Bassai Dai literally means “to extract and block off” but this is taken to mean “to storm (penatrate) a fortress”s. Bassai dai is one of the variations of the Passai Kata that is practiced in Shotokan Karate, normally starting at 3rd Kyu. Shotokan houses two Bassai Kata, Dai and Sho. Dai means greater while... more »
Bituro chagi refers to a kick that is delivered sideways in relation to the body of the person kicking. There are two areas that are commonly used as impact points in sidekicks: the heel of the foot and the outer edge of the foot. The heel is more suited to hard targets such as... more »
Chinte (Japanese: “Rare Hand” or “Unusual Hand”) is a very old kata originating from China. Its mixture of standard movements and rarely seen techniques, vestiges of ancient forms, give this kata a special appeal. Particularly dynamic, with its alternating strong and slow passages, Chinte is unique also in the presence of a number of... more »
Chinte (Japanese: “Rare Hand” or “Unusual Hand”) is a very old kata originating from China. Its mixture of standard movements and rarely seen techniques, vestiges of ancient forms, give this kata a special appeal. Particularly dynamic, with its alternating strong and slow passages, Chinte is unique also in the presence of a number of... more »
Empi is a kata practiced by Shotokan and other karate styles. Empi means Flying Swallow. Empi comes from the Okinawan martial art of Tomari-te, where it first appeared in 1683. It is believed to have been influenced by Chinese boxing. It was originally called Wansu. Funakoshi Gichin changed the name to Empi when he... more »
Empi is a kata practiced by Shotokan and other karate styles. Empi means Flying Swallow. Empi comes from the Okinawan martial art of Tomari-te, where it first appeared in 1683. It is believed to have been influenced by Chinese boxing. It was originally called Wansu. Funakoshi Gichin changed the name to Empi when he... more »
Shotokan’s Gankaku is an advanced kata practiced mainly by black belts. The original name for Gankaku is Chinto. Stories are told of a Chinese sailor named Chinto, who was shipwrecked off the coast of Okinawa. To survive, Chinto stole from the crops of the local Okinawan people. Sokon Matsumura, a Karate master, was sent... more »
Gichin Funakoshi (November 10, 1868 – April 26, 1957) was the creator of Shotokan karate, perhaps the most widely known style of karate, and is attributed as being the ‘father of modern karate.’ As a boy, he was trained by two famous masters of that time. Each trained him in a different Okinawan martial... more »
Gojūshiho (lit. 54 steps) is a kata practiced in karate. In some styles of karate, there are two versions of this kata — Gojūshiho Shō and Gojūshiho Dai. An advantage of the two versions of the kata is to better master the difficult techniques presented therein, but not without facing some confusion, for many... more »
In some styles of karate, there are two versions of this kata — Gojūshiho Shō and Gojūshiho Dai. An advantage of the two versions of the kata is to better master the difficult techniques presented therein, but not without facing some confusion, for many sequences are the same and others only slightly different. The... more »
In some styles of karate, there are two versions of this kata — Gojūshiho Shō and Gojūshiho Dai. An advantage of the two versions of the kata is to better master the difficult techniques presented therein, but not without facing some confusion, for many sequences are the same and others only slightly different. The... more »
Hangetsu (Japanese: “Half Moon”) is an advanced kata practiced in Shotokan karate. It originates from the Naha-te school. The first part is executed slowly with strong breathing, stressing the development of the hara. This sequence shares a strong similarity with sanchin. The second part of the kata is more dynamic in its execution, with... more »
Hangetsu (Japanese: “Half Moon”) is an advanced kata practiced in Shotokan karate. It originates from the Naha-te school. The first part is executed slowly with strong breathing, stressing the development of the hara. This sequence shares a strong similarity with sanchin. The second part of the kata is more dynamic in its execution, with... more »
Heian means “peaceful mind”. This kata is the first of five introductory kata, developed by Yasutsune Itosu (one of Gichin Funakoshi’s instructors). Although scholars do not agree on how the Heian kata were created, it is commonly stated that all are derived in some part from the higher level kata, Kanku‐dai (In addition to... more »
Heian means “peaceful mind”. This kata is the first of five introductory kata, developed by Yasutsune Itosu (one of Gichin Funakoshi’s instructors). Although scholars do not agree on how the Heian kata were created, it is commonly stated that all are derived in some part from the higher level kata, Kanku‐dai (In addition to... more »
Heian Nidan is the second of the five Heian, or “Peaceful Mind” Karate Shotokan katas. This kata introduces the student for the first time to kicking techniques within a Kata such as yoko geri keage (side snapping kick), and mae geri, (front kick). In addition several new hand techniques are also introduced for the... more »
Heian Nidan is the second of the five Heian, or “Peaceful Mind” Karate Shotokan katas. This kata introduces the student for the first time to kicking techniques within a Kata such as yoko geri keage (side snapping kick), and mae geri, (front kick). In addition several new hand techniques are also introduced for the... more »