Kata

The basic units of movement. Kata refer to gestures, including stamps. They can be as simple as raising the arm to point or circling the stage, or a more complex series of actions. Choreographies string the kata together in predictable ways. Similar rhythmic units that combine the drummer’s calls with drum strokes are the building blocks for music. Kata can be roughly divided into ground patterns that recur frequently and are more abstract and design patterns, which evoke more specific imagery or associations, particularly when matched to words being chanted.