Most kata are 2 to 4 moves in a section. Sections are based on breathing or turn ing to a new direction.

If you are forced to practice in a small space break the kata up into the sections. Practice the sections. All turns and pull back stanc es (of any style) kata require inhale. All blocks, strikes, kicks are done on ex hale. There is no release of power on the inhale. Break your sections up by inha le moves and mainly while turning moves. Train each section very slowly. Stance first with hips, then watch your breath control, then arm legs. Then breath agai n. A kata without breath control will never have power, snap, and focus. Only a dance show. Then tense muscles at the very end of each movement when your form i s correct, doing it slowly. This helps train the body to remember, and feel it. Later when you have room put the sections together. Don't give any concern to ti ming or speed. Your breathing will teach that. About 2 or 3 seconds per section. Some people do kata as a show and can not use it in a fight!. That is because th ey rushed it. Why waste time on kata if you can not use it in full power kumite? If you want to dance take a dance class. Karate-do is a martial art. Not a danc e or show. I'm not getting off topic. Everyone reading about kata needs to know and train. Do as you wish in your country but this is the Okinawa way. If your kata and kumite looks totally different your training is out of balance. Ying is below yang. Kata exist to support kumite like all forms of training sho uld do!!! Don't be concerned with being gentle until you have the power to destr oy. Karate-do has no wasted motion or energy, none. In real combat every bit of energy counts. If you run of gas you will lose! You must deliver maxim power in shortest time. Kata for a show without power is totally useless in a real fight! Good karate-do does not waste energy. Always train for more than one attacker. The purpose of kata is to serve and support kumite (free fighting). Always keep that in mind when practicing kata. With time you see many techniques that come f rom a move. I often used Kusanku and Chinto and 100's of moves came out during p ower kumite. There becomes a flow without thought of mind. Techniques are like b ranches from a tree. Each spits in many others. But you must have a trunk. Solid balance from breath control, stance and hip rotation. Practice very slowly for proper form in sections until it's natural to you. Someone here said they kata w hile making coffee. That is right. Every movement of your daily life, walking, t urning, lifting, pushing a door open, do as kata. You become balanced, smoother, more power comes from inside and breath control. Your body just does things bef ore you can think. A glass falls and you grab it without spilling? Every movemen t of your day becomes like a kata. Your mind does it. Simple things that normall y seem hard just happen naturally. You are developing unconscious skill. This ty pe of skill is vital to winning against the unknown or surprise. Punching a bag or skipping rope (both excellent training) but will not teach that. At first kat a teaches balance, breath, and form. Once your doing a kata and no longer thinki ng "what's the next move" you have a grasp on it. Karate-do is the most honest thing you will ever encounter. It gives equal to wh at you gave. Nothing more or less. Train in a kata for 4 years. Then walk away i f you wish. Go to dance class. If you don't fight better it's not the kata that failed to learn. Worked for 400 years before. Thank everyone who read my words. Mal Correct breathing

Kokyo The breathing. This has to change in each situation, but basically inhale when defending, exhale when the technique is executed, and inhale and exhale wh en it is executed consecutive techniques.

Breath excessively and out of proportion in relation with the final kime. Hold the breathing. Wrong trunk inclination. Heian Shodan Step 1 Ready Exhale 2 Step turning left 90 pivoting on right foot Front Down block w/ le ft arm Inhale Look first 3 Step forward with right foot Front Lunge punch w/ right hand Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 4 Step turning right 180 pivoting on left foot Front Down block w/ ri ght arm Inhale Look first 5 Quickly pull right foot back & up by left knee, & then step back out wit h right foot stomp Front Pull arm quickly away to the left in a circular motion & then execute a hammer-fist strike w/ right hand. Exhale Arm & le g should do circular motion at the same time. Strike with the bottom of the fis t 6 Step forward with left foot Front Lunge punch w/ left hand Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 7 Step turning left 90 pivoting on right foot Front Down block w/ le ft arm Inhale Look first 8 Step forward with right foot Front Rising block w/ right arm Exhale Cover while stepping forward w/ a quick open hand rising block w/ left a rm 9 Step forward with left foot Front Rising block w/ left arm Inhale Open right hand at beginning of step 10 Step forward with right foot Front Rising block w/ right arm KIAI! Open left hand at beginning of step 11 Step turning left 270 pivoting on right foot Front Down block w/ le ft arm Inhale Look first 12 Step forward with right foot Front Lunge punch w/ right hand Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 13 Step turning right 180 pivoting on left foot Front Down block w/ ri ght arm Inhale Look first 14 Step forward with left foot Front Lunge punch w/ left hand Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 15 Step turning left 90 pivoting on right foot Front Down block w/ le ft arm Inhale Look first 16 Step forward with right foot Front Lunge punch w/ right hand Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 17 Step forward with left foot Front Lunge punch w/ left hand Inhale/Exhale Step & punch end at the same time 18 Step forward with right foot Front Lunge punch w/ right hand KIAI! Step & punch end at the same time 19 Step turning left 270 pivoting on right foot Back Knife hand block w/ left arm Inhale Look first 20 Step turning right 45 pivoting on left foot Back Knife hand block w/ right arm Exhale Step & strike end at the same time 21 Step turning right 135 pivoting on left foot Back Knife hand block w/ right arm Inhale Look first 22 Step turning left 45 pivoting on right foot Back Knife hand block w/ left arm Exhale Step & strike end at the same time Movement Stance Technique Breathing Important Points

23 Step pulling back 45 pivoting on right foot into natural stance Ready Arms back to ready position Inhale/Exhale Maintain focus until movement is completely finished Rhythm and Timing: 1 - 2 3 - 4 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 10 - 11 12 - 13 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 18 - 19 20 - 2 1 22 - 23