Kata is often described as a set sequence of karate moves organized into a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes and blocks. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. In Shotokan, kata is not a performance or a demonstration, but is for individual karateka to practice full techniques—with every technique potentially a killing blow (ikken hisatsu)—while paying particular attention to form and timing (rhythm). As the karateka grows older, more emphasis is placed on the health benefits of practicing kata, promoting fitness while keeping the body soft, supple, and agile. Several Shotokan groups have introduced kata from other styles into their training. The original Shotokan kata syllabus is introduced in Funakoshi's book Karate-do Kyohan, which is the Master Text of Shotokan karate. Dai Nihon Karate-do Shotokai is the official representative of Shotokan karate. Japan Shotokai's kata syllabus is the same as established in "Karate-do Kyohan" added Gigo Funakoshi's staff kata Matsukaze No Kon. When the JKA was formed, Nakayama laid down 27 kata as the kata syllabus for this organization. Even today, thousands of Shotokan dojo only practice 26 of these 27 kata.
The standard JKA kata are : Taikyoku shodan (sometimes termed Kata Kihon or Kihon Kata, discontinued in most of today's. Below you will find every Kata contained within in the Shotokan Karate Syllabus. Applications and explanations are added to different techniques of completed Kata on an ongoing basis :
- Shotokan dojos,
- Heian shodan,
- Heian nidan,
Heian Nidan was originally taught as the first Kata for new students. Its connection with Kanku Dai (the Central Core of Shotokan Kata) is quite obvious, as the first half of Heian Nidan is almost exactly the same as the first half of Kanku Dai. The Kata uses a large selection of new techniques :
- Double handed blocks
- Sword hand blocks and strikes
- Spear hand strike
- Back fist strike
- Two different kicks
- Reverse punch
- Reverse side blocks
This number of new techniques makes the Kata more difficult to learn than Heian Shodan and may be the reason why Funakoshi changed the order of the two Kata. Click here for :
Start the Heian Nidan from the rest OR
Start the standard Heian Nidan from the rest
- Heian sandan,
- Heian yondan,
- Heian godan,
- Bassai dai,
- Jion,
- Empi,
- Kanku dai,
- Hangetsu,
- Jitte,
- Gankaku,
- Tekki shodan,
- Tekki nidan,
- Tekki sandan,
- Nijūshiho,
- Chinte,
- Sōchin,
- Meikyō/Rōhai,
- Unsu,
- Bassai shō,
- Kankū shō,
- Wankan,
- Gojūshiho shō,
- Gojūshiho dai,
Here is a Sho and a Dai version of the Gojushiho Kata. Gojushiho means "54 Steps". They are much more closely related to each other than other Dai and Sho Kata (Bassai and Kanku) being virtually identical to each other, with only a few different techniques within each to differentiate one from the other. The shape of the Kata (Enbusen) is also the same, so it looks as if the two Gojushiho kata are actually two interpretations of the same kata.
Funakoshi renamed the Kata to Hotaku, which is Japanese for a woodpecker bird. This comes from the pecking motions performed using the hands through the Kata, and the forehead strike near the end, which are all reminiscent of the action of the woodpecker.
Like many of Funakoshi's attempts to rename some Kata, this name didn't stick. The Gojushiho Kata are quite long and are usually only taught to more experienced Karateka as they are reasonably difficult. They are however widely practiced and are regularly seen at tournaments, often receiving high level awards in competition. Click here for :
Start the Gojushiho Kata from the rest OR
Start the standard Gojushiho Kata from the rest
