Kata (Karate Forms) Debate Help?

Not sure I can come up with 10 each, but I'll give it a shot.

Good:

1- Archaeological: since the old karate practitioners didn't leave behind written records, the forms are the closest thing we have to their instructions on combat theory and technique.

2- Fitness: performing kata at a realistic speed will increase your cardio, muscular endurance, balance, and so on.

3- Teaching: the kata are ultimately the syllabus of a system.

4- Mental: the memorization and visualization aspects of kata will engage your brain.

5- Psychological: the single-minded focus of kata can be used as a form of moving meditation.

Bad:

1- Limited: the movements, when performed solo, are given no context, and are therefore near useless without partner training.

2- Corruptible: historically speaking, the years have produced minor but important changes in technique. The original form has likely been lost to time.

3- Mysterious: no one can say for certain what the original meaning of most kata movements are. Through accident, disinterest, ignorance, or deliberate sabotage, the meanings of the technique have been lost, and many modern explanations don't make sense in the context of a realistic situation.

Sorry, that's all I've got right now.

The Neko Ashi Dachi is closer to the Pinan Nidan(Okinawan) version. I used to worry about finishing where I started but it does not really make a difference, as long as you are understanding the principle and mechanics of the application. But I would do it as I learned it from my Sensei. Maybe you can ask him in a question demonstrating curiosity of the many variations you have seen and not as something you see as a discrepancy. One thing I have learned - when you are following a TRULY traditional school - there is no wrong or right way. Just variations. Unless it is something taught by many of the clowns and charlatans out there. Edit: I know that kata - the Pinan version and I pivot my whole body on my left foot where I end up in sort of a kosa/neko-dachi - very small, tight, then launch Mae Geri from there. I do this to keep rooted and my right foot does not really make a big movement, just an adjustment into kosa dachi, and it is all one movement. That's very similar to how you are doing it now... how you were taught. Like I said, there is no right or wrong way. It's all about the body mechanics and how you understand the technique - what you understand it to be.

there is no down side to kata unless you dont know what the movements are for.

-kata is your style everything is in kata, all your locks, throws, traps, strikes, etc are contained in your kata. all your styles fighting techniques comes from kata.

-without kata you don't have karate

-kata is also for muscle memory.

-with kata you also need to know bunkai, not all moves are simple strikes. there are hidden movements in kata.

-without knowing the bunkai kata is useless. not knowing how to preform the move correctly it is also useless.

-if you look at the history of kata in the past you only new 1 or 2 kata and that was you style all your fighting techniques came from that kata.

i think it was Shoshin Nagamine or maybe Choki Motobu in one of his books he referred to kata as ryu, like passai ryu naihanchi ryu. meaning the kata was your system or style. every thing you needed was in the kata

-only people that dont understand kata think it is useless.

i only know 1 and that is good for moiton