Shotokan Kata - Names & What They Mean
Kata Names |
Kanji |
Number of Steps |
Meaning |
Grade |
Old or Other Name |
|
Kihon Kata | 太極初段 | Itosu | 20 Steps | Great Ultimate beginning step (basic kata) | 10th Kyu | Taikyoko Shodan |
Taikyoko Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan & Rokudan | 太教育 | Itosu | 20 Steps | not part of SSKA syllabus | not part of SSKA syllabus | |
Heian Shodan | 平安初段 | Itosu | 21 Steps | Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity - Level 1 | 9th Kyu | Pinan |
Heian Nidan | 平安二段 | Matsumura | 26 Steps | Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity - Level 2 | 8th Kyu | Pinan |
Heian Sandan | 平安三段 | Itosu | 21 Steps | Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity - Level 3 | 7th Kyu | Pinan |
Heian Yondan | 平安四段 | Itosu | 28 Steps | Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity - Level 4 | 6th Kyu | Pinan |
Heian Godan | 平安五段 | Itosu | 26 Steps | Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity - Level 5 | 5th Kyu | Pinan |
Tekki Shodan | 鉄騎初段 | Matsumura | 24 Steps | Iron Horse or Horse Riding 1st Level | 4th Kyu | from Naihanchi kata |
Tekki Nidan | 鉄騎二段 | Itosu | 20 Steps | Iron Horse - Level 2 | Brown Belt Kata | from Naihanchi kata |
Tekki Sandan | 鉄騎三段 | Itosu | 25 Steps | Iron Horse - Level 3 | 3rd Dan Kata | from Naihanchi kata |
Bassai Dai | 披塞大 | Matsumura | 46 Steps | To Storm a Fortress (major) | 3rd Kyu to 1st Dan | variation of Passai kata |
Bassai Sho | 披塞小 | Matsumura | 27 Steps | To Storm a Fortress (minor) | 2nd Dan Kata | variation of Passai kata |
Kanku Dai | 観空大 | Matsumura | 69 Steps | To view the sky (major) * * | Brown Belt Kata | from Kashanku kata (or Kusanku) |
Kanku Sho | 観空小 | Matsumura | 48 Steps | To view the sky (minor) | 2nd Dan Kata | from Kashanku kata (or Kusanku) |
Hangetsu | 半月 | Matsumura | 41 Steps | Half moon * * | Brown Belt Kata | Old root from Seisan kata (Jusan) |
Gankaku | 岩鶴 | Matsumura | 42 Steps | Crane on a rock | 3rd Dan Kata | Chinto |
Gankaku Sho | 岩鶴小 | Itosu | 55 Steps | Crane on a rock (minor) | not part of SSKA syllabus but SKIF & Shito-ryu | Chinto - also called Koryu Gankaku |
Enpi (or Empi) | 燕飛 | through Itosu (1683) | 37 Steps | Flying swallow * * | Brown Belt Kata | Wansu (Wanshu) |
Jion | 慈恩 | Itosu | 47 Steps | Named after the Jion-ji temple (Kind and Graciousness) * * | Brown Belt Kata | NB: A compulsory kata in the "Federation of All Japan Karate-Do" organisations. |
Jitte | 十手 | Itosu | 24 Steps | Ten hands * * | Brown Belt Kata | |
Jiin | 慈陰 | Itosu | 33 Steps | Translated Love of Truth (or kind shade) * * | Brown Belt Kata | |
Nijushi-ho | 二十四步 | Seisho Arakaki | 24 Steps | 24 steps | 2nd Dan Kata | Niseishi |
Nijuhachi-ho | 二十八四步 | Okinawa | 28 Steps | 28 steps | not part of SSKA syllabus but SKIF & Shito-ryu | |
明鏡 | Itosu | 33 Steps | Clear or Bright Mirror | 3rd Dan Kata | Meikyo is a combination of all three different Rōhai kata, containing elements of each. | |
Sochin | 壯鎭 | Seisho Arakaki | 41 Steps | Rooted or Tranquil Force - Named after the stance | 2nd Dan Kata | |
Chinte | 珍手 | Itosu | 32 Steps | Rare, Unusual or Incredible Hands * * | Brown Belt Kata | |
Wankan | 王冠 | Matsumura | 24 Steps | Crown of a King or Emperor / A Proper Name | 3rd Dan Kata | |
Unsu | 雲手 | Seisho Arakaki | 48 Steps | Defence of a Cloud/Cloud Hands | 3rd Dan Kata | |
Gojushiho Dai | 五十四歩大 | Matsumura | 54 steps | Fifty Four Steps (major) | 3rd Dan Kata | Useishi |
Gojushiho Sho | 五十四歩小 | Matsumura | 54 steps | Fifty Four Steps (minor) | 3rd Dan Kata | Useishi |
Kata in the Dai form are the Major versions
Kata in the Sho form are the Minor versions
NB: Currently there are 26 Kata in the Traditional Japanese Shotokan style (not including Kihon Kata)
* * (Brown Belt Kata)
Updated: Wednesday, 16 November 2016