Warwick Vets High School Shotokan Karate Club

26 Shotokan Kata












Home | Kihon " Basic's " | The Making of a Master | Club Members | History of Martial Arts | History of Shotokan Karate-do | Photo Album | Shojukempo Challenge 2007 | Meet our Instructors | 26 Shotokan Kata | links | Belt Ranks | Belt Testing | Up and Coming Events








SHOTOKAN KATA

When Meijin Funakoshi came to mainland Japan, he taught 16 kata: 5 Pinan, 3 Naihanchi, Kushanku Dai, Kushanku Sho, Seisan, Patsai, Wanshu, Chinte, Jitte and Jion. He kept his students on the basic ones before they progressed to the more advanced forms. He actually taught at least 40 kata, these were later included in the limited but monumental work by Shigeru Egami "Karate-do for the Specialist".

Funakoshi sincerely believed it would take a lifetime to master a handful of kata and that sixteen would be enough. Funakoshi insisted on Hito-Kata Sanen (three years on one kata). He chose the kata which were best suited for physical stress and self-defense. History and Master Funakoshi's great ability as a teacher and Karate technician have proved his philosophy that kata practice was more than sufficient in times of need. He believed that karate was an art rather than a sport. To him, kata was karate.

Modern day Shotokan Karate consists of 26 Kata. Each kata is unique and has its own importance and values, that yield numerous benefits to the karateka who practice them with true spirit.

26 Kata of Shotokan Karate

Heian Shodan  
Heian Nidan  
Heian Sandan  
Heian Yondan  
Heian Godan  
Tekki Shodan  
Bassai Dai  
Kanku Dai  
Enpi  
Sochin  
Meikyo  
Ji'in  
Gojushiho Dai  
Jion  
Jitte  
Hangetsu  
Gankaku  
Tekki Nidan  
Tekki Sandan  
Chinte  
Bassai Sho  
Kanku Sho  
Nijushiho  
Unsu  
Wankan  
Gojushiho Sho