Shotokan Karate Kata List Pdf

[Marie Ota]

Thispage provides written & video instructions for the 26 main Shotokan katas. It has information on Shotokan kihon katas. In addition, this section explores the meaning of each Shotokan Karate kata because many Shotokan schools question their students about these kata meanings during belt tests. For information on the katas of other Karate styles (i.e. Wado-Ryu katas or Kyokushin katas), please visit the main Black Belt Wiki section on Katas & Forms.

Shotokan Karate can be an effective means of learning self-defense. This Japanese martial arts style teaches kicks, strikes, sparring (kumite), self-defense techniques, etc. However, like all martial arts, the effectiveness of Shotokan Karate depends on the commitment of the student, the skill of the instructor and the focus of the Shotokan school. Shotokan Karate training will be ineffective as a means of learning self-defense if the student rarely goes to class, the student does not regularly practice, the teacher is a poor instructor, the Shotokan school does not provide frequent self-defense sessions, the self-defense training is unrealistic, etc.

We have members from all over the world who practice Shotokan karate. Many of our members already practice at a Dojo and use our online Dojo as extra training and many of them even take our ranking qualifications. We welcome all karateka with open arms, regardless of affiliation.

Within our karate membership site we have lots of shotokan video tutorials and articles, covering every aspect of Shotokan karate, to help your karate get better. We even have an instructor training program and live zoom classes, plus! we continue to add more content every week. Oss!

In Shotokan Karate dojo, the practice of the 27 Shotokan kata is central to honing the skills and techniques essential to the art. These kata, ranging from the fundamental Taikyoku and Heian series to the advanced kata like Gojushiho and Unsu, form the backbone of training, emphasizing precision, power, and fluidity of movement.

While the 27 Shotokan kata serve as the cornerstone of training in many dojos, some Sensei choose to incorporate additional kata into their curriculum. These supplementary kata may come from other Karate styles or traditional Okinawan karate, offering students a broader perspective and enriching their practice.

By exploring a diverse range of kata, practitioners gain insight into different fighting strategies, footwork patterns, and stylistic nuances, enhancing their adaptability and versatility. Moreover, the introduction of new kata fosters creativity and innovation within the dojo, encouraging students to experiment with variations and interpretations while staying true to the core principles of Shotokan Karate. Ultimately, the incorporation of additional kata reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of martial arts training, ensuring that practitioners receive a well-rounded education that transcends the confines of tradition.

There are nineteen katas in Shotokan Karate, as listed below; each has its own speed, intensity, and intricacies that require decades of practice and hard work to learn. Practitioners learn kata starting with Heian Shodan and the three Taikyoku katas. The more the practitioners train and the higher the rank, the more kata the practitioners are responsible to learn.

This is an introductory kata that master Gichin Funakoshi introduced to help new students learn the basic techniques of Shotokan karate. It teaches chudan oi tzuki and gedan barai performed in a series of 27 movements.

There is a belief that the movements in the Heian katas were developed from a more advanced kata, Kanku Dai. Some sources say that Master Ankō Itosu thought Kusanku or Kanku Dai was very long and consisted of many moves difficult for a new karateka. He, therefore, divided the kata into 5 Heian katas to gradually introduce them to beginners.

Heian Shodan emphasizes on hanmi (side facing) and shomen (square facing), with the body and hips being in hamni for blocks and shomen for stepping punches. This kata also focuses on zenkutsu dachi, kokutsu dachi, oi tzuki, tetsui uchi, age uke, and shuto uke.

Below is a video of Hirokazu Kanazawa sensei performing this kata. The second video is of an unknown Shotokan instructor performing this kata slowly with additional step-by-step instructions. These instructions are especially useful for students who just start on this kata.

Heian Sandan, just like Heian Nidan, also emphasizes simultaneous blocking and striking techniques, with the introduction of fumi komi (step-in technique) and spinning tetsui uchi (hammer fist strike).

This kata constitutes numerous slow-flowing and open-hand techniques and simultaneous blocking and striking techniques. The kata introduces juji uke (figure 10 block), mawashi empi (elbow strike), and hiza geri (knee strike).

This kata is performed with several bodyweight shifts, where punches are executed from kokutsu dachi. This kata is the first that introduces a jump, kage tzuki (hook punch), ura tzuki (half punch used at close range), and a difficult combination of blocking and striking techniques at the last four moves.

Tekki Shodan is a kata where one learns to generate power from the hips and legs. The kata is practiced along a straight line in kiba dachi (horse-riding stance) with techniques being executed at extremely short distances.

According to historical records, two versions of the Passai kata were practiced in Okinawa, one from China brought by Sokon Matsumura, a karate master, and another taught by a Chinese martial artist, who resided in Okinawa, to Okan Oyadomari. The Shotokan version of Bassai Dai is believed to have come from the lineage of Okan Oyadomari.

Many karate historians believe Jion is an ancient Chinese boxing form that was developed further in Okinawa. Some also argue that the kata originated from Jionji (Jion temple), where martial arts were extensively practiced.

This is one of the most acrobatic katas in Shotokan characterized by two jumping techniques, which are quite challenging to perform. The first jump resembles that of Empi, but is performed on the spot, while the second jump (jumping spinning crescent kick) is the same as the one in Unsu.

Empi consists of fast and dynamic movements, lots of takedown and throwing techniques characterized by numerous instances of simultaneous blocks and strikes. This kata introduces age tzuki and kosa dachi, whose combination with hiza geri, soto uke, and gyaku zuki, in motion, resembles a flying swallow.

Jitte kata is a very special and unique kata amongst the 26 Shotokan katas and was created by Matsumora Kosaku sensei. It constitutes complex movements that many karatekas find challenging to master and understand.

Chinte consists of several unique and barely seen hand techniques. It introduces the application of nihon nukite, nakadaka ippon ken, hasami zuki, tate zuki, and tate mawashi uchi. This kata has yori ashi (three small hops) towards the end, which deviates it from all other Shotokan katas.

This is the shortest Shotokan kata with only one kiai. Some sources say the kata was introduced into Okinawa as Wang Ji by a Chinese White Crane master while other sources thought the kata was practiced by the royal family in Okinawa, thus the name Wankan.

Gojushiho Sho involves flowing clouds (ryuun) set of moves combining ryuun no uke (knife hand flowing block), shuto gedan barai (knife hand down block), and triple shihon tate nukite (four finger spear hand).

Unsu kata was created by Seisho Arakaki sensei. Some sources say the kata was developed from Okinawan folk dance, to their gods Fujin and Raijen. Other sources link Unsu to a Shaolin dragon Kung Fu form.

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