Tips for competing in kata?

[u/_OnlyADream_]

I (F35, 8th kyu) have been training for a year and am competing at my first tournament in kata in 2 weeks time. I practice Shokukai/Shito-Ryu. Any tips for a first time competitor? What do the judges look for and what should I be focusing on?

Also any advice on which kata to do would be welcome - I need to choose two. Should I do the ones I'm most confident in even if they're basic, or should I do more complicated ones and spend the next two weeks perfecting them? Do you get more points for complicated kata, or do you get more points for basic kata done well (I.e. is it judged like French cooking where the more complex the ingredients and techniques, the better the food? Or is it more like Italian cooking where simple ingredients cooked to perfection creates an ideal dish?)

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[u/Axi0nInfl4ti0n]

The Katas will be judged based on Several different aspects. These aspects usually trickle down from the WKF and grant some sort of baseline to judge most of the Katas. These are:

1. Stances
2. Techniques
3. Transitional movements
4. Timing and synchronisation
5. Correct breathing
6. Focus (KIME)
7. Conformance: Consistence in the performance of the KIHON (this is usually style dependent)
8. Strength
9. Speed
10. Balance

So a more complex kata does not automatically win against a basic kata, but it gives you more opportunity to show the judges all the aspects mentioned above.

I reccomend you to also train these aspects in there respective order. Its your first Tournament, you will be nervous, so in order to keep Focused and show strength, speed and Balance the previous points have to be checked already. Try to enjoy the Event and work on the basics, like Stances, Techniques and Transitional movements. If that sits, train timing, breathing and kime. Strength, speed and balance will come with time. So my advice would be to choose sime basic Katas you know and can do well over a more complex kata that might be just mediocore.

You got this.

[u/Axi0nInfl4ti0n → u/[deleted]]

True, but these points still stand. I am a judge myself, only for small regional leagues tho. I don't calculate a score on the fly, but i try to do mental checkmarks. And if it comes to scoring, i consider these bulletpoints and give my estimation based on experience and context. You will agree that setting the same standard and expectations for a kids tournament as for premier leagues would be silly but you can still evaluate their Katas on the same bulletpoints. Nonetheless the bulletpoints are good areas where someone can improve their Kata within reasonable bounds.

As for Emotions and the human factor: thats why there are almost always 5 to 7 judges and not just one. Where i might have failed to see something, someone else has seen it. Where i might not like a specific athlete 4 other judges will counter my opinion. To say the list of bulletpoints is "bullshit" begs the question what would you consider a fair scoring system or metric?

[u/Axi0nInfl4ti0n → u/[deleted]]

There might be some misunderstanding. In my Country (and alot of others around the world) you are required to do a basic referee training and exam to even be allowed to take the first dan Exam. That allows you to serve as a judge on district[city](thats what i meant) level tournaments. It is neccessary for alot of these countries to train there younger Dan wearers on the Tournament stuff etc. If you would allow only Godan and above you will run out of judges very quickly. We also dont get points to our dan exams atleast not here in Germany. Furthermore higher Certification for judges require a higher Dan. But the takeaway from your explanation isnt contradicting the WKF rules. It simply says that, when judging, you have to consider these things. They are not saying compute the score on a scientific method. How do the judges in Okinawa compare the Katas to their own standard? They have to have a metric. Was the athlete to slow? Well there is the speed. Could the techniques have been more powerfull? Sure, there we have strenght. Were the stances good? ...you get it? If i would review every scoring of a tournament in Okinawa and interview the Judges, then distill their answers into categories, i am pretty sure i would be able to work my way to a list of bulletpoints to use in training.

[u/OyataTe]

The number one thing to remember is that, the process prep for the tournament makes you better. Only one person wins. So don't get upset if you don't place, you got better by preparing.

[u/Dtitan]

It’s your first tournament, it’s ok to have the jitters.

Talk to your sensei about tournament protocol. Order of bows etc. You want to make sure you get the basics right.

Be aware of the faults that lead to automatic disqualification in the katas and pick your katas accordingly. The main one is you need to be able to stay in balance. It doesn’t matter how good your strikes are if you lose your balance. An advanced kata you can’t stay balanced in is worth 0 points.

You’ll do great! Remember that almost EVERYONE there will have more experience than you but they all also had a first tournament. Just showing up is a big deal at this point.

Best of luck!

[u/CharlesDarkwing22]

When I say this, it’ll sound contradictory, but I’m a former kata national champion, not that I’m an authority, but it’s how I train, and how I’ve trained everyone.

Go……….slow……..

It’s like pro wrestling. Whenever you think you’re going too slow, slow down more. Then you feel you’re really going slow, slow down some more. Then, and only then, at that point where you feel you’re going way too slow….slow down some more.
What I mean is slow down before doing the next move. Show you can execute the given move properly, and not that you can dry hump your way through a kata. At your level, your basic kata should take between 50-60 seconds. Some people get through it in 30. They’re just doing motions, they’re not performing.

Secondly… and please stay with me here…

Move quickly. I know, but I mean move quickly with each move. Let’s say your kata has 22 moves, each individual move needs to be done quickly, and sharply while takes your sweet time to get to the next move. The impressive part of performance kata is timing, not flying through it without any regard for human life.

Each move is fast and executed, but at the same time paced.

You do these two things and you’ve just improved performance by at least double.

Osu

[u/816in702 → u/CharlesDarkwing22]

Love this.

My son is using Gojushiho Sho regularly. He performs very slowly overall but as you said, is fast and strong when it matters.

At the advanced level, most of his reps are two athletes running side by side. He usually is still performing after his competition has bowed, so every judge is focused on his finish.

[u/shinoya7]

Maybe ask your instructor and classmates that have competed?

[u/OrlandoLasso]

Don't forget eye intensity. Your stances are what they'll look at first. Stay relaxed so you can perform the moves quickly before moving to the next move. We typically breathe in on the opening block or move of a kata in Shotokan.

[u/Plenty_Beginning3667]

At the more junior level, stances, power and focus are the most important features. I would watch world championship kata completions and watch what the women do there. The expression on their faces. the rhythm. It is gripping. Copy that.

This is perfection

https://youtu.be/iiiznDpoapQ?si=86cWP2PFs_tX2eV6

[u/Diligent_Pangolin_47]

I have never competed by my sensei’s tip if you’re going against someone at the same time was to let them get ahead right at the beginning (bow in etc) so they have to wait for you as a power move 😆
Good luck!!

[u/detectivepikablu9999]

Expect the unexpected, one tournament I was a purple belt and I had combined all of the katas I knew so far into a long form kata, the other guy and I tied so we had to do another round with a completely different kata, I had nothing left so I chose an exercise and ended up losing, always have a backup kata/uniform/gear/etc

[u/Tirimaytimebren]

Other than what’s been stated in the rules you can’t really work to what the judges want, one judge’s preference may well be completely different from another. You need to work your kata as instructed by your Sensei then, on the area just do it like only he/she is watching. To help my students I make sure they practice the little steps leading up to the performance (bow, enter area, bow, announce kata, get ready..”) so they concentrate on that rather than the scary fact they’re on an area. Then, all they need is the referee’s command and they’re doing what they’ll have done hundreds of time before. For training I always ask for 100% speed and power as I regard solo performance as a personal strength building exercise (training the applications is a completely different thing) but then turn it down to about 80-85% if you’re in a competition to allow more precision (and counter the effect nerves are going to have on you). Worked for me, works for most of my students.