Kata is Karate, Karate is Kata
The very essence of what we do is embodied in the kata that are at the very heart of any style.
Kata (型) Standard of Movement or Posture
Kata or ‘form’ are a set sequence of movements, a bit like a dance, though with more purposeful intent! Kata can be very short, less than 20 to over 100 movements. At the most basic performance level they are rudimentary self defence combinations or fun calisthenics routines. When performed at higher levels they become a thing of beauty and grace with changes in direction, speed and strength that is often described as “Moving Zen”
Goju Ryu & Kata
Some styles of karate merely practise kata as a form, in Goju we practise kata as an integral part of training. Each sequence of moves is broken down and practised with partners so for every kata you know, you can use every move for self-defence. For every combination there can be 5 or 6 possible uses including sweeps, joint locks, pressure point manipulations. These are an integral part of your gradings so what you practise in class is real, practical, self defence that you can use as a reflex if you need to on the street.
The kata of Goju Ryu
Gekisai dai ichi | Attack & Smash I | Pattern | Bunkai | Kata Video | Bunkai Video | Footwork Pattern |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Geki means to “attack,” and Sai means to “smash;” and as a compound Dai Ichi means “the first” or “number one.” |
9th |
8th Kyu | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna Sensei | Footwork by Steve Wilson | |
Gekisai dai ni
|
Attack & Smash II | |||||
Geki means to “attack,” and Sai means to “smash;” and as a compound Dai Ni means “the second” or “number two.” | 7th Kyu |
6th Kyu | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna | Footwork by Steve Wilson | |
Saifa
|
Smash & Destroy
|
|||||
Sai means “smash” or “break,” and Fa means “tear,” or “destroy.” | 5th Kyu | 4th Kyu | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna Sensei | Footwork by Steve Wilson | |
Seiyunchin
|
To Control and Pull in Battle
|
|||||
Sei means “to control,” Yun means “to pull,” and Chin means “to do battle.” | 3rd Kyu | 2nd Kyu | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna Sensei | ||
Shisochin
|
Four Direction Battle
|
|||||
Shi means “four,” So means “direction,” and Chin means “battle” | 1st Kyu | 1st Dan | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna Sensei | ||
Sanseru |
36 Hands
|
|||||
San mean three, Sei means “ten,” and Ru means “six.” | 2nd Dan | Higaonna Sensei performing the kata | Bunkai by Higaonna Sensei |
Here’s a video from the 2009 trip to Fuzhou with some senior IOGKF members performing the higher kata’s:
And here’s some even older footage of Sensei Morio:
Morio Higaonna Kata Video Part 1
Morio Higaonna Kata Video Part 2