In the first part of this article we looked at the physical & technical aspects of karate kata. We shall now move onto look at the often over-looked - and vitally important - mental aspects.

The first thing we shall look at is ‘Kiai.’ 

Kiai is often thought of as merely being a shout but this is not correct. 

Kiai is the convergence of all your energies at a single instant that ensures your goal is attained. True Kiai is a feeling of great power, you feel so good that you can not help but make a noise. An explosion will make a loud noise, but a loud noise is not an explosion, likewise, Kiai (which is also release of energy) is often accompanied by a loud noise, but mealy shouting is not Kiai. 

Through the constant repetition of a technique it is possible to reach a point were the technique is so good that you know that no matter how much the opponent resists, or how skilful they are or how extreme the circumstances, the opponent will be powerless against it. 

Defeating an opponent with such a perfect technique will be an event of great beauty that will make the victor feel exalted. 

This feeling of exaltation and perfection is Kiai; the resulting shout is simply a likely physical response to this feeling. Only winning through perfection will bring about Kiai. A victory through any other means will bring about a feeling of relief. 

When practising kata it is the feeling of power and perfection that is Kiai that we should attempt to develop. If you have an unshakeable belief in both yourself and your ability to apply the techniques of the kata, regardless of the circumstances, then your kata will posses Kiai. 

A shout uttered as a result of Kiai is blood curdling to those who hear it. There is a famous tale of the karate master Matsumura defeating an opponent using only his Kiai. 

Matsumura’s Kiai so terrified his opponent that he was unable fight. A shout that is not the result of Kiai will have a hollow ring to it and will often result in amusement rather than fear. 

The shout itself should come from the abdomen as opposed to the throat and will have a differing sound from person to person. A common mistake among beginners is to shout the word, “Kiai.” 

Today there are set places in the kata at which to shout. 
This was not always the case; originally a student was left to Kiai when it was felt to be appropriate. 

Your instructor will tell you where in the kata they wish you to shout. Practice so that these shouts are the result of Kiai and not just empty grunts.

The other side of Kiai is ‘Aiki.’ 

When an opponent is helpless against your techniques you will feel Kiai. 

The opponent realising the futility of his actions will feel aiki. 

Aiki can be described as ‘winning without striking a blow’ or ‘dominating spirit.’ Feeling aiki will cause an opponent to doubt his own skills and to resign himself to a crushing loss. If in combat you can break the opponent’s spirit, so that they lose their will to fight, you are guaranteed victory. 

A person who posses high skill levels and an unshakeable belief in their ability can cause aiki in their opponents with as little as a glance. 

In the classic text, ‘The art of War’, Sun-Tzu states, “Achieving victory in every battle is not absolute perfection, neutralising an adversary’s forces without battle is absolute perfection.” 

The concept of aiki can make this high ideal into a reality, as any opponents would avoid conflict due to the realisation that any attack would be futile, as they would certainly lose. A high quality kata will cause aiki in those who witness it. 

A kata should be a beautiful yet terrifying spectacle. Pulling ‘mean’ faces and shouting loudly will not cause aiki. Only if the performer is truly in possession of strong fighting skills, and has the necessary mental qualities to apply those skills, will aiki be the result. 

The concepts of Kiai and aiki should not be confused with arrogance. Kiai & aiki will occur because the Karateka is in all reality so highly skilled as to be unbeatable in a particular situation, they will not occur through delusions of grandeur. 

All martial artist should aspire to be humble beings and as such it must be our aim to actually acquire such high skill levels and not to just be so arrogant that we think we have. Kiai and aiki are high ideals, but they are ones to which we must aspire. 

When performing the Katas try to project Kiai through your actions, thoughts, feelings and eyes so that your ability to dominate your opponents through the concept in aiki is enhanced.

Zanshin is another important aspect of kata. 

Zanshin refers to a state of enhanced awareness that should exist before, during and after a technique is executed. 

A person in a state of Zanshin will be totally aware of their surroundings and prepared for anything. The instant the opponent decides to attack, the person with Zanshin will be aware of their intentions and will respond accordingly. 

During an exchange a person who possesses Zanshin will know exactly what needs to be done to win and afterwards they will remain alert in case of any further aggression. A person without Zanshin will not know that an attack is immanent until it is too late, will have no idea what is required during the fight and, should they be lucky enough to survive, will be vulnerable to further attacks once the initial exchange is concluded. 

Zanshin is a vital part of successful fighting. Should you not be aware of all aspects of the situation you will not have sufficient information upon which to base any decisions and hence will respond inappropriately. 

