Not really my thing, but even I've got to admit this was impressive. Not for its Karate content as much as for the amount of work that must have gone into getting it that polished! [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMYsdovzDqM&feature=player_embedded"]8th WORLD UNIVERSITY KARATE CHAMPIONSHIPS - Kata team Japan - YouTube[/ame] Gary
Out of interest - would any of you guys consider this (or aspiring to be as good as this) a major (or minor) reason to train in Karate? Gary
I think it depends. I think each karate-ka is an example of what a good karate-ka can look like. The timing of them as a group is good, but it's not something I'd personally aspire to. They seem pretty athletic, which is something else I'd aspire to if I wasn't already such an Adonis... I think I'd rather be an all rounder. Perhaps slightly leaning to kumite if I were to compete. So that makes it hard for me to decide on these guys.
I love how the snap of their gi sounds like a gunshot. I went to a TKD demo when I was a teenager, and their synchronised kata was cancelled coz they were crap at it lol saw them rehearsing before going on and the teacher told them they'll skip that bit. It's amazing to think of that example, then watch the karate demo. Worlds apart. (not to compare tkd to karate (though we all know karate is better xD), just comparing another team kata with this video)
I re-watched the video. The two things that it shows off for me is timing/sync, which isn't always easy, and athleticism. Some of the bunkai is probably a little less realistic than I first said, but it's still very impressive and, crucially, shows a good knowledge of the kata and of karate in general. The bit where he lifts one guy over his head and executes a perfect mae geri springs to mind.
That was cool as. There punches souneded like they were making the air woosh. Like in a movie or something Respect to the uke also on that one. SMACK!
I'd love to be that sharp individually , let alone as a team. The bunkai was flamboyant , which is probably the best way to go in a competition , without venturing too far into the realms of the ridiculous.
I thought their technique was excellent. Some of the control on the kicks was very impressive. To judge the speed and distance with that speed and movement was great. I think they were powerful, athletic, flexible, could breakfall (which a lot of karateka can't), so yeah, I think it was a good advert really. Sometimes being too realistic isn't good on the eye to someone who doesn't know what they are looking at. I am sure there is a lot more to these guys than just their team kata. They obviously work very hard.
I must admit, when I saw them "bow in" my first reaction was unsuYAWWWWWNNNNN!!! However, it was an amazingly tight performance of the kata. As people have said above, I would love to have their skill and athleticism. It must have taken a heck of a lot of preparation - or they have inbuilt alien karate telepathy or something. The bunkai wasn't really bunkai (in the sense of applications to the moves found in the kata), but it was a good demo nontheless. As a competition kata performance, I can't fault it.