comprises almost all of the training.[citation needed] Whereas in judo, kata training is de-emphasized and usually only prepared for dan grading.[citation needed]

In kenjutsu, paired kata at the beginners level can appear to be stilted.[citation needed] At higher levels serious injury is prevented only by a high sensitivity of both participants to important concepts being taught and trained for.[citation needed] These include timing and distance, with the kata practiced at realistic speed. This adjustability of kata training is found in other Japanese arts with roles of attacker and defender often interchanging within the sequence.[3] Many martial arts use kata for public demonstrations and in competitions, awarding points for such aspects of technique as style, balance, timing, and verisimilitude (appearance of being real).[citation needed]

2005 cadet world karate champion [4] Emmanuelle Fumonde performing a kata.





Recently, with the spread of Extreme Martial arts or XMA, a style of kata called CMX kata has formed.[citation needed] These kata are performed in tournaments and include gymnastics related elements, such as backflips, cartwheels, and splits.[citation needed] These kata can also be performed with weapons such as the Bo staff.[citation needed]



Aka with stick (4 Winds)

Non-Japanese martial arts[edit]

While the Japanese term is most well known in the English language, forms are by no means exclusive to Japan. They have been recorded in China as early as the Tang dynasty, and are referred to in Mandarin as taolu.[citation needed]


In Korean martial arts such as taekwondo and Tang Soo Do, the word hyung or hyeong is usually employed, though in some cases other words are used.[citation needed] The International Taekwon-Do Federation uses the word tul, while the World Taekwondo Federation uses the word poomsae or simply the English translations "pattern" or "form."[citation needed] Taekwondo patterns have multiple variations including Palgwe and the more popular Taeguk forms used by the WTF. Forms are included in certain taekwondo competitions and are a key element of gradings.[citation needed]

In Sanskrit, forms are known either as yudhan (combat form) or pentra (tactical deployment).[citation needed] Other Asian martial arts refer to forms by various terms specific to their respective languages, such as the Burmese word aka, the Vietnamese quyen and the Kashmiri khawankay.[citation needed]

In the Historical European martial arts and their modern reconstructions, forms are referred to as plays, drills or flourishes.[citation needed]

Outside martial arts[edit]



Kata is a term used by some programmers in the Software Craftsmanship[11] movement. Computer programmers who call themselves "Software Craftsmen"[12] will write 'Kata'[13] - small snippets of code that they write in one sitting, sometimes repeatedly,[14] often daily, in order to build muscle memory and practise their craft.[15]

One of the things that characterize an organization’s culture is its kata – its routines of thinking and practice.[16] Edgar Schein suggests an organization's culture helps it cope with its environment,[17] and one meaning of kata is, "a way to keep two things in sync or harmony with one another." A task for leaders and managers is to create and maintain the organizational culture through consistent role modeling, teaching, and coaching, which is in many ways analogous to how kata are taught in the martial arts.

See also[edit]


  2. ^ Rother, Mike (2010). Toyota Kata: Managing People for Improvement, Adaptiveness, and Super Results. New York: McGraw Hill Education. pp. 15–18. ISBN 978007163523-3.
  3. ^ "Classical Japanese Warrior Training Methods The Kata". www.shinmunenryu.org. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ "World junior and cadet champsionships 2005".
  5. ^ Karate, Okinawan Kobudo and Kendo Kata videos
  6. ^ "Forms of Judo: Kata – Judo Info". www.judoinfo.com.
  7. ^ R.GROULS@WXS.NL. "Kata, nage, karame, gonosen, itsutsu, kime, no, video, movie, film, armlock, judo, Judoschool Jan Snijders, Oirschot, Bladel, Deurne, Gemert". www.judo-snijders.nl.
  11. ^ The Software Craftsmanship Movement
  12. ^ Martin, Micah; Steensma, Kelly (May 28, 2013). "Performing Code Katas - 8th Light". 8thlight.com.
  13. ^ "What's all this Nonsense about Katas? - Clean Coder". sites.google.com. November 21, 2009.
  14. ^ (@PragDave), Dave Thomas (December 30, 2013). "CodeKata: How It Started - CodeKata". codekata.com.