Just Jedi
Kata Kitty
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, right down to creating a large calendar schedule to try and help everyone including myself, to stay organized.
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I tend to have the artiest habit of doodling when I am supposed to be productive and focused on more "Responsible Adult" duties.
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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.
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They were cute.
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Sure...A litte Anime/Kid-ish but...it really fit "Me" I think anyone who really knows "Me" can agree to that much!
And I mean come one....who doesn't like cute little Cat Girls and Boys?
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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 keep sake.
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I ended up, however, returning to it. How cool would it be if I could clean her up on the computer some?
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I am not a computer graphics artiest...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"
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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 Form and working carefully to move lines and adjust positions without risking the original design.
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I chose her color base, Orange fur in honor of my two real life kitties who are both marmalade/rusty orange cats.
Crookshanks (Shanks)
Kaze Maru (Wind Child)
her white top, red bottoms was in honor of the Japanese Inari Shrine Maidens which connect to Kitsune lore...a subject I adore very much!
Image found 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 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 really appreciated 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 serious enough if used.
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Two years later (2015)- 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. The word "Mascot" was used for her and was requested to show off some Yoga moves!!
(Thanks Samantha!!)
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Old Ideas returned in full force. And now, Kata Kitty is our leading Dojo Instructor here at Just Jedi!
