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Kata
The kata are formal exercises which combine basic karate techniques
-- blocking, punching, striking, and kicking -- into a series of predetermined
movements. Kata combines offensive and defensive techniques, proper body
movement, and changes in direction. The kata teach the karateka to dispose
of numerous attackers from at least four directions. Although the kata
do not involve visible opponents, the karateka, through serious study of
the kata, learns the art of self-defense and the ability to calmly and
efficiently deal with dangerous situations. For these reasons, the kata
have been the core of karate training since ancient times.
According to Sensei Nakayama, there are five characteristics of kata:
- For each kata, there are a fixed number of movements. (The basic Heian
kata have 20 to 27 movements; advanced kata can have over 60.) One must
perform the movements in the correct order.
- One must begin and end the kata at the same point on the floor. Each
kata has its own "shape" -- depending on the kata, the karateka
may move along a straight line or a "T"- or "I"-shaped
formation.
- There are kata that all karateka must learn, and kata that are optional.
The former consist of the five Heian kata and three Tekki kata. (Today,
Tekki 2 and Tekki 3 are usually optional.) The optional kata are Bassai-dai
(although most brown belts practice this for their black belt exam) and
Bassai-sho , Kanku-dai and Kanku-sho, Empi, Hangetsu, Jitte, Gankaku, Jion.
Other kata include Meikyo, Chinte, Nijushiho, Gojushiho-dai and Gojushiho-sho,
Hyakuhachiho, Sanchin, Tensho, Unsu, Sochin, Seienchin, Ji'in, and Wankan.
- There are three aspects to performing a dynamic kata:
- correct use of power;
- correct speed of movement, be it fast or slow;
- expansion and contraction of the body. The kata's beauty, power, and
rhythm depend on these aspects.
- One bows at the beginning and end of the kata. Bowing is part of the
kata, too.
Kata Names(Click on Chart for a pictorial description of the kata)
- Heian Kata
- heian shodan -- "stable and secure / stable peace, first level"
Chart
- heian nidan -- ditto, "second level"Chart
- heian sandan -- ditto, "third level"
- heian yondan -- you get the idea Chart
- heian godan
- Tekki
- tekki shodan -- "iron horseman," "first level"
- tekki nidan
- tekki sandan
- Bassai series
- bassai dai -- "destroying a fortress, greater (version)"(*)
- bassai sho [shoh] -- "destroying a fortress, lesser (version)"
(*)
- * empi -- "flight of the swallow"
- * jion -- "compassion and favor."This is a Buddhist term
and possibly the name of some temple.
- Kankuu series
- kankuu dai -- "observing the sky/emptiness, greater (version)"
(*)
- kankuu sho [shoh] -- "observing the sky/emptiness, lesser (version)"
(*)
- jutte / jitte -- "ten hands" Chart
- hangetsu -- "half moon"
- nijuushiho -- "twenty-four steps"
- gankaku -- "boulder crane" (the bird on a rock)
- sochin [soh-chin] -- "strength and control"
- unsu [unsuu] -- "cloud hands"
- Gojuushisho series
- gojuushiho (dai) -- "fifty-four steps, greater (version)"
(*)
- gojuushiho sho [shoh] --"fifty-four steps, lesser (version)"
(*)
- meikyo [meikyoh] -- "bright mirror"
- ji'in -- "compassion and shadow." Possibly another temple.
- chinte -- "rare hands"
- wankan -- "king's crown"
(*) Kata with "lesser" or "greater" attached ("sho"
or "dai") don't really mean "lesser" or "greater"
in any sense. It's just a way of distinguishing two different kata.
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