Bassai, also known as “Passai” is a Tomari-te kata that uses dynamic stances and hip rotation. It’s a very old Okinawian kata of unknown origin, the name Bassai translates to “to storm a castle”. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Bassai... more »
Chintō (in Shotokan, “Gankaku“) is an advanced kata practiced in many styles of Karate. According to legend, it is named after a Chinese sailor, sometimes referred to as Annan, whose ship crashed on the Okinawan coast. To survive, Chintō stole from the crops of the local people. Matsumura Sōkon, a Karate master and chief... more »
Hironori Otsuka was born in Shimodate City in Japan in 1892. He was the second of four children. His father Tokujiro was a doctor and his uncle Chojiro Ebasi was the official martial arts instructor of the Tsuchiura Clan. At the age of five even though he was in poor health he began training... more »
Jion (translated: “Temple” or “Temple of love and goodness”) is a Tomari-te kata. It is taught in the Wado Ryu system because of the importance of the perfection of the basic stances it contains, notably zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kiba dachi (horse... more »
The history of Jitte (ten hands) is very clouded, but most agree that the kata developed in Tomari, but probably originated in China. The kata has very moves, associated with defence against a staff. These unusual kata moves seem to have been mixed with the more traditional shotokan karate moves, ie, age-uke (upper rising... more »
The name Kushanku refers to the name of the Chinese diplomat from Fukien who is believed to have traveled to Okinawa and taught his system of fighting there. The kata was renamed to Kanku-Dai by Funakoshi Gichin during the 1930′s while developing the now very popular system of karate known as Shotokan. Kushanku is a cornerstone in Wado Ryu: it... more »
Naihanchi also known as “Naifanchi”: this was the original name for the three Tekki kata, but was changed by Funakoshi. This is a lateral kata learned from Chōki Motobu. Wado ryu practices only the first Naihanchi... more »
The name “Niseishi” means “24 steps”. Transmitted by Ankichi Aragaki, this kata is known in Japanese as Nijūshiho. This kata teaches you to move and defend from many angles, and helps teach you coordination. Many use this kata as a tool to highlight the need for total concentration. If you take a student and... more »
Pinan godan is the fifth and last of the five Pinan Katas. This Kata utilizes double-handed techniques demonstrating both complimentary forces and contradicting forces. Additionally, we also see demonstration of other two-handed tactics and elements not already obvious in the previous Pinan katas. The Pinan kata are a series of five empty hand forms taught... more »
The Pinan kata are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu from older kata such as Kushanku and Gojushiho into forms suitable for teaching karate to young students. When Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Japan, he renamed the... more »
Pinan Sandan is the third of the five Pinan Katas. This Kata introduces a number of new techniques, including double forearm block and elbow block. The Pinan kata are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted by Anko Itosu from... more »
The Pinan Kata (peace and tranquillity forms) demonstrates aspects of individual concepts that many may not be aware of. If we take Kushanku and break it down we can then identify these elements and recognise and understand them into the Kata of their own. Although all Kata generally demonstrate a ‘dropping movement’ at the... more »
Pinan Yondan is the fourth of the five Pinan Katas. This Kata introduces a number of new techniques, including cross blocks, double punches (ren tsuki), side kicks and more. The Pinan kata are a series of five empty hand forms taught in many karate styles. The Pinan kata originated in Okinawa and were adapted... more »
Rōhai has three variation invented by Itosu. Wadō-ryū practices Rōhai Shodan. The name “Rōhai” translates approximately to “vision of a Crane” or “vision of a heron”. The kata originated from the Tomari-te school of Okinawan martial arts. It was called Matsumora Rōhai, after Kosaku Matsumora, who was presumably its inventor. Ankō Itosu later took... more »
The name Seishan means “13 hands”. This kata was named after a well-known Chinese martial artist who lived in or near Shuri c. 1700. The movements are repeated in sets of three, and has pivots and turning of the head. Funakoshi renamed this kata as Hangetsu. Seisan is thought to be one of the... more »
Suparinpei, known as “108 hands,” representing the 108 evil spirits of man. This kata is also said to have represented a band of 108 warriors that travelled the Chinese countryside in the 17th century, performing ‘Robin Hood’-type tasks of doing good deeds, giving to the poor, and so on. It is also known by... more »
The name Wadō-ryū has three parts: Wa, dō, and ryū. Wa means “harmony,” dō means “way,” and ryū means “style.” Harmony should not be interpreted as pacifism; it is simply the acknowledgment that yielding is sometimes more effective than brute strength. From one point of view, Wadō-ryū might be considered a style of jūjutsu... more »