All ABOUT KATA BLADES

August 16, 2019

It gets deeper with the KATA BLADES.

These new engraved tools are now offering Dual Texture Effect, while considering the Weight Distribution Point of the blade for movement throw and movement influence.

The KATA BLADES are inspired by martial art weapons from various historical world cultures. There are 6 blades available offered in 2 versions, BOLD and ART for a total of 12 new Liteblades.

THE BOLD is softer, elegant, brighter, has excellent gradation with beautiful highlights.

THE ART is darker, chaotic, surprising and texturally more aggressive. 

Designed with freestyle light painting in mind; these kata blades will influence your movements based on weight distribution so they will move differently in hand.

For example, the KUNAI and the GADA are mid-heavy blades at 68grams each, but the weight focal point is located differently. 

The KUNAI is faster since the weight point is closer to your light, and its movement stays closer to your arm. The GADA has its weight distributed all the way at the top, so it pulls your motions away from your body and opens you up to a very different result.

This also depends on the positioning of the blades in the KYO. They have been designed to place in any position you like, changing the weight and movement they create. As you can see in the video, blades can be used in many creative positions and designed to be used in pairs.

One of the highlights of this design is the contrast between the softness of the white engravings and the sharpness of the outer edges. It gives the impressions of soft and sharp focus, in the same light painting. We call it Dual Texture Effect.

In brief, the main composition elements are the 6 shapes, the 12 different engravings giving the Dual Texture Effect, the Weight Distribution Point and the Creative Positioning of the blade on the KYO system. Combined with colour filters, these elements offer infinite possibilities for you to explore, find your creative style and keep uncovering new magic with light.

Designed to be used as twin pairs… But follow your feelings above all!

Designed and tested by Patrick Rochon. 

LINK ON STORE: https://liteblades.com/collections/kata-blades-by-liteblades

 

 

 

KUNAI

Textures: BOLD: Smooth and Pointy. ART: Gently Aggressive.

Weight: 68g Medium-Heavy 

Speed: Medium Fast

Weight distribution: Lower Third

The KUNAI is a refined tool creating medium size strokes. The BOLD is rich in gradations with touches of points showing up here and there. The ART produces a rich layering of textures and smoothness. The blade is medium-heavy but still balanced as the weight is focused on the lower third, giving it a good speed.

INSPIRATION: A Kunai (苦無) is a Japanese tool thought to be originally derived from the masonry trowel. The two widely-recognized variations of the Kunai are short Kunai (小苦無 shō-kunai) and the big Kunai (大苦無 dai-kunai). Although a basic tool, in the hands of a martial arts expert, the Kunai could be used as a multi-functional weapon. The Kunai is commonly associated with the ninja, who used it to gouge holes in walls. Many popular manga and ninjutsu characters use Kunai as both their primary and secondary weapons.

 

SAIF

Textures: BOLD: Balanced Mix. ART: Aggressive and Smooth.

Weight: 54g Medium

Speed: Medium Fast

Weight distribution: Progressively upwards

The SAIF is a strong and elegant tool with a good balance between weight and speed. It progressively distributes its weight towards the top, giving it a nice dynamic throw. The BOLD is the perfect mix between textures and smoothness, while the ART has lots of textures with a touch of smoothness in the background. 

INSPIRATION: The Arab sword, sometimes called a Saif (سيف) or a Shamshir depending on the era, has its origins in Arabia prior to the 7th century. Not much is known about this particular weapon, other than what Al-Kindi wrote in his treatise On Swords in the 9th century.

Also named the scimitar, defined as a backsword or sabre with a curved blade, originating in the Middle East.

The curved sword or "scimitar" was widespread throughout the Middle East from at least the Ottoman period, with early examples dating to Abbasid era (9th century) Khurasan. The Persian sword now called "shamshir" appears by the 12th century and was popularized in Persia by the early 16th century.

 

KRIS 

Texture: BOLD: Layered Textural Gradations. ART: Highly Textural Aggressive.

Weight: 52g Medium 

Speed: Fast

Weight distribution: Low

The KRIS is like a texture magician. It is a long and fast tool, due to its design, with the weight located at its base. With the BOLD, you can go from smooth to textural with a simple twist of the wrist and the layering is exceptional. The ART is all texture with a clear sharp and soft layering mix. 

