KATA
Kata 型
They are form exercises which have been passed from
generation to generation. In fact one of their primary uses was a way of
passing along information. Remember, long ago, there were no cameras or video.
Kata have several other uses. They are an excellent way to mold and shape the
body. Great care should be taken to follow the form correctly. Each move of the
kata has a practical application and can teach us self-defence. They also teach
timing and rhythm.
Each belt level learns one kata. White belts , for example,
learn the kata called Taikyyoku Shodan
They are form exercises which have been passed from
generation to generation. In fact one of their primary uses was a way of
passing along information. Remember, long ago, there were no cameras or video.
Kata have several other uses. They are an excellent way to mold and shape the
body. Great care should be taken to follow the form correctly. Each move of the
kata has a practical application and can teach us self-defence. They also teach
timing and rhythm.
Each belt level learns one kata. White belts , for example,
learn the kata called Taikyyoku Shodan
Shotokan Kata
Kata List 26 TotalBeginner Forms to black belt
0. taikyoku shodan 1. Heian Shodan : required for Yellow belt 2. Heian Nidan : required for Orange belt 3. Heian Sandan : required for Green belt Intermediate Forms to black belt 4. Heian Yondan : required for Blue belt 5. Heian Godan : required for (2nd blue ) 6. Tekki Shodan : required for 3rd level Brown belt (rooted in Naha te) Advance Forms for black belt 7. Bassai Dai : required for 2nd and 1st level Brown Belt and Shodan (Shuri te & tomari te) 8. Kanku Dai : 2nd degree black (Shuri te) 9. Jion : 3rd degree black (roots in Tomari te) Advance Black Belt Forms 10. Jitte (roots in Tomari te) 11. Tekki Nidan (rooted in Naha te) 12. Empi (rooted in Tomari te) 13. Hangetsu (rooted in Naha te) 14. Tekki Sandan(rooted in Naha te) 15. Gankaku rooted in Tomari te) also Shorei Ryu 16. Sochin (Tomari te) 17. Unsu (Tomari Te) More Advaced Black Belt Forms (4 degree black and above) 18. Bassai Sho ( 19. Kanku Sho (Shorin) 20. Nijushiho (shorin ) 21. Gojushiho Dai (rooted in Shuri te) 22. Gojushiho Sho (rooted in Shuri te) 23. Jiin (roots in Tomari te) 24. Chinte (rooted in Shuri te) 25. Meikyo (Shuri te) 26. Wankan (roots in Tomari te) |
Important Points When Performing KataKeep calm and don't rush through the movements
-Remember the correct order Do proper breathing -Keep proper rhythm and timing Be aware of what the target is -Remember every movement must have some sort of meaning. There is no useless movements in kata (otherwise why would it be in the form ?? ) the martial arts of Okinawa were generally referred to as te 手, which is Japanese for "hand". Te often varied from one town to another, so to distinguish among the various types of te, the word was often prefaced with its area of origin; for example, Naha-te, Shuri-te, or Tomari-te, these were all different places located in Japan. The successor styles to Shuri-te include Shōtōkan-ryū, Shōtōkai, Wadō-ryū, Shitō-ryū, Motobu-ryū, Shuri-ryū, Shōrin-ryū, Shudokan, Keishinkan, and Shōrinji-ryū. The successor styles to Tomari-te include Motobu-ryū, Matsubayashi-ryu, Shōrinji-ryū, Gohaku-Kai and Matsumora-ryū Kōtokukai. The successor styles to Naha-te include Gōjū-ryū, Tōon-ryū (developed by the students of Higaonna Kanryō), Kogusuku-ryū, and others. |