In a message dated 4/11/98 9:19:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
merde@gomez.stu.rpi.edu writes:

 > >What exactly is a kata?  Here's what I THINK it is.  "A warm-up exercise
 > >to loosen the muscles.  It's a set of basic moves intended to be

repeated

 > >over and over."  Err, obviously, I'm missing a lot of information.  I'm
 > >pretty sure all katas aren't basic, ne?  And are they really only a
 > >warm-up exercise, similar to stretching?  Arigatou.
 > 
 > well sir in my school of martial arts you are both right and wrong, yes 
some
 > kata are very simple, and yes some are very hard, but they are not only
 > intended for warmups, some can go on for up to 20 mins, and there are 
weapons
 > katas, as well as competition katas....it depends on what you are talkin 
about
 > ^_^
 > 
 
 Additionally, there's the purpose. A kata is a set of basic moves. It's
 also a set of combinations. Each of these combinations relates directly to
 some combat situation, and it's common for a kata to have over 100
 different applications of this. So, any kata will serve to reinforce basic
 moves and help in their application to real life.

True quite true.  I kinda shortcutted my explanation, I think personally that
the coolest ones are the ones which emulate dance, I am learning one now which
in my school is called "might for right" and it is done to music!  ^_^ fun fun
fun