INSPIRATION: The kris is an asymmetrical dagger with distinctive blade-patterning achieved through alternating laminations of iron and nickelous iron. Krises are most strongly associated with the culture of Indonesia. The kris is famous for its distinctive wavy blade, although many have straight blades as well. Keris is also a symbol of power and of ethnic pride and in most communities making up the Malay Archipelago (currently southern Thailand, southern Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.) - home of Pencak Silat martial arts.

Kris has been produced in many regions of Indonesia for centuries, but nowhere—although the island of Bali comes close—is the kris so embedded in a mutually-connected whole of ritual prescriptions and acts, ceremonies, mythical backgrounds and epic poetry as in Central Java. As a result, in Indonesia, the kris is commonly associated with Javanese culture, although other ethnicities are familiar with the weapon as parts of their culture, such as the Balinese, Malays, Sundanese, Madurese, Banjar, Bugis, and Makassar.

 

GADA

Texture: BOLD: Large Gradations and Fine Highlights. ART: Aggressive and Smooth.

Weight: 68g Medium-Heavy

Speed: Medium Slow

Weight distribution: Top

The GADA is an exciting tool with its large mass located at the very top, throwing the movement away from you to create a pulling motion. Because of its rounded tip, you get beautiful highlights and textures.

It is made for slow and wide movements and is a delight to work with. The BOLD makes beautiful rich gradations with touches of highlights, and the ART is very rich in textures with layered gradations.

INSPIRATION: The Gada (Sanskrit: गदा gadā, Tamil: Gadai, Malay: Gedak, Old Tagalog: Batuta) is a club or blunt mace from the Indian subcontinent. Made either of wood or metal, it consists primarily of a spherical head mounted on a shaft, with a spike on the top. Outside India, the Gada was also adopted in Southeast Asia, where it is still used in silat.

The Gada is the primary weapon of the Hindu God Hanuman. Known for his strength, Hanuman is traditionally worshipped by wrestlers in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Vishnu also carries a Gada named Kaumodaki in one of his four hands. In the Mahabharata epic, the fighters Bhima, Duryodhana, Jarasandha and others were said to be masters of the Gada.

 

KAMA

Texture: BOLD: Slightly Aggressive. ART: Fine Detailed.

Weight: 42g Very Light 

Speed: Very Fast

Weight distribution: Very Low

The KAMA is the smallest tool from the KATA BLADES series and is the lightest and the fastest of them all. The weight is barely noticeable since it’s all focused at its base, close to the KYO attachment system.

The textures are light to medium in intensity and produce fine detail. The BOLD produces smooth, slightly aggressive strokes, and the ART is quite fine, darker and more textural. Because of its large round base, the KAMA can be positioned in many different creative ways.

 INSPIRATION: The kama (鎌 or かま) is a traditional Japanese farming implement similar to a sickle used for reaping crops and also employed as a weapon. It is often included in weapon training segments of martial arts. Sometimes referred to as kai or "double kai", kama made with intentionally dull blades for kata demonstration purposes are referred to as kata kai.

 

FAN

Texture: BOLD: Soft. ART: Layered.

Weight: 86g Heavy 

Speed: Slow

Weight distribution: Low, Wide

The FAN is the heaviest and smoothest tool from the KATA BLADE series. It’s slower speed allows you to make long and large motions producing beautiful soft patterns. As the FAN is wide and short, it is recommended to add a white diffusing gel on the torch to widen and soften the beam before it enters the blade. The BOLD is all about smoothness, constant gradations with some rare highlights. The ART is all layered gradations with small highlights and gentle, rich textures.

 INSPIRATION: The FAN is inspired by the FIGHTING FAN from Korea and also found in China and Japan. It was mainly a Korean martial arts weapon that originated in the Joseon Dynasty. Swords and similar weapons were banned from most people during this time, which created a desire for weapons that could be held in plain sight without arousing suspicion. They became most popular among the Chungin (middle class) and Yangban (upper class).

 

AT THE SHOP HERE: https://liteblades.com/collections/kata-blades-by-liteblades

 

Enjoy and keep sharing your light! 

*Dust and scratches are not included but encouraged! The Liteblades keep getting better with wear and tear. 

**Light and KYO attachment sold separately. 

 

All Rights Reserved 2019 ©Patrick Rochon - Liteblade Kyo Patent Pending - Liteblade® is a Registered Trademark Brand.

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