Fighting without an Opponent. An Analysis of Intentionality in Shotokan kata
The aim of this paper is exploring how the kata of Shotokan karate constitute an embodied intentionality. Kata, a traditional way of training in karate for more than a century, consists in fighting without the presence of a real opponent. The article enquires about the origin of its meaning and the way in which its intentionality is expressed. Kata can be considered a narrative text that tells the story of a fight while mimicking it in such a way that every pre-established technique bears a specific meaning.