4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Humbird, I think you made a really good point about kata. Although everyone practices the same kata, everyone changes it a little. I think the basic meaning contained in this phrase was that you can use the waza contained in kata during kumite matches and so on, so I think Maynard's answer is closest to the meaning I was looking for (although they tell me that karate is distinct from a sport). I agree with Maynard too about leaving some terms untranslated--it's widely done, and also "forms" just kind of sounds funny. Anyway, I translated it as "Master karate through kata"--a slightly liberal take on it--but anyway, thanks a lot, everyone."