(Approx 1 minute 50 second read)

It’s hard not to feel frustrated when reading comments about kata. So many people speak with confidence – but little understanding – about what kata is for, how it works, or why it was created in the first place.
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Most of the time, their explanations are rooted in theory that wouldn’t last five seconds in a real confrontation.
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But how did we get here?
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Much of the confusion goes back to the rapid global spread of karate in the 1960s. During that period, many well-known Japanese instructors travelled the world to promote karate. Some were representing large associations, backed by prestige and formality.
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Westerners – many seeing karate for the first time – were in awe. These instructors demonstrated powerful kihon and crisp kata. They were seen as masters from a far-off land, and what they taught was accepted without question.
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But here’s the thing: much of what they shared was stylized and watered down. It was suitable for demonstrations and for teaching large numbers of students. It looked good, was easy to memorize, and gave beginners a sense of structure and tradition. But it lacked combative realism.
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As these methods became codified, they shaped how kata was understood. Bunkai became a kind of choreography – tidy, aesthetically pleasing, and far removed from the unpredictable nature of violence.
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Over time, this version of karate became the global standard. And because those early instructors became legends, their methods became untouchable.
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But legend doesn’t always mean truth.
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Many of these men were products of their era – focused on spreading karate, building organizations, and creating structure. Don’t get me wrong, many of these instructors were incredible karateka, hugely talented, and amazing teachers.
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But they weren’t interested in preserving the older, more pragmatic approach to kata – just what karate had become. And few of their students, in those early days, had the experience or context to question what they were shown.
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That’s the root of the misunderstanding. The real lessons of kata – were either left out or barely touched upon.
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What remained was a shell: the movements were there, to look fantastic, but the ‘why’ was missing.
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Today, and for many, that old image still holds power – the myth of the perfectly crisp snappy kata, explained with unrealistic bunkai and preserved as gospel.
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And those that look on from the outside see this ritual, and for them – for those that don’t want to understand – kata, and karate as a whole, just doesn’t work.
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Is it time to move past the myths? Not with disrespect, but with honesty.
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Written by Adam Carter