Kata

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.

Shihan Osaka, who holds the nickname “the textbook” of Shotokan, shows the performs the kata kanku sho. Kanku shi beongs to the advanced katas of Shotokan.

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.

Tatsuya Naka compares the Shotokan Jion with the Shito-Ryu Jion.

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