Choosing a tournament kata

Choosing a tournament kata can be very tactical, and sadly, there can be a political dimension too...

People often ask my advice when deciding which kata to perform in tournament. Their choice usually comes down to this: should I choose a kata I enjoy, but probably won’t win with, or should I do one I know well, in the chance of winning a medal.

The kata that you practice the most is usually your grade kata, so in terms of current familiarity, that’s the one that gives you your easiest chance of earning a good score. However, you’ve been practicing kata for previous grades for a longer time, and it should not take too much practice to restore them to their best, so they also make good choices.

However, do you enter the kata division to win, or to challenge yourself? Personally, I never do all that well in GKR tournaments. I’m too gangly, and my bad knees and back make it hard to maintain strong posture. Maybe also, I simply don’t perform the kata well enough. Because of that, I’m competing against myself in tournament. My target is to get 8.0 8.0 8.0 or higher, meaning that the judges at least think that I’m average or better. Nowadays, I mostly achieve it, but not always.

Knowing the judges is important. It’s a sad truth that not every judge knows the kata that he’s judging, and I myself have found myself having to judge kata that I do not know. Knowing that, it’s easier to impress these judges with a kata that they don’t know, than with one that they do. It sucks, but it’s true.

Also, some senior judges will penalise you for attempting kata much beyond your grade, because they think it’s arrogant. You’ll mostly only encounter these judges if you compete in the Opens or occasionally in the Instructor division. Again, I think this sucks. What is the point of permitting students to perform a kata if you will then criticise them for their choice?

Assuming that you can perform all of your kata equally well, and there is no political dimension to your selection, there is still a strategic one. If you are excellent at your chosen kata, it serves you well to be compared directly against others who perform the same kata. If you are weak at the most popular kata, if you perform it, the judges will be able to make direct comparisons with other competitors – your stances are weaker, you are not so accurate, your power is lacking, etc. However, if you choose a different kata to the one that everyone else is performing, the judges will have to judge your performance solely by its own merits, and that may work in your favour – especially with less experienced judges.

You also need to consider your own physique. If you are strong and stocky, then the power katas from Shotokan (Taikyoko Shodan, Bassai Dai, Empi, Hangetsu, Kanku Dai, and Kanku Sho) will look good on you. If you are taller or more slender, the graceful katas of Goju Kai may suit you better – Seiunchin, Sanseru, Sepai and Karurunfa.

Of course, you also need to consider your physical strengths and weaknesses. It’s all well-and-good selecting Sanseru because you’re slender, but if you can’t do a side kick, or balance on one leg, then you’re facing an uphill struggle.

Ultimately, you should remember that whichever kata you select, it’s all just for fun. The real value of the kata lies in their self-defence applications, and the real value of performing them in tournament lies in your ability to focus amidst distraction, and to seek self-improvement. Good luck!