The Zen of Kata
Kata, the deliberate practice of choreographed combat techniques and psychology, has been the centerpiece of traditional martial arts practice for centuries. The Zen of Kata is an in-depth study of karate-dō kata that have withstood the test of time. Author, biomedical scientist, and sensei Alex W. Tong focuses on this fascinating subject through the lenses of traditional Shotokan Karate-dō and his contemporary scientific insights, detailing how kata embodies the technical intricacies of Chinese gōngfu, the pragmatism of Okinawa-te’, and the irrepressible spirit of Japanese bujutsu (Samurai Zen). Nuanced discussions, along with numerous tables and figures elaborate how this “Moving Zen” process