A kata is a group of defence and attack chained movements that are performed against imaginary opponents.
a) Concentration. Concentration must be maximum, to isolate oneself from the external interferences. All our energy (mental and physical) should be apply when performing, without any distraction.
b) Tension. It is essential in kata techniques the outburst. Go from maximum relaxation in the previous moment to action, to the maximum tension in the moment of hit.
c) Basic position. The basic postures accomplished correctly when performing a kata, give us the necessary stability to make any movement fluently and powerfully. The basic positions of Yawara-Jitsu are: rider, cat, short lunge, long lunge, greeting position, standing at attention position and crossed legs position.
d) Look. It is important to stare the point we are hitting, to focus all our energy correctly. If we do not do it, our visual field and our concentration decreased.
e) Kiai. Kiai is a powerful shout that starts in the stomach and which function is to surprise the opponent and give extra strength to our action (the ki). Performing a kiai in the right moment (when hitting) and at its most, gives the kata decisiveness.
f) Beginning and end. Although the whole kata must be performed with maximum concentration, decision and power, you must pay especial attention to the beginning and the end of it, bearing in mind that the first and the last image of a kata are remembered the most. In cases you do not perform them with the concentration required, you could destroy a kata exceptionally performed.
The practice of katas improve your concentration, your body control, your fluency, your basic technique and exercise your memory. In children classes are essential to maintain discipline and improve pupils self-esteem.
Yawara-Jitsu includes 5 basic katas, one for each belt. In each of the basic katas, atemis, which are taught in each grade, are practised . Those katas increase in difficulty, being the third kata, due to its extension and difficulty, the one that sets you are not a beginner anymore and that you have got the necessary training to learn the following katas (basic and advanced).
Yawara-jitsu includes 11 advanced katas, that increase as the teachers perform an original kata as a thesis (4º and 5º Dan). The advanced katas are: yawara kata, kata with short stick, atemis kata, ground kata, kata with bo, defensive kata, kata with dagger, kata with double short stick, kata with double dagger, kata with tonfa and kata with double tonfa. They are katas in which hits predominate although projection, sweep and torn techniques are also combined. The katas which are performed with weapons (yawara, short stick, bo, tonfa and dagger) required having practice previously with them to improve learning and technique assimilation.