How to Remember Your Kata and Forms in Martial Arts | Improve Your Memory for Belt Tests

Do you ever worry about forgetting your kata or forms before a belt test? Well, don't! I’ve got three tips to help you remember your kata and ace the test.

Tip #1: Practice your kata as fast as you can.

You lift weights to isolate your muscles. Going through your kata as fast as you can isolates your brain! Don’t worry about doing everything properly, just see how fast you can speed through the sequence without any stops.

Once you figure out your brain’s maximum speed limit, then go back and practice your forms at the proper pace. I promise—you will suddenly feel like a brainiac.

Tip #2: Practice your forms in different directions.

Back in my Tae Kwon Do days, I always nailed my form... as long as I did them in my home dojang! But when we'd test in a different school, I would freeze! Why?

The problem was that I had learned the form based on EXTERNAL points of reference instead of INTERNAL points of reference. Here's how to fix that...

1) Practice your forms in your home school starting off in every direction.

2) Practice your kata everywhere you can. Practice at home, in the park, in the parking lot—anyplace. Just be careful in the shower.

3) Spin around and count to three... then stop. Wherever you end up, start your kata right from there. That should help!

Tip #3: Practice your forms with your eyes closed.

Closing your eyes will force you to feel your way through the kata, instead of see your way through the kata. You’ll start building sense memories, instead of just intellectual memories.

I would recommend choosing one feeling to focus on at a time. Maybe it’s the sound of your breathing. Or the weight in your feet. Or the pressure in your hands. The big idea is if you give your brain something to focus on, it’s a lot less likely that it’s going to get distracted by noises in the room or the voices in your head.

Two more quick thoughts. First--if you make a mistake performing your kata during a belt test, own it! Don’t allow yourself to get upset. Just keep going or ask for permission to start again.

The truth is if you keep your cool and keep going after a mistake, that might be a better demonstration of who you really are than if you had performed your kata perfectly the first time!

Second thought--if you follow all of these tips and you still can’t remember your kata, you’re just not ready to test yet. And that’s okay!

Remember--the ultimate goal of martial arts is not a new belt, it’s a new you. A better you. So, don’t be in a hurry. Do the work and enjoy the journey.

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WARNING: The advice and movements shown in this video are for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a doctor before engaging in any exercise or martial arts program.

#belttest #kata #memorytips

[snowissj]

You’re spot on. I forgot a form without knowing it until it was too late, because of external memories.😞

[GeorgeFranquiz]

Thank Ando, there is only one Ando, your videos are unique and good

[arlenehueholt]

Thank you for the guidance! Another thing I find helpful is to practice the footwork of kata separately while keeping hands at side.

[gginnj]

the best advice my son had was from one of the junior instructors - was to understand what each move in the kata is being used for - then picture being attacked while your doing the move - picture attackers at every turn - this would give more "realism" to your form when you execute. After thinking that way - he did a lot better at placing in competitions.

[gavinvonmeyer]

I am currently learning and studying music... I am gonna apply this lesson as is on my music endeavors. Right down to the closing of the eyes.

[Taylor-wtzv]

I would go to a taekwondo tournament and not even hesitate during the form and then a week before the next tournament someone in my class said they had problems remembering the form at tournaments and guess who made it 1/4 of the way though the form after blanking, this girl. I still got first be cause it was based on who performed the best not the whole form. Thanks Ando!!

[ceciliasamuel]

Thank you so much
It will surely help me to do my Kata well on the day of tournament.

[davidmathis]

Thanks for the tips! I have my taekwondo black belt testing coming up later this year, and have to memorize 9 poomsae... I'll take every edge I can get!

[rodneybrooks]

Thank you Sensei! I’ll share these tips with my students.

[BlaireBustillo]

Thank you sensei Ando for the helpful tips. 👍😁

[arthurmukiibi]

This is sensible guidance. Good advice. Thanks. Especially with the doing it blind/blindfolded...

[pranakhan]

I've spent years not practicing forms, just patterned footwork drills and light sparring. Recently I've felt like my mnemonic skills need improvement, so I'm beginning to learn a Baguazhang form I've had my eye on for awhile. This video helps, thanks again sir

[worldpeacepp]

Love it! Especially the last word, practicing martial art is not for a new belt, it's for a new me!

[pooja]

@Ando I love your videos .. they are really motivational and hilarious ♥️ love from New Zealand … I’m a mom and have just started my karate. Your videos actually helped me to confirm my decision :)

[dansutton]

Sensei Ando, I appreciate your advice. The timing of this video is perfect as my daughter learned her very first Kata yesterday. I’ll be able to add more quality to how I’ll approach our next session. I’m so very thankful for the value you’ve added to our many training sessions.

[leodaido]

Great tips Sensei, I like the closed eyes is one, I never did it before, I will give it a try! Thanks!

[andrescorma]

As always Ando, this is not just good advice for martial artists, its also great transferable advice for everyday life.

[simoneriksson]

As a tai-chi guy I would also suggest you do the opposite of tip nr 1.... slow your kata/form down as much as you can and focus on the detaljes and feeling in every movement and transition :)

[arlenehueholt]

Another way to practice is painstakingly slow giving us a chance to hone in on the technique. Thank you sensei Ando for all that you do for martial arts

[fredherran]

Thanks as usual man. I have my first grading test this week. And with this video i feel more confident than ever