What is Kata?
Kata (型) means “form”. Kata simulates a fighting situations against several imaginary opponents. The fight, however, is stylized. That means:
- All techniques applied are formalized and not executed in a jiyu-kamae (free) fashion
- They follow a dramaturgy with a preset sequence of motions and a rhythms
- The fighting situations and the application of the techniques are abstract
- As a result, the real-life application, called bunkai (see below), depends on the interpretation of the karateka.
Why are Kata Stylized?
Kata serve several purposes within Shotokan karate. To combine all these purposes in one routine the techniques and their execution had to be adjusted an harmonized. The aspects are:
- Self-defense
- Learning of basic techniques
- Physical education
- Body control
- Mental control: zanshin, mushin, toshi
A legend also says that karate training was prohibited back in Okinawa. Therefore, karate masters had to find a way to teach their techniques secretly. One way to do this was to disguise the actually training as some sort of physical routine or dance.
Every kata has a specific embusen.
What Kata Shotokan Karate consists of?
In sum, Shotokan comprises 26 katas with different approaches and aims. Within the 26 katas their exist six families of katas: Heian, Tekki, Bassai, Kanku, Gojushiho, and the Ji-family with Jion, Jitte, and Jiin.
Most Shotokan katas have a predecessor from Okinawa Karate. Tekki Shodan, for instance, also exists in the Karate system from the peninsula. In Okinawa they call it Naihanchi. Similarly, Jion has a Okinawa equivalent. However, both kata slightly differ as you can see in the following video with Tatsuya Naka.
The following list shows all Shotokan kata and their family.
Heian Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shodan | 平安初段 | 21 | Peaceful Mind One |
| Nidan | 平安二段 | 26 | Peaceful Mind Two |
| Sandan | 平安三段 | 20 | Peaceful Mind Three |
| Yondan | 平安四段 | 27 | Peaceful Mind Four |
| Godan | 平安五段 | 23 | Peaceful Mind Five |
Tekki Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shodan | 鉄騎初段 | 23 | Iron Horse One |
| Nidan | 鉄騎弐段 | 24 | Iron Horse Two |
| Sandan | 鉄騎参段 | 26 | Iron Horse Three |
Bassai Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dai | 拔塞大 | 42 | Penetrating the Fortress-Big |
| Sho | 拔塞小 | 27 | Penetrating the Fortress – Small |
Kanku Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dai | 観空大 | 65 | To look at the Sky – Big |
| Sho | 観空大 | 48 | To look at the Sky – Small |
Gojushiho Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dai | 五十四歩大 | 67 | 54 Steps – Big |
| Sho | 五十四歩小 | 65 | 54 Steps – Small |
Ji-Katas
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jion | 慈恩 | 47 | Love (and) Goodness |
| Jiin | 慈陰 | 38 | Mercy (and) Shadow |
| Jitte | 十手 | 24 | Ten Hands |
Katas Without A Direct Relationship
| Name | Jap. Kanji | Steps/Moves | Engl. Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enpi | 燕飛 | 37 | Flying Swallow |
| Gankaku | 岩鶴 | 42 | Crane on the Rock |
| Hangetsu | 半月 | 41 | Half Moon |
| Chinte | 珍手 | 32 | Incredible Hands |
| Sochin | 壯鎭 | 41 | Preserve Peace |
| Meikyo | 明鏡 | 33 | Mirror of the soul |
| Nijushiho | 二十四步 | 24 | 24 Steps |
| Wankan | 王冠 | 24 | Crown of a king |
| Unsu | 雲手 | 48 | Cloud Hands |
Every kata can be applied to fighting situation. The application is called bunkai.
Further Readings:
Crawford, Peter: Gojushiho Dai and Sho: The Solution of the Confusion. The Shotokan Times 2019.