I was watching an mpeg (download) of a kata demo from the web and my eyebrow raised a bit when I heard the snap coming from the karateka. After watching the mpeg repeatedly and then trying to imitate the karateka's movements, I made a few mental notes. For example, during a double knife hand, it appeared to me that much of the snap was coming from the close hand striking the gi (near solar plexus). I also noticed at least some of the effect may have been coming from stomping movements. So I thought I would ask all you kata specialists and judges for your inside information on perfecting snap with various moves. If you are a kata specialist or have a good snap with a particular move, please share your knowledge with your silent bretheren. I would also be interested in hearing kata judges/instructors opinions on what they look for in terms of snap for various moves. What do you consider too much? What are your standards for evaluation in terms of snap? While I understand that there are many other aspects of kata that would be deemed as more important than snap, I am interested in the snap aspect of kata on this thread. With great anticipation,
Stomping your foot and hitting your own uniform to add noise may impress in WWF "wrestling", but not in any martial art. The snap sound you hear in katas and correctly performed blocks/punches/strikes/kicks shows a combination of speed, power, and control. Your uniform makes this noise when it moves like the tip of a bullwhip. For max power, make this "snap" coordinated with contact with the target. That is the point of max. speed, hence max power and max kinetic energy/energy transfer.
My comment about the stomping was just an observation of someone else doing a kata that at first sounded impressive. After examining a couple of moves repeatedly, I noticed that much of the sound/snap was not the result of strong technique but some other action like the striking of the gi, or more downward thrust of the foot to the floor when turning. I had been practicing double knife hands, attempting to get a crisp sound, expecting my wrists to snap in the process. I only had an 8oz gi on, so I'll try again with a heavier gi.
And a heavier gi. When I practiced karate I had the heaviest best pressed gi in the class and it produced a mighty 'CRACK'! Col
I wear the pajama gi (just ordered a heavy weight so shut up .....) and it makes plenty of snap when I punch and do techniques. Try putting some strength into it with some proper breathing. Starch helps but you don't need it, at all.......
... did you post something? I wasn't paying attention Tensing and relaxing muscles, ... accelerating or decelerating movements at proper points, produces that "snap" or "crisp" technique within the kata. The body should move from one position to the next as quickly as possible and should stop exactly in it's next position. If the technique calls for a flowing motion, you then need to excute technique smoothly rather than fast. As far as judging... I have found that first and foremost, the key factor is usually the technical performance of basic techniques and stances ... oh and if all else fails starch up that heavyweight gi! "Move like a wave that gracefully moves toward shore and then explodes onto the beach...."
I've heard that to work on relaxed to tensing snap techniques you should research traditional Naha-te or goju (which has naha-te incorperated) because practicallly every technique uses that same concept.
Some guys cheat cheat and wet the ends of the gi. It works and on a black gi no one would notice. (No I swear I never did it! I dont do kata's anymore anyways.)
In my experience, a snapping sound can best be produced depending on the type of gi you use. Actually, it is the brushing of the elbows to the side of your body as you do a particular technique, a gyakuzuki for example, as you extend your punching arm forward, you need to retract the other arm to your side, doing this with the brushing movement with speed and power produces a snapping sound. If you really want to be a serious kata competitor, invest on good karate gi's. Preferabbly Tokaido or Yamaga.
U guys are all talking about some articial snap of ur gi sleeves, I agree with ronin. Anyway, a dry and crisp gi wont snap at all after a bit of training and the sweatweighs it down a little.