Kata
xThere are fifteen kata essential to the practice of Shotokan karate; and, additional kata are practised at advanced levels.

All movements are performed as if they were being done with real opponents and should have the feel of sparring. In this way, kata allows the use of techniques that would be too dangerous to perform against real opponents and teaches attacks and defences against multi senarios.

Initially, students will work on only one kata, Heian Shodan. At each successive rank level a new kata will be added. However, students continue to work on all previous kata. The first five kata are: Heian Shodan, Heian Nidan, Heian Sandan, Heian Yondan and Heian Godan. Students will then proceed to Tekki Shodan, Tekki Nidan, Tekki Sandan, Bassai-dai, Kanku-dai, Jitte, Hangetsu, Empi, Gankaku and Jion.

After extensive practice of the first fifteen kata, students proceed to Bassai-sho, Kanku-sho, Chinte, Unsu, Sochin, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-sho, Gojushiho-dai and Meikyo. Additional advanced kata may then be practised.

Taykyoku Shodan was developed as a beginners kata. Regarding classification of kata; shotokan kata come from either the Shorin-ryu ( Shorin School ) or the Shorei-ryu ( Shorei School ). The former emphasizes very light, quick movements, with rapid motions to the front and the back. The latter emphasizes development of physical strength and muscular power. There is some dispute about whether Gankaku and Nijushiho are Shorin or Shorei kata.

It is important to learn each kata fully before proceeding to the next. Correct understanding of each kata is more important than a superficial knowledge of many kata.

 

 


Note: all clips are in quicktime .mov format = get the quicktime player - click here

NEW  NIJUA HACHI HO (kata)   -  VIDEO LINK
A slow version and applications will follow shortly.

Kata Selection for Examinations (click here)
 
Video Links
Name Description JKA Video SKI Other Styles Bunkai
taykyoku Shodan General Detailed Front      
Heian Shodan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Heian Nidan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Heian Sandan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Heian Yondan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Heian Godan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Tekki Shodan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
App D App E
Tekki Nidan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Tekki Sandan General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A
Bassai-dai General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B App C
Bassai-sho General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Kanku-dai General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A
Kanku-sho General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Jion General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A
Jiin General Detailed Front Back Clip A Style A Style B  
Jitte General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Enpi General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A
Hangetsu General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A App B
Gankaku General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Chinte General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Sochin General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Nijushiho General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B  
Meikyo General Detailed Front Back Clip A Style A Style B  
Gojushiho-sho General Detailed Front Back Clip A Style A Style B  
Gojushiho-dai General Detailed Front Back Clip A Style A Style B  
Unsu General Detailed Front Back Old Clip A Style A Style B App A
Wankan General Detailed Front Back Clip A Style A Style B