I first created Kata Kitty in the year of 2014. I was that year's host for the Michigan Jedi Gathering and was trying to get everything ready for a roster of around thirty people!! I felt with such numbers, a large calendar to help us navigate would be a good idea. Also, it was a perfect excuse to get crafty and doodle a lot!!
As a result, I created several little doodles all over the Calendar. But two of them stood out the most for me.
They were simple.
They were cute.
Sure...A little Anime/Kid-ish but...it really fits "Me" I think anyone who really knows "Me" can agree to that much!
And I mean come on....who doesn't like cute little Cat Girls and Boys?
So, when the gathering was over and done and I set my Adult Mind to cleaning house (Gatherings do tend to get a little messy!) I quickly took scissors and cut out that image for keepsake.
Later I ended up stumbling upon it in my saved folders and thought....how cool would it be if I could clean it up on the computer some?
I am not a computer graphics artist...I have no degree or training, nor do I have any special art programs. Just the basic "Paint" every computer comes with. Still, I took a picture with my digital camera, pulled up the file and got to work.
I just LOVED how they came out and while showing my husband I happily announced that they were my little
"Kata Kitties"
Kata Kitties? Like a lightbulb turning on the real work began. Picking a Kata that I considered to be easy in body mechanics (not in practice) I set to work. Searching for images and pictures of each position of the Kata Forms and working carefully to move lines and adjust positions without risking the original design.
I chose her fur color base in honor of my two real life kitties who are both marmalade/rusty orange cats.
her white top and red bottoms in honor of the Japanese Inari Shrine Maidens which connect to Kitsune lore...a subject I adore very much!
Image linked here
And thus, Kata Kitties very first Kata Form - San Chin was developed with much love and excitement!
I never did publish it though, save for a brief mention on the Just Jedi facebook group. It was just a quick "Hey look at this!"
The project....quickly fell to the background and got buried in my computer folders. I was afraid no one would really appreciate Kata Kitty the way I did....She was, after all....very kid like and I have seen many Jedi roll their eyes and turn down kid like material in fear of not being taken seriously enough if used.
A few years later - Kata Kitty made a new appearance in the Just Jedi Tree and, surprisingly, several of the members loved it! Not just because of the tree....but because of Kata Kitty herself. The word "Mascot" was used for her and was requested to show off some Yoga moves!! (Thanks Samantha!!)
Old Ideas returned in full force. And now, Kata Kitty is our leading Dojo Instructor here at Just Jedi!
This profile can be found on our - website
Diagrams of Kata Kitty studies can be found on our - Physical Studies page
Kata Kitty currently instructs
Training Instructional [Start Here] <- Introduction to training as Jedi/Navigations
Force Salutations (Yoga)
San Chin (Martial Arts Form)
Journal Entry: If you could ask Kata Kitty to help you learn something. What would it be?