Shotokan Kata

Kata are sequences of attacks and defenses executed against imaginary opponents. They allow students to practice techniques, control, movement and rhythm in a safe and calm environment, alone or with a class. Many kata include only techniques at a particular level of difficulty, so kata are also used to demonstrate certain levels of proficiency.

The History of Shotokan Kata

The early history of kata parallels the history of Shotokan karate in general. They were developed in Okinawa, with some amount of influence from Chinese martial arts, then were brought to the main islands of Japan by Gichin Funakoshi in 1922. During the periods when karate training was done in secret, performing kata was the primary form of practice.

Funakoshi's first teacher, Yasutsune Azato, was an exceptional swordsman, and around Funakoshi's time, kata started to incorporate ideas from kendo. These included more focus on relaxing the upper body to achieve faster, snapping motions, and more aggressive and pronounced body shifting. (Mr. Nakayama, Chief Instructor of the Japan Karate Association, and Mr. Okazaki, former Chief Instructor of the AAKF in Philadelphia under Mr. Nishiyama, were also noted kendo-ka in their early years.)

The Heian kata were distilled from Kanku Sho, a more advanced kata, by Funakoshi's other instructor, Anko Itosu. (Or were they created by Mr. Yabu in 1902 to be taught to high shool kids?) These kata were designed to aid the development of younger students, and they are usually taught to students below the level of brown belt. Although these kata originated in Okinawa, they were primarily practiced in Japan.

Additional changes to the original kata came as Gigo Funakoshi (the son of Gichin Funakoshi) started teaching his students, including Mr. Nishiyama, altered forms of the kata, including deepened stances. A series of meetings at Waseda University in the 1950's lead to further changes in the kata, to emphasize longer, more athletic movements for better conditioning, to eliminate repetitious movements and move the focus to fundamental techniques, and simplify many of the self-defense moves.

Listing Of Kata

There are 25 kata that are generally considered the basic kata of Shotokan. (Some Shotokan schools also teach Ji'in, so some sources will list 26 kata.) The kata taught at our dojo, and the level of proficiency that they usually, are listed in the following table. After Kanku Dai, the ranks are merely recommendations, and the kata are selected by the individual student.

A good source for instructions on performing kata is 25 Shoto-kan Kata. Check the list of reference books for information on getting a copy.

Kata	Rank	Translation
Heian Shodan	Yellow belt	Heian #1
Heian Nidan	Blue belt	Heian #2
Heian Sandan	Green belt	Heian #3
Heian Yondan	Purple belt	Heian #4
Heian Godan	Purple belt with stripe	Heian #5
Tekki Shodan	Brown belt	Iron Horse #1
Bassai Dai	Shodan	To Storm A Fortress (major)
Jion	Shodan	The name of a Chinese priest
Empi	Shodan	"Flying Swallow"
Kanku Dai	Shodan	"Gazing Skyward (major)"
Hangetsu	Nidan	"Half Moon"
Jitte	Nidan	10 Hands
Gankaku	Nidan	"Crane On A Rock"
Tekki Nidan	Nidan	Iron Horse #2
Tekki Sandan	Nidan	Iron Horse #3
Nijyu-shi-ho	Sandan	"24 Steps"
Chin-te	Sandan	"Curious Hand"
So-chin	Sandan	Preservation of Peace
Meikyo	Sandan	Bright Mirror
Unsu	Sandan	Parting the Clouds
Bassai Sho	Sandan	To Storm A Fortress (minor)
Kanku Sho	Sandan	"Gazing Skyward (minor)"
Wankan	Sandan	King's Crown
Goju-shi-ho Sho	Sandan	"54 Steps (minor)"
Goju-shi-ho Dai	Sandan	54 Steps (major)

Notes On Translations

Translations in quotes are taken directly from 25 Shoto-kan Kata. The rest have been compiled from a variety of sources.

Heian does not translate easily, but it implies something manageable or uncomplicated. It is a reference to "Pi-nan, Pi-nan," the Chinese greeting given during new year. The meaning is roughly the opposite of the Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times." A Chinese Scholar translated them for Mr. Goetsch as "to be easy" or "be done easily".