There are a few general explanations for the meaning of kendo kata, I think there is another meaning for why there similar kame and movements for both attacking and responding opponents and why only countering techniques are used to win. Firstly, the sometimes identical kamae movements of both (opponents) shidachi (attacking) and uchidachi (responding) are the ancient kamae responses to the attacking opponents (uchidachi) initiating kamae, each kamae cancels out the other until one attacks. Secondly, It would have been easy to incorporate a combination of winning attack movements as well as countering movements into kendo kata yet none of the winning attack striking methods are included. Emphasizing counter attacks shows the attitude of the “life giving sword” an attitude of allowing the opponent to attack and to win by another means, that can only be reached by transcending the “death dealing sword” or (destroy the opponent by any means) as described by Yagyu Munenori founder of the “no sword” school of kendo and the book “The book of the Shinkage-Ryu Martial Arts”. The same (three to five) kendo kata is practiced by the lowest ranking kendoka as well as the highest ranking sensei, the lesson and practice is clearly of the “life giving sword”.
It is not surprising that many of the old techniques are lost either because they are not legal to practice in modern kendo. Legends ring with stories many schools of specializing in particular styles of kendo. Kendo kata is a collective memory of how to do some of the best kendo techniques known. So, why practice doing big (waza) motions when striking in kata and daily practice and not small motion striking exclusively? I think it is without a doubt that small (waza) motion striking existed in ancient times. Practicing both big and small waza gives us the option and a striking range to choose from of how hard to strike with armor or without armor. Small waza is also practiced in kendo kata, in ‘Ropponme’ or kata number six is a small kote waza out of place with the big waza in the rest of the kendo kata. For me kendo kata can be directly used in sport kendo because the techniques have been battle tested over the centuries. The key is the context in which to use each technique, this has been lost over the years, many do not know how to use them choosing to stick with what they know. Hidden in the kendo kata is a wealth of information and wisdom, all aspects of the kata no matter how small has a reason, context and history we just need to understand the meanings and to use them. Kendo kata techniques are not museum pieces of old kendo but battle tested, death causing techniques worthy of rediscovery. Kendo kata is the bridge for the old kendo and sport kendo.