Is it important to understand the meaning behind the names of kata and/or individual techniques?

Okay.... So there's a far more complicated answer to this:

From Koto-ryu Koppojutsu:

攅当 Santō [Meeting hit ]

攅倒 Santō [Meeting knock down ]

Now... if I said Santō, which am I referring to?

Let's take this a step further. Oni Kudaki means "Devil Crusher" loosely. When I hear Oni Kudaki, I see in my head a large brutish demon fighting against a samurai. The oni strikes out and the samurai strikes the oni has he takes his arm, bends him backwards, and crushes the demon into the ground.

For most of the core techniques in the Bujinkan, I have this sort of visual association. Ganseki-otoshi, I slam a boulder at my feet. Ganseki-nage, the boulder goes flying. Te-makura, I see myself moving into position and falling asleep on my hand. Yume-makura, I float back into a dream. The techniques that I have that association with, I recall immediately by name. If I don't, the name means nothing to me.

Knowing the meaning behind the name first creates an association with that name, and allows you to differentiate it with a homonym. Then, the meaning paints a picture, which can be used to train the technique. Can everyone do this? They can, but most don't. Does everyone have to? Not even remotely. The importance is up to the individual, but that doesn't mean that it's not useful.

My style does have katas. And very long complicated ones. But we are taught that katas are not the most important aspect of our style. The first thing is that the student is in great physical shape. The second thing is that the student has a very high level of pain tolerance. And the third thing is that the student's body can handle a lot of physical punishment and is still be able to continue. With those requirements, I must admit that even with many years of training, there are only a few katas that I understand. There is one kata that I am beginning to understand. And there are katas that I have memorized but I am not quite sure as to what they mean. Those people who don't understand my style will probably give me a "Thumbs Down", that's OK. Those who do understand my style will realize that our priorities are a bit different.

I try to avoid using Japanese terminology to my students to a large extent. Instead I prefer to have them spend time studying and developing their skill with it more and understanding the use and application those techniques and use the English translation for it instead. The names of kata I still use however and I do relate the meanings of those that I know when it is pertinent to a students training. This is one of the the areas where I am not traditional in one sense and still traditional in another. At the same time some things don't translate over from Japanese to English very well or in a way that makes sense to someone of the western culture and in those situations more explanation is usually required but I try to keep my use of Japanese to a minimum really.

This is one of the things that some of the strict traditionalists will frown on but what do you think Japanese use for terminology in golf and baseball and learning and conversing about those sports? Mostly Japanese and while it can be argued that those are sports and TMA are not I think it can also be argued that a student that is starting out needs and wants to focus on learning martial arts and not a foreign language.

Absolutely, at least for the kata that were created with actual meaning and understanding of their principles by their creator. (I only say that as there are some kata of today with no real purpose or are spawned of no real understanding of martial principle.)

I agree with you that many people only think of the names as something exotic, and don't really look into them. For the most part I can't really blame them for it. Because, if they are not taught to look into all aspects of a kata for understanding of its principles, why would they? Maybe a few would venture on their own for this knowledge, but it would be a very small number.

Everything has a purpose in kata, and that includes the name. Take the kata Empi Sho - elbow first. Sure that's pretty straight forward, right? Every response to an incoming attack is to the opponent's elbow. Every response to an incoming attack leaves thought for attacking with one's elbows.

Then there's the IDEA/principle of the elbow. What is the elbow, and why is it listed in the kata? The elbow is a joint.

How are joints most easily attacked? By forcing them in the direction they cannot go, or rotating them.

What is that an indication of? Grappling

So now there is a combative concept to begin working with through this kata, and it has moved beyond the ever so simple block-punch-kick. Without understanding and digging into the names we may not have ever thought to see this kata as more than punch-kick, and we never would have known why it has the funny name of Empi Sho.

EDIT- I see that many people are more inclined to respond to this question concerning focusing on the kata technique application only and not looking into understanding its concept. While I agree with the "I don't know what it's called. I just know the sound it makes when it takes a man's life." idea; I have to say that techniques were hidden in their names for centuries and has multiple purposes. It's not just a technique that is the answer, but it is the concept. (It's the same as math. One can memorize all of the multiplication tables, or one can learn how to multiply.) It's been said many times over by many people with the experience to understand what it means to know the concept, as opposed to memorizing techniques... It would be improbable to memorize 1000 techniques only, and try to cycle through them for each of their respective attacks while engaged in a fight. However, the techniques would come with understanding their respective conceptual designs.

I think that this idea is pretty well explained through the information passed down through the Bubishi, and other older text.

Knowing the names and some of the history of the techniques pays respect to the people who in some instances risked or gave their lives to bring us these arts.

The Korean arts have survived and been refined by foreign occupation. They have been from time to time been baned from being practiced. So not to show respect to the people who would diminish us as well as the art. The same can be said for most of the Chinese arts as well as some of the Japanese arts to.

I also think getting to know about a culture can give insight into the applications and execution of certain moves.

I think so. I also considered the fancy names especially in Chinese martial art as exotic and many made no sense at all until I figured out why they didn't make sense. A lot of them got currupted through mispronounciations and/or mistranslations. Once I learned the Kanji and proper translation they made sense and a lot of times actually helped with what the move was supposed to feel like and/or be/application.

Knowing the names will not help you in doing the techniques. The technique is the most import thing. However, know the names and or definition of the names will go more towards tradition and for instructions. It also helps with communication when you are training in a differnt place or foreign land. You can still communicate if you are saying the same things even if you do not speak the same language.

I feel it should be imparted that way there will be an indication of just what it is you are doing also teaching both names makes it easier to mention a technique that the student may or may not fully remember the traditional name for yet

that and clarification who or what is the boulder? how are your hands like clouds? stuff like that

even the unusual named ones most likely will have made sense to the creator and the world they lived in and understanding that may give a better understanding for the art itself

Hi there

The names give you a brief insight into the feeling and purpose behind the techniques. Doing the techniques alone wont. If the feeling behind what you are doing is wrong then the technique will be totally wrong also. For many its monkey see monkey do. If their happy with that then thats fine also

Best wishes

idai

several great anwsers

for kata yes, the name, history, and the created all help me in determining the bunkai to some extent

knowing who created the kata and what type of fighter he hasand the meaning behind the name gives you a better understanding of the bunkai.

as for techniques not as much, they work the same whether i know the name or not.