Karate Fundamentals - Part 2 Kata
Understanding Kata
Kata ( 形 ) means: shape, form and pattern. The direction or map of the kata is referred to as embusen.
The goal of the kata is twofold:
- On the one hand to make gestures and postures work in given situations, in order to have a "calm" and more applied learning than during a fight.
- On the other hand, to discover fundamental principles of martial arts, such as distance management, attitude and balance management, coordination of movements.
The following are the 26 katas of the Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation. Becoming proficient at the first 10 katas up to the intermediate level will provide you with an in-depth understanding and proficiency of the key elements of karate.
They are listed in one video here performed by Master Hirokazu Kanazawa; or you can click on them individually for links:
1. Heïan Shodan (Peace and tranquility)
Heïan Shodan is the first kata that each karateka learns, and includes basic movements such as gedan-barai, oi-zuki, age-uke in the zenkutsu-dashi position and shuto-uke in kokutsu-dachi.
2. Heïan Nidan (Peace and tranquility)
Heïan Nidan is the second kata, with movements such as Yoko Geri, Mae Geri, Nukite. Kokutsu-dachi is one of the main positions of this kata.
3. Heïan Sandan (Peace and tranquility)
Heïan Sandan is the third kata Heian, with kiba-dachi position, ushi-uke, morote-uke, Empi-Uké blockages, uraken attacks, Fumikomi, Ushiro-Empi.
4. Heïan Yodan (Peace and tranquility)
Heïan Yodan is the fourth kata and is characterized by great dynamics, many leg techniques (yoko-geri, mae-geri, hiza-geri) as well as double blockages (Morote-Uke, kakiwake-uke).
5. Heïan Godan (Peace and tranquility)
The fifth and last Heïan kata, Heïan Godan addresses many new techniques and positions such as kosa-dachi, renoji-dachi, mikazuki-geri. It is carried out at a particular pace with an alternation of fast and slower times.
6. Tekki Shodan (Iron cavalier)
Tekki Shodan is done entirely in kiba-dachi on a single line.
7. Bassaï Daï (Penathe fortress)
Bassai dai is a powerful and dynamic kata. This kata has more defense techniques than attack. It represents the transformation of an unfavorable combat situation into a favorable situation.
8. Kanku Daï (Look at the sky)
Kanku dai is the longest shotokan kata with 65 movements. It is also particular by its beginning, the hands form a triangle opening towards the sky to look following this opening.
Watch Sensei Gunther perform Kanku Dai from 2015
Empi is a kata carried out on a fast tempo, it is characterized by its pivots, its revolutions at ground level, and ascents and descents from the centre of gravity.
10. Jion (From the name of a Buddhist temple)
Jion refers to an old temple, with the starting position referring to Chinese boxing.
When moving, the foot describes an arc of a circle.
Tekki Nidan is the second kata Tekki, also done entirely in kiba-dachi and on a single line.
13. Bassai Sho (Penathe fortress)
Bassai sho is the short version of bassai dai, they are however nevertheless very distinct.
One of the peculiarities of Gankaku is the fact of standing in balance on a leg several times like a crane.
16. Jitte (Hand of Mercy - 10 hands)
Jitte is the representation of a fight against 10 people.
17. Kanku Sho (Looking at the sky)
Kanku sho is the short version of kanku dai. However, they are quite different.
18. Meikyo (Polishing the mirror)
Meikyo is one of the only kata making defences against a stick. It also has a particular jump.
Nijushiho is a kata with a particular rhythm alternating fast and slow passages.
Sochin is a particular kata with the fudo-dachi position (position between zenkutsu-dachi and kiba-dachi).
21. Tekki Sandan (Iron Cavalary)
Tekki Sandan is the third and last kata Tekki, it is also done entirely in kiba-dachi and on a single line.
Unsu is a summary of several katas such as Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jion, Empi. It is the only kata in which a mawashi-geri is performed.
Chinte is an ancient kata in which we find techniques such as nihon nukite (two "picks" of the hand).
24. Gojushiho Dai (54 steps) Gojushiho sho and Gojushiho dai are two of the longest katas of Shotokan with kanku dai; sho and dai in this case refers only to the amplitude of the movements.
Gojushiho sho and Gojushiho dai are two of the longest katas of shotokan with kanku dai; sho and dai in this case refers only to the amplitude of the movements
Ten No Kata
This is the shortest of the Shotokan katas.
Ten no Kata Omote is more similar to kihon than kata. This unique and simple kata contains many of the basics of karate. It can be completed at home in the smallest of spaces, but is both exacting and demanding.
It consists of ten sets of techniques.
The first four sets are punching attacks: chudan-oi-zuki, jodan-oi-zuki, chudan-gyaku-zuki, and jodan-gyaku-zuki.
The following six sets are block/counter-attack combinations; three defenses against chudan and three for jodan.
There are two versions of the kata:
1) Ten-no-kata, Omote:
Solitary version of the kata. We play the role of Tori (attacker) and then Uke (defender)
2) Ten-no-kata, Ura:
Version with partner.
Seuquences:
Ten-no-kata (Tori - attacker)
1. Chudan Oi-Zuki Right (migi)
2. Chudan Oi-Zuki Left (hidari)
3. Jodan Oi-Zuki R
4. Jodan Oi-Zuki L
5. Chudan Gyaku-Zuki R
6. Chudan Gyaku-Zuki L
7. Jodan Gyaku-Zuki R
8. Jodan Gyaku-Zuki L
Ten-no-kata (Uke - defender)
9. Gedan Barai L - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki R
10. Gedan Barai R - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki L
11. Chudan Uchi Uke L - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki R
12. Chudan Uchi Uke R - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki L
13. Chudan Shuto Uke L - Chudan Tate Nukite R
14. Chudan Shuto Uke R - Chudan Tate Nukite L
15. Jodan Shuto Barai L - Jodan Gyaku-Zuki R
16. Jodan Shuto Barai R - Jodan Gyaku-Zuki L
17. Jodan Age Uke L - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki R
18. Jodan Age Uke R - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki L
19. Soto Uke L - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki R
20. Soto Uke R - Chudan Gyaku-Zuki L
