KATA is the word that causes misunderstanding and confusion when cross training systems due to the translations
This is worse when we get to Japan as a word can have more than one meaning, as in any language, and a kanji can have more than one word
English example:
Their, There and They're
THEY'RE looking for THEIR car over THERE
it's the same sounding word which means something different when you see it written down
European example:
Number Two and symbol 2
When we see the symbol 2 we know what it stands for
An English speaker would say "TWO", a French speaker would say "DEUX", a German speaker would say "ZWEI" - the symbol is the same but the spoken language uses a different word
Oriental example:
In China a Kanji has a different pronunciation in Cantonese and Mandarin - a Cantonese and Mandarin who cannot communicate because they speak a different language can write down what they are saying and understand each other
Chinese and Japanese do not have an alphabet, they do not have letters - a kanji is a whole word
If you look at the JUDO Nage thread and scroll down, we have included the Japanese Kanji
shirotoratiger.proboards.com/thread/79/judo-nage-gokyo-full-69
If you go down the techniques you will start to see the kanji for certain words repeated
Nage
Otoshi
O
Ko
Soto
Uchi
Gari
Harai
after a while you would start to recognise the Kanji for a throw - in your head you may say the word "throw" or say "nage"
when you recognise the kanji for O Soto Gari you would read it in the Japanese, not the English translation
Which bring is to KATA
In China what we call FORMS are common, they are part of Kung Fu - as what became KARATE systems developed and then moved to Japan, starting with Funakoshi founding what became Shotokan, this was the first time this type of exercise was seen and learnt there
The word "Form" became the word "Kata" in Karate
In Japan a Kata is a sequence of moves, not a long form
The best contemporary way to explain in English:
KENPO Long Four is a FORM
It contains sequences such as FIVE SWORDS
A "Sword" here is the SHUTO Knife Hand strike
So the SHUTO is a WAZA, a technique
However, in Karate and Kempo, the whole Five Swords sequence is referred to as a Technique
In Japan, the Five Swords sequence would be a KATA or GATA if we use the original BUDO terminology as it derives from KOBUDO, KENJUTSU, NINPO and JUJUTSU, etc
Long Four in it's entirety, would have no Japanese word, as they have no concept for what Chinese call a FORM
So in Karate, a Form was called a Kata
If someone in Japan is training just in Kendo or Judo, or just in Karate, there is no issue - it is the cross training in Japan that leaves us with the overlapping terminology
When teaching in English, it is simpler to refer to Karate and Kempo Forms as Forms, and not use the word Kata - this is even easier in STMA as we don't teach and use the Forms anyway
So when covering Ninpo, Jujutsu, we know what we mean by Kata or even Gata - in fact Gata usually flows and sounds better
eg Gyokko Ryu Shoden scroll is a list of 12 Gata, all performed left and right side on an Uke
In theory you could perform them in order, left and right as a "shadow" exercise and that would be a "Form" - it would be a personal exercise, not an official "Form" of that system, and many people do this
Kenpo Long Four is a form made of 20 techniques, practiced left and right, as a Shadow exercise, in that order, with correct turns included
What many schools do, including STMA, is practice the listed techniques, broken down, as applications with a partner
In KARATE terms, for those who learn the "Kata" first as an exercise, this would be the "bunkai", the "application of the kata
As a further note, with double meanings in Japanese, Kata is also a word for shoulder, the same way Seoi is - some Ryu list Kata Nage as shoulder throws, or just Kata Waza as shoulder techniques
So in the Aiki Randori we see Hiji and Tebuki waza as the elbow and wrist techniques - though the wristlock itself is Kote Gaeshi, Kote being the Wrist joint
It all makes sense when you get to really understand "DOJO Japanese" as it is known, and actually helps with the depth of knowledge at later stages
This is the same as English jokes working because of the double meanings
eg Strikes in Kali - joke about a Big Hard Number Two - funny in English, doesn't translate to other languages