With regards to self-defence it is important to be in a state of awareness before, during and after the fight. Kata is all about preparing for real fights and hence you must also be in a state of awareness before, during and after the kata. 

You would be foolish to conclude a fight and then to let your awareness drop as this will leave you vulnerable to further assaults. You would be equally foolish to rehearse something that could cause you harm during kata. 

You must finish the kata with your Zanshin intact so that any further attacks (whether they are real or imaginary) can be appropriately dealt with. 
Good Zanshin will enable you to avoid violent situations altogether, which should be the aim of all true martial artists. 

When performing the Katas remain alert and do not let your thoughts wander elsewhere. Kata practice should aid the development of Zanshin, which will in turn further enhance your fighting skill.

The mental quality of Mushin will also be developed through correct kata practice. 

‘Mushin’ means, ‘no mind’ and refers to a mind that is open and that is not fixed upon any particular object or thought. 

In a state of Mushin a person will simply respond to an opponent’s actions, in just the same way that a person’s reflection in a mirror will respond to their movements. It is common for the mind to become cluttered during combat with such thoughts as ‘I do not want to get hurt’, ‘I shall try this technique next’, ‘I am winning’, ‘They are winning’, ‘I am in pain’ etc. 

A mind that is cluttered with such thoughts will be unable to devote itself fully to the task in hand and as a result will seriously hamper the effectiveness of any actions. The mind must be free of any clutter so that all actions are executed with one hundred percent efficiency. 

When first learning a kata it is common for the student to constantly think of which move is coming next. It is also common for thoughts such as, ‘This is feeling weak’, ‘This is feeling strong’, ‘I am tired’, ‘The next sequence is difficult’ etc. to enter the mind during a kata. 

These thoughts must be avoided so that, after many years of practice, it will be possible for the Karateka to perform the kata with little or no thought. This is not to be confused with day dreaming. The mind should be wholly present to the point were the Karateka is not performing the kata but ‘is’ the kata. 

When practising the Katas be sure to avoid all extraneous thoughts so that Mushin may be developed and enhanced.

Another vitally important and often overlooked aspect of kata are the concepts behind the opening and closing bows. 

These bows signify that karate begins and ends with courtesy and reminds the Karateka to always be polite and humble in their interactions with others. 

These bows should not be empty gestures but the result of a genuine feeling of respect for the art of karate, oneself and others. 

A true Karateka should be a man of paradox who is not only capable of dealing with extreme violence but who is also kind, gentle and humble.

When performing a kata it is vital to remember that its purpose is to prepare you for combat. 

Kata is not to be used to impress others. 

It is common to see Karateka alter the kata so that kicks that were low are performed at head height, or worse still, straight up. 

Your only aim when engaged in combat is to defeat the enemy. Looking good should never be a consideration. Whilst the practice of head height kicks can increase power and flexibility you would be unwise to use them in a high-risk situation. 

Kata should be a ‘rehearsal’ for real situations and as a result high kicks have no place within them. 

Another common mistake is for stances to be far too deep. Stances are there to serve a purpose and should never be deeper than the particular style being practised dictates. 

Be sure to interpret the kata in a practical fashion as opposed to a theatrical one. The techniques should be performed in a practical and efficient way rather than in a flash and flamboyant one. There should be no difference between the way you approach your kata and the way you approach combat. 

The kata must be ‘real’ to the point were the opponents actually exist in your mind. You must have no doubt that the techniques you are performing are actually inflicting pain upon your enemies. If you truly believe in the reality of your kata this will be reflected in your performance. Your kata will be ‘alive.’ 

Learning what goes where is a relatively simple task compared to bringing the kata to life in this fashion. 

Master Itsou (founder of the Pinan / Heian Katas) when outlining his philosophy of karate to the Prefectural Education department wrote, “During practice you should imagine you are on the battlefield. When blocking and striking you should make your eyes glare, drop the shoulders and harden the body. Now block the enemy’s punch and strike! Always practice with this spirit so that, when on the real battlefield, you will naturally be prepared.” 

Be sure to put this advice into practice.

The Katas are a complete technical, physical and mental training method. 

When practising kata we are walking in the footsteps of some of the greatest fighters that have ever lived. If we perform the Katas correctly we gain the opportunity to learn from the great masters of the past and perhaps even gain a small part of their skills.

“Iain brings Karate back into the real arena with his pioneering concepts of Kata Bunkai” - Geoff Thompson. Iain Abernethy can be contacted on 01900-829406 or e-mailed at “i.abernethy@btinternet.com”

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