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affraid the long stances are just an (essential) part of the shotokan style, as opposed to say goju or wado with shorter stances.

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This is something that really bugs me. Has anybody ever read Funakoshis 20 precepts? If so you should have read one that states "Beginners must master low stance and posture, natural body positions are for the advanced." How often do you see any high grade in a natural position? Ask yourselves honestly here. In my 16 years (in the KUGB) training I have NEVER seen any high grade train in a high, natural stance. This is something I started to do with high grade classes I taught just before I retired from my karate training and I don't think my sensei approved, but hey I was only teaching as sensei Funakoshi said (and I agree with his precept on this to).

Maybe you guys entering the team kata could try doing it in a high stance and see how well you do. I don't reckon the judges would love you for it.

Seriously though, although I hate team kata and think it is completely pointless (I would have been happy to take the time to listen more to peoples opinions and be open to argument but as I am no longer training I do not wish to) good luck with your training and at the event on the day itself!

To be honest I think even individual kata competitions are fairly pointless. Kata is a battle with yourself that is ongoing throughout all aspects of your training (of which all come from the kata core) and as such cannot be accurately judged by someone just watching and scoring you on your performance of techniques or comparing your performance to that of a fellow competitor. This opinion of what kata is all about probably sounds like text book bull crap blah blah blah - and I thought it was myself when I was a low grade reading about the nature of kata, but I now know different and I believe it.