Introduction
By Julian Forbes

Let it not be said that I completely ignored you kata aficionados. The truth is that I actually like doing kata and think its a very useful and important tool for working on the perfection of your technique. I just like, and know, kumite better.

The other beauty of kata is that you don't need a partner and can do it almost anywhere. It can be done slowly, yet powerfully, slow and light, or fast and light or fast and hard. Each variation has its place in the training scheme of things. Slow work is excellent for truly perfecting the technique as well as working on balance. Fast work obviously works explosive starts and sharp stops, your kime, or delivery power and sharpness.

JSKA 2006 World Championships, New York, USA

Given my goal of transcending specific styles on this web site, I am going to use Shotokan katas as examples as they are the foundation for most other styles. This way no one gets offended, (although I'll bet someone still will...) and everyone has a foundation set of katas to work with and from. Videos will be uploaded as soon as I have them of the katas being performed as perfectly as humanly possible.