Kata

A form of martial arts is a well-defined sequence of movements - such as attacks, defenses and counter-attacks - which represents a fight against one or more, real or imaginary opponents.

Designations

Forms of play, especially in the Asian martial arts a role and are called partially different in German depending on their origin:

• Kata (形Japanese, German " form, style, attitude ," or (in Japanese Karate )型for " rule, pattern, printing, stencil " ) in the Japanese martial arts ( Budo Japanese )
• Taolu (Chinese套路) in some Chinese martial arts, especially in the modern Wushu
• Kuen in some southern Chinese styles or styles that have been influenced by such
• Quyen and Bai - Quyen in the Vietnamese martial arts
• Hyeong, Tul or Poomsae in Korean martial arts ( Kor. Mudo )

The movements in a form are sometimes also called images.

People

The majority of forms of martial arts are individual forms, in which a single martial artist executes the sequence, which can represent a fight with an imaginary opponent, but also can be a series of different movements easy. Individual molds are often also practiced in the synchronous group (group synchronous form).

There are also a partner forms in which two or more people a - more or less realistic - Fight fight. In some martial arts such as the Jodo exclusively partner forms are practiced.

Movements

Short forms include a few movements; the longest forms may contain a sequence of more than 100 movements. The execution speed of each movement may differ greatly depending on the martial arts and can vary even within the forms. Running a form takes on fast martial arts like karate, taekwondo or Shaolin Kung Fu typically a few tens of seconds to a few minutes, but can take up to over an hour for example when slow practiced Taijiquan for several tens of minutes.

Purpose

Practicing the forms used to teach the trainees to use the various techniques of martial arts. In general, there are individual shapes in which the practitioner is fighting against an imaginary opponent. This allows the practitioner to focus more on the correct execution of the movements and is not distracted by the interaction with a real partner or opponent. Forms are often practiced together and simultaneously, so that a student can learn by imitation of his teacher or other practitioner. Shapes often form the primary school or the foundation for further learning this martial art for the practitioner. Learning and practicing a form requires a lot of time to perform all the movements correctly. Many masters say that learning a form requires only a short time, but the mastering and perfecting a form lasts a lifetime.

A form can also be used to preserve the essence of a martial art from oblivion and to pass from one generation to the next.

Forms are also often used to demonstrate outsiders a martial art, such as demonstrations and shows.

Competitions

Now forms are also used in so-called form competitions where competition judge the execution rate of the forms. The criteria serve the correctness of the design, the dynamics, harmony, and other aspects. Form of competitions are available in most Asian martial arts; in some form of martial arts are those competitions even the only, or at least common type of athletic competition (eg in Iaidō, Jodo or modern Wushu ).

For competitions often custom shapes are developed, there are - in contrast to the traditional use of the forms in the martial arts - but above all, aspects such as aesthetics and choreography in the foreground. In some cases, the forms are also accompanied by music or practiced as a synchronous form (eg in Taekwondo ).