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Page last updated 25th June 2003

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Sensei Pasq Mura 5th Dan 
fighting at the 
2003 Shiro Asano Championships
Sensei Pasq Mura 5th Dan fighting at the 2003 Shiro Asano Championships

UNSU UNSU UNSU
Sensei Pasq Mura demonsrates UNSU...
KANKU DAI
Sensei Pasq Mura in competition performing KANKU DAI...
NIJUSHIHO
...and NIJUSHIHO
EMPI EMPI2
Sensei Pasq Mura performing EMPI...
KATA

At the heart of Karate-do lies the formal exercise, KATA.These are sequences of individual movements linked together in order to practice defensive and offensive techniques, employing the fundamental stances, blocks, strikes, punches and kicks against one or more imaginary opponent. Great emphasis is placed upon the perfection of every aspect of the exercise, including correct form, breathing, focus and balance.

The traditions of karate are practiced in the kata, which perfect the grace, consciousness, and power of the physical self and spirit. In ancient times, the kata were secret, taught only by word of mouth to the most trusted students. They were never written down and for this reason the origins are still shrouded in mystery. Shotokan Karate Kata's are steeped in tradition, and have great meaning and value. If they are performed differently they lose all authenticity, the become a dance. Hanshi Asano believes in maintaining these traditions and teaches them in their original form to ensure all Shotokan students can see for themselves the correct way to perform the katas and continue and deepen their knowledge and understanding of the art.

A number of the kata practiced today have their origin in China around the 16th Century. Others were developed in Okinawa and Japan more recently. The majorit of kata taught today are around 75-100 years old

Kata Practice is still considered an excellant training method for traditionalists and modernists alike. For the old Karate masters, kata was the primary method of practice, developing and honing their skills over a lifetime.

HEIAN Peaceful Mind
Shodan, Nidan, Sandan etc. - Kata 1, 2 3, etc.
BASSAI To penetrate a fortress
Sho=Minor ,Dai=Major
KANKU To look at the sky
Sho=Minor ,Dai=Major
EMPI Flying swallow
GANKAKU Crane on a rock
JITTE Ten hands
HANGETSU Half-moon
TEKKI Horse riding
Shodan=No1 ,Nidan=No2, Sandan=No3
JION Jion-ji is a famous Buddhist temple
SOCHIN Immovable in the face of danger
CHINTE Strange hands
JIIN Temple grounds
NIJUSHIHOTwenty four steps
MEIKYOPolished mirror
UNSUHands in the cloud
WANKAN King's crown
GOJUSHIHO Fifty four steps
Sho=Minor ,Dai=Major

HEIAN KATA

Heian katas were originally known by the Okinawan name of Pinan. Funakoshi changed the word to the Japanese word for "peace and tranquility" - Heian. The name change was likely due to the growing national spirit in Japan at that time, causing the change to the Japanese. The original Pinan forms were developed by the Oinawan Master Yatsune Itosu(also known as Anko Itosu) for the Okinawan School System. Itosu was one of Funakoshi's instructors and so influenced him a great deal. Because Itosu considered most Kata too difficult for the school curriculum, he developed five new forms. He called these new forms "Pinan" and introduced them to his students at the rate of one per year. Itosu developed the Pinan forms from a pair of different katas called "Kusanku" and "Channa". While the Kusanku kata is still practiced in one form or another, Channa is lost to history.

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BASSAI KATA

There are two forms of the Bassai kata: Bassai Dai (Bassai Major) and Bassai Sho(Bassai Lesser) Bassai Dai was originally known as Passai Dai, but was generally known as Matumura-no-passai. The original kata was developed by Bushi Matsumura, and was one of the first katas taught to Anko Itosu. After years of practicing the kata, Itosu develpoed the Passai Sho form which is seldom performed today.

The most common interpritation of the word Bassai is"to storm a fortress", although another more descriptive interpretation is "to break through the enemies defences by shifting and finding the weak points". This description looks at the variety of techniques utilised in the kata . Although not a literal translation, this is ultimately the true meaning of the kata.

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KANKU KATA

Kanku-Dai is on of the oldest forms practiced today. The original name for this kata was "Kusanku"(sometimes pronounced Kushanku).Kusanku was a Chinese official and martial artist stationed in Okinawa, staying for about 5 years. He taught karate to many people including Tode Sakugawa. When Kusanku was transferred back to China, he left behind numerous students, but only one official kata, which was eventually named after him. Kusanku ultimately became known as Kanku Dai when Funakoshi introduced it to his Japanese Students. Kanku means " to view the heavons", which describes the opening moves in the kata

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EMPI KATA

Empi was originally named "Wansu". Empi translates to "Flying Swallow" and is one of the only forms left from the Okinawan Tomari-Te. The style of Tomari-Te, and most of it's katas and techniques, were lost to history due to the secrecy of it's practitioners.

Wansu, the original name of the kata, was actually a Chinese official who arrived in Tomari around 1683 during the reign of king Sho Tei. Wansu was highly adept at martial arts, and this knowledge soon became known by the local population. Little is known about Wansu other than he only taught a few students at a time. After a few years in Okinawa, Wansu returned to China leaving behind a kata known as Wansu. Wansu was exclusivley practiced in Tomari up untill 1865, when it spread to Naha and Shuri. Funakoshi altered the name of the kata to Empi in order to describe the upword and downwards movements of the kata. These movements, along with the quick shifting of stances, are similar to the movements of a flying swallow, thus its name.

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GANKAKU KATA

Gankaku(crane on a rock) was originally known as Chinto, this kata was eventually called Gankaku because of the one-legged stance which is predominate throughout the kata. Because of its complexity, Gankaku is one of the most advanced katas in Shotokan as well as other karate styles.

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HANGETSU KATA

Hangestsu(half moon) was originally known as Sesan. It has many crescent shaped techniques, stances and stepping routines, which is why it was later renamed Hangetsu. It has Chinese origins and a similar version is practiced by Naha-Te stylists.

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TEKKI KATA

Tekki (Iron Horse) was originally referred to as the Naifanchi Kata. This series of Katas is performed exclusivley in the Kiba Dachi (Horse Riding) stance. Naifanchi were originally the basic kata for the Shurite Style. The originator of the first Tekki Kata is unknown, but it is believed that the second and third forms were developed by Anko Itosu.

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JION KATA

Jion is the name of both a Buddhist Temple and a patron saint of Buddhism. The kata by the same name is thought to have developed from a Chinese monk who learned his art in a temple, The Jion form was very popular in Tomari and is one of the few katas that remain from the Tomari karate style.

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SOCHIN KATA

Sochin, meaning "to keep the peace", evolved from Naha-Te, but its actual origin is in China. Naha-Te master Ankichi Aragaki left Naha to introduce his style to martial artists in the capital city of Shuri. By the time he returned, Goju-Ryu karate had become the most popular style in Naha. This is a reason that Sochin was more popular in Shuri than it was in Naha. The version of Sochin that was introduced to Japan was developed by Funakoshi and his Son.

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GOJUSHIHO KATA

Gojushiho, originally known as Useshi, is considered the most advanced kata in Shotokan Karate. It originated in China , but was fully developed by by the great Bushi Matsumura. Some sources contend that Gojushiho is actually a modified form of an ancient royal dance. There may be some truth to the belief, considering that many Okinawan experts used to disguise their kata by incorporating them into dances to avoid detection by the ruling forces.

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