Kata

What is Kata?

Kihon “Basic” and Fukyu “Fundamental“ kata

Kihon Ippon
Kihon Nihon
Kihon Sanbon

The Kihon Katas are basic form drills done in a straight-line pattern moving forward and backward. These training katas were added by Hanshi Shuguro Nakazato to the syllabus. These kata teach students how to shift body weight correctly. Fukyu no Kata (Fundamentals of kata) is a kata designed to improve basics and to teach the fundamentals of how to move your body correctly. It forms the basis of many movements found within various katas. It teaches students how to shift their body weight forward and backwards using various stances and emphasises correct hip action and the use of heel-toe rotation correctly.

FOUNDATION KATA

"Defending your ground” or “Staying (standing) and Fighting”

Naihanchi Shodan
Naihanchi Nidan
Naihanchi Sandan

It is known that the first two katas were practiced as one single kata by Master Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura around 1825. It was handed down to him from earlier times. This kata was the favorite of Master Itosu (1830 – 1915). He is said to have modified Shodan and Nidan and developed Naihanchi Sandan. These kata teach students how to whip the hip correctly to be able to generate maximum power and efficiency. The study of these kata will unlock many applications.

NAIHANCHI KATA

“Peaceful mind”

Pinan Shodan (‘first’ pinan)
Pinan Nidan (‘second’ pinan)
Pinan Sandan (‘third’ pinan)
Pinan Yondan (‘fourth’ pinan)
Pinan Godan (‘fifth’ pinan)

The second word in each kata name denotes which Pinan it is. They were developed by the great Shuri Te master Yasutsune “Anko” Itosu. Itosu developed these forms as part of the physical education program in Okinawan schools. He found that kids could benefit greatly from karate but had to break it down into a simpler form. There is some debate over which kata influenced the Pinans the most. It is widely accepted that the forms Kusanku (Kanku Dai) and Channan were the true sources. Kusanku is still widely practiced but Channan has been lost to history.

PINAN KATA

“Entering / Penetrating the fortress”

Passai Sho
Passai Dai

Sokon Matsumura taught Anko Itosu Passai Kata. It is believed that Matsumura was taught Passai by his instructor Master Sakugawa and that Master Sakagawa learned the Passai Kata in China. The floating hand techniques are very similar to the movements of Tai Chi Chuan. There are other similarities in the shifting of body weight in light stances. Passai was a favorite kata of the Tomari-Te masters. Today there are two major versions of Passai that exist and they are called Passai Sho which is ltosu Passai and Passai Dai which is Matsumura Passai.

PASSAI KATA

Named in honor of Kusanku

Kusanku Sho
Kusanku Dai

In 1756 a Chinese military envoy named Kusanku was sent to Okinawa. He was a skilled Kempo master famous for his fighting skills. Although Kusanku never taught this kata, his best techniques were combined into this kata by his followers. There are two main lineages for the kata called Chatan Yara No Kusanku and Sakugawa No Kusanku. Sakugawa No Kusanku was developed by Master Sakugawa based on his instruction from Kusanku. Sakugawa taught this version to Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura. This lineage was further divided into two other forms of the kata, Kusanku Dai and Kusanku Sho.

KUSANKU KATA

“Fighting towards the east”

The history of this kata is vague – legend says that this kata was brought to Okinawa by Chinto, a shipwrecked Chinese sailor. The kata was likely created by Bushi Matsumura (1797-1884) and was based on the techniques he learned from Chinto.

CHINTO

“Fifty-four Movements”

Gojushiho is of Chinese origin. Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura (1797-1889) is credited with the version now practiced in Shorin-Ryu Karate. Gojushiho translates as “54 Steps” – implying that fifty-four techniques are involved in the kata.

GOJUSHIHO

“5 Rings”

To commemorate the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, Nakazato Shugoro, Hanshi created the Gorin kata, which was performed by members of the Rengokai from Shorin-Ryu, Goju-Ryu, Uechi-Ryu, and Isshin-Ryu.

GORIN