Heian Yodan is the fourth of the five Heian, or “Peaceful Mind” of Shotokan Karate katas. The layout of this kata is a plus sign on top of a minus sign. It starts at the center of the plus sign. The kata also ends in the same place. From this starting point the kata... more »
Kusanku is the sixth Kata taught at Isshin Ryu Karate. Of the eight weaponless kata in Isshin-Ryu, five come from the teaching of Chotoku Kyan. Kusanku is one of these. Kusanku is often referred to as a “night-fighting” kata, or a form which teaches fighting at night. Modern research does not support this theory.... more »
Wansū (also known as Wanshu) is the fourth empty-hand kata taught in Isshin Ryu. Popular history has the kata coming from a Chinese political visitor who, during his duties, taught his fighting method in the open. Isshin Ryu’s version of this form is unique for its inclusion of two side kicks – techniques seen... more »
Jion (translated: “Temple” or “Temple of love and goodness”) is a representative kata in the Shotokan system because of the importance of the perfection of the basic stances it contains, notably zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kiba dachi (horse stance).... more »
Jion (translated: “Temple” or “Temple of love and goodness”) is a representative kata in the Shito Ryu system because of the importance of the perfection of the basic stances it contains, notably zenkutsu dachi (front stance) and kiba dachi (horse stance). [Source:... 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 »
Kanku Sho, which translates to mean ‘To view the sky minor’, was created by Master Itosu, and was developed using Kanku Dai as the basis. There are fundamental similarities in the kata, one being the physical looking to the sky. In Dai, in the opening sequences, your hands elevate, and so does your head, with... more »
Seienchin kata is a traditional Japanese/Okinawan style kata. The name Seienchin is generally defined as either “the calm before the storm” or the “storm within the calm.” Seienchin was one of the many kata handed down by Kanryo Higaonna, a famous Okinawan karate master. It is a very old kata and its roots may... more »
Sōchin (Japanese: “Tranquil Force”) is a kata practiced in several styles of karate. It may have derived from Dragon style, and was taught in the Naha-te school in Okinawa by Seishō Aragaki. It was then passed down to Shitō-ryū. Later, a variation of it was introduced into Shotokan by Gichin Funakoshi’s son, Yoshitaka. The... more »
Taikyoku sono san is the third kata of the Taikyoku series in Kyokushinkai Karate. The blocks when turning to the long side are gedan barai done in Zenkutsu Dachi stance, while the others are chudan uchi uke done in kokutsu dachi stance. The punches are all seiken oi tsuki done in zenkutsu dachi stance.... more »