Kata

Tai Kyoku exercises (Body side form. First basic steps) created by Gichin Funakoshi in the 1950s for the purpose of training large groups of students as a preparation for learning kata. There are 22 movements and 8 attacks.

Wunsu Kata (Strong Arm - Dragon Boy Dumping Form)

I bring no evil and bear no weapons.

Creator unknown. It is believed Wunsu kata was composed by Okinawan martial artists as a tribute to the Chinese emissary Suppushi Wanshu who was in Okinawa around 1685. There are 38 movements and 11 attacks.

Anaku Kata (A Swallow on the beach Pivoting Form)

A reflection of self and the desire to rise above ideals and discipline oneself by good thoughts words and deeds.

Creator unknown. It is believed to have been recomposed by Master Chotoku Kyan in Okinawa around 1895. There are 33 movements and 8 attacks.

Nai Han Chi Sho (Iron Horse/Missing Enemy Form)

Bring all forces into your body and obtain peace, tranquility and ultimate reality.

The originator of Ni Han Chi Sho is unknown but it was practiced and taught by Sokon Matsumura around 1825. There are 49 movements and 17 attacks.

Sanchin (Three Conflicts Form) or (Original Pupil Breath Form)

Completion of life cycle and return to the source - life starts again.

The creator is unknown. The Okinawans referred to Sanchin as Bodhidharma's `Juhachi raken shou kyo` which was the art of using intrinsic energy to defeat your opponent. Almost all movements in Sanchin have a symbolic meaning. The three conflicts being the three conflicts of life: birth, survival, and death. There are 47 movements and 8 attacks.

Empi Sho (Flying Swallow) or (First Elbow Form)

I will uphold universal spiritualization (moral and spiritual uprightness) through adherence to all laws, justice, charity, and honesty.

The creator is unknown but was introduced in Okinawa around 1685 by Suppushi Wanshu. It was taught and popularized by Sokon Matsumura and Yasutsune Itosu. There are 34 movements and 10 attacks.

Tsue Sho (Way of the Bo Form) or (Suekata Sho No Kon)

This bo kata expresses a constant but continuous change in the universe by the interaction of yin and yang throughout the kata. The forces of yin and yang represent the potential of each to hold within itself the properties of its opposite. Tsue Sho is believed to have been composed by Tode Sakugawa and later improved upon by Suekata Chogum around 1765. There are 35 movements and 11 attacks.

Bassi Dai (Breaking the Giant Enemies Circle) or (Breaking Through the Fortress Form)

Strong convictions in the intrinsic goodness of all mankind and the affirmative nature of life and the values of love, charity, faith and loyalty.

Bassai or Patsai Katas were composed for the personal body guards of King Oyoda Mari. Bassai katas were being taught in Tomari, Okinawa around 1869 by Kosaku Matsumora. They were also being taught by Bushi Matsumora, CHOKI MOTOBU, Chotoku Kyan and Chosia Chibana. There are 55 movements and 19 attacks.

Go Pei Sho (Advanced Tearing Peacock Form)

Do away with dualism and confusion and allow only immovable serenity to prevail.

Go Pei Sho is basically Chinese in movement. It represents a peacock preparing to defend itself. It is inherited from the Chinese movements of Master Li Tsun I. There are 56 movements and 23 attacks.

Dan Enn Sho (Cutting and Clawing Through the Fire or Tsume Form)

The white crane spreading its wings the open arms represent patience and tranquility and the hands reach out for divine force in order to obtain reality and self liberation.

Like Go Pei Sho, Dan Enn Sho was inherited from the movements of the Chinese Master Li Tsun I of the Hopei school. The Hopei schools were also called Goka Ta Ken,which is where all Okinawan Karate stems. This kata represents five of the twelve animal forms of the Hsing Yi system. The movements of the eagle, crane, hawk, snake and tiger are very obvious. There are 39 movements and 12 attacks.

Nan Dan Sho (Smooth Water - 24 Steps - Difficult Victory Form)

Gathering of all forces and energies from the earth and bringing them into the body. When the body returns to earth-give back to the earth the body, mind, spirit and all energies and forces taken from earth.

Although this kata was practiced in Okinawan villages of Shuri and Tomari years ago, the origin is unknown. The original name "Nandan sho" is basically Chinese. The Japanese call this kata "Nijushiho", meaning 24 steps. The Okinawans call this kata "Nisei Shi". The symbolic movements in this kata pertain to the five Earth ruler elements which deals with the body and the usage of all types of breath. There are 51 movements and 16 attacks.

Kan Ku Sho (Flowing Lagoon - Sky Form)

The originator of Kan Ku Sho is not known. It is believed that the kata was named and composed by Yasutsune Itosu and taught extensively in Okinawa by Itosu's most advanced student Chibana. It can be assumed that this kata is over 125 years old. It is practiced internationally by most ryus and the name Kan Ku Sho means "Sky observation (small) form". It is commonly reffered to as 'looking at the sky or flowing lagoon form.