Favourite kata and why ?

[Satori]

At the moment I really like gekisai dai because it has both fast and slow paced movements, nogare and ibuki breathing as well as a few stances (sanchin, zenkutsu, kiba). The kata has moments that require full tension, as well as moments that require full relaxation. Timing and tempo also vary dramatically and there is a lot of room for individual interpretation.

[StarKodama]

I love Pinan IV and V. This is a dorky reason, but these are the only kata I feel confident doing and therefore I feel cool when doing them.

I hate any and all Ura kata (and I have to know Pinan 1-V Ura for the next grading -_-). The Sokugi Taikyoku series I'm also not crazy about because they tire me out. :/

[boldbhoy]

Originally Posted by StarKodama

I love Pinan IV and V. This is a dorky reason, but these are the only kata I feel confident doing and therefore I feel cool when doing them.

I hate any and all Ura kata (and I have to know Pinan 1-V Ura for the next grading -_-). The Sokugi Taikyoku series I'm also not crazy about because they tire me out. :/

Must agree about the sokugi katas, they are tiring!! Very sweaty!!! Osu!

[supergroup7]

Oh yes.. the Sokugi Taikyoku series are VERY tiring, yet there is a wonderful almost "dance-like" aspect to them as you lift, and kick, and move, and balance, and kick, and move. To me, the Sokugi kata give a sensation of continual flow like a river going past a bridge.

[andy83]

Kanku-dai.
Osu

[chen3141]

sanchin or nijushiho. Maybe Gankaku

Sanchin, its possibly the best kata for mushin, learning to tense and relax at precise moments without thinking. And the dachi itself. My sensei would test it by putting his foot in between your legs, ask if you were wearing a cup, then bring it up quickly...nobody has ever done this stance badly in his class

Nijushiho for its ebb and flow. Its slow pressing movements are followed by fast and explosive techniques. Plus bunkai is very straightforward, and the analysis is simple yet effective.

[Zanshin]

I enjoy all the kata and get something from all of them(many times its frustration lol). If I had to pick a favorite it would be seinchin, kanku, yansu, tensho, pinan sono go(for the airborne move) and lastly sanchin. These are the kata I favor and enjoy the most.

[jcbel]

A little OT but I remember once doing Tsuki No Kata my Shihan went to town on me with a shinai in front of the class as a demonstration.

It's pretty surreal remembering it, he was absolutely smacking me and I was aware of it but didn't feel pain at the time, there were nice red welts when I went home though. I guess it was one of those rare moments when I was focused totally on the kata (and obviously he realized this).

Someone asked me after if I had done something like smoke in the change rooms and Shihan was mad at me, lol... I should say my Shihan and I are pretty close and he would not do something like that to just any student in the class!

[sonofkanga]

favorite?
hard call,been thinking a lot about this one.
like all kata, but absolute favorite right now is kanku.

[Chimofu]

I like the yansu, but my demo kata is pinan sono yon. I do this kata on japanese flute music.

[niceguy]

At this moment I like yansu but would like to try garyu, it looks very unique for a karate kata.ous

[Chimofu]

@ summercamp we did the sushiho...Is olso a favorite...

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by niceguy

At this moment I like yansu but would like to try garyu, it looks very unique for a karate kata.ous

Interesting choice - Garyu - because it is so different, I agree. for those who don't know, it was created by Sosai. According to Cameron Quinn in "Budo Karate of Mas Oyama", Garyu (= Reclining dragon) as Sosai's pen-name in his early karate life.

So if Sosai was on the forum, he would be called Garyu!

[Bloke]

I am really enjoying Yantsu at the moment.

[kyokugirl]

my favourite is basai dai or kanku but i love all katas really!

[seienchin]

Originally Posted by Bloke

I am really enjoying Yantsu at the moment.

That's a really interesting point Bloke - preferences can shift, and I think it is really healthy for that to happen - so for a year or two, the "favourite" might be one kata or another, but moving the emphasis, and rediscovering the detail of another kata is really cool.

[tmd]

Originally Posted by Chimofu

my demo kata is pin an sono yon. I do this kata on Japanese flute music.

I feel a Youtube post of this is overdue?

Sanshin - because of the way it enables me to refocus my thoughts - especially usefull mid tough sesson.

[Bloke]

Originally Posted by seienchin

That's a really interesting point Bloke - preferences can shift, and I think it is really healthy for that to happen - so for a year or two, the "favourite" might be one kata or another, but moving the emphasis, and rediscovering the detail of another kata is really cool.

Exactly - I hope that six months or a year from now another Kata is exciting me.

[Deaken]

Recently (for the past 2-3 years) I have enjoyed Seinchin and Seipai.

[jcbel]

Brings to mind the fact that the Okinawans took a few years to train on a particular kata, unlike the practice today where you learn multiple kata in one year.

Anyone read this book?

Review of Five Years One Kata: putting kata back at the heart of karate