Kata, Choreography and Dance

Is there a correlation between dance and martial arts? One would have to say most definitely. The clues are all around us; common denominators such as the human body, rhythm and movement.

Muhammad Ali was famed for his dancing in the boxing ring. Bruce Lee was a champion cha-cha dancer 1958 and in his Tao of Jeet Kune Do he talks of a fight having a rhythm, a beat that must be followed. Michael Flatley (Lord of the Dance) was a boxer. Look at this picture of Gene Kelly, does it look like a dance move or a flying yoko-geri?

A dance move or a martial art technique?

Both in martial arts and in dance there are many different forms derived from diverse cultural roots! Many kata are, reputedly, derived from ancient folk dances. Japanese masters will sometimes perform kata to music dressed in traditional Japanese costumery as opposed the standard gi.

You do not have to look much further than the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira to see the result of combining dance and fighting into a martial arts system. Highly stylised, extremely athletic and expertly choreographed. Instead of posting video links here, I would invite you to do your own research if you’ve never seen Capoeira in action before.

Instead, to press this point, I’d like to share my passion for old movies, especially musicals that include superlative dance numbers. The first of these would be The Nicholas Brothers in Stormy Weather (1943). Fred Astaire said once called this the greatest dance performance ever filmed:

Remember you are learning and practicing a martial art, not science or athletics, an ‘art’. Here are some dictionary defitions of the meaning of the word, art:

1) the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance.
2) a superior skill that you can learn by study and practice and observation.
3) a system of rules serving to facilitate the performance of certain actions; a system of principles and rules for attaining a desired end; method of doing well some special work; — often contra-distinguished from science or speculative principles; as, the art of building or engraving; the art of war; the art of navigation

You will often hear the terms ‘beautiful’ and ‘expression’ in reference to your practice of kata. Can you imagine how many hours of practice these two dancers must have put in to make this look so beautiful. Their fitness and their athleticism was extraordinary.

Form and function. What is the function of any form of dance? To entertain. What is the function of any kata (i.e. form)? When practised alone, to assimilate imaginary combat. When performed in front of others, perhaps to entertain! Why not!

Dictionary definition of dance: an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a performance setting.

If 1943 is going back too far for some of you younger students, look at Michael Jackson’s ‘Bad’ and ‘Beat It’ videos. They are self-explanatory in terms of the message this post is attempting to get across.

Time for one more oldie before I close this post. This time, The Berry Brothers. I’ll use this as an example of how dance and weaponery can become intermingled. How many people on todays streets do you see with walking canes, as opposed to say 5-foot staff’s or nunchuka’s? And just watch the jump off the balcony at the end. All in real time, not cut. Run up, turn around and jump. Amazing!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the video’s on this page. They are all embedded links from YouTube. I take no responsibility for any of the comments attached to the video’s posted on YouTube.