| Taikyoku
Shodan - Taikyoku Nidan - Taikyoku Sandan |
These kata were
created by Master Gichin Funakoshi. They were originally designed
to instill a good sense of basics in students. Many modern Shotokan
organizations have stopped teaching these kata. |
| Heian
Shodan - Heian Nidan - Heian Sandan - Heian Yondan - Heian Godan |
| The Heian katas
were created by the Okinawan Karate Master Anko Itosu. They were
created as basic forms that a student could use to build their
karate on. These forms are practiced in many styles of karate
and are known as Pinan in many Okinawan karate styles. These forms
were created from two older forms known as Channan. |
| Tekki
Shodan - Tekki Nidan - Tekki Sandan |
| These kata are
old Okinawan kata called Naihanchi. The first kata, Tekki Shodan
was created by the Legendary Karate Master Bushi Matsumura. The
other two kata, Tekki Nidan and Tekki Sandan, were created by
Master Anko Itosu. These three kata were the first kata that Master
Funakoshi was taught during his karate training. |
| Bassai
Dai - Bassai Sho |
| Bassai also known
as Passai in Okinawa was created by Master Bushi Matsumura. Bassai
Sho was created by Master Itosu from movements based on Bassai
Dai. |
Kanku
Dai - Kanku Sho |
| Kanku Dai was
created by the founder of the Shuri Style of Karate, Toudi Sakugawa
in the late 1700's. This kata is known as Kusanku in Okinawa.
Kanku Dai was named after Toudi Sakugawa's instructor, Ku San
Ku. Kanku Sho was created by Master Anko Itosu as a more advanced
version of this kata. |
| Gankaku
- Chinte |
| Gankaku was originally
named Chinto. Chinto, Chinte, and Chinsu were a three part series
of kata from Tomari Te. These kata were taught to Kosaku Matsumora
by a shipwrecked Chinese sailor named Kaizoku (or Pirate). |
| Hangetsu
- Sochin - Nijushiho- Unsu |
| Master Funakoshi
learned these katas from the famous weapon master Seisho Aragaki.
Master Aragaki is credited for the creation of Sochin, Nijushiho
(or Niseishi on Okinawa), and Unsu (Unshu). Hangetsu was originally
named Seisan, and Master Aragaki learned Seisan from his teacher,
Bushi Sakagami. |
| Ji'in
- Jitte |
These two kata both come from
Tomari Te. Their exact origins are unknown. Jitte is said to have
originally been a weapon kata that was taught to the Pechins of
Okinawa. |
| Jion |
| Jion was brought
back to Okinawa in the early 1900's by Kentsu Yabu. Master Yabu
was a student of Bushi Matsumura, and he served in the Japanese
Army. Master Yabu said he learned this kata while serving in China. |
Empi |
| Empi, or on Okinawa
Wanshu, was originally taught in the Tomari area by a politician
on a Chinese envoy to Okinawa. The original name of the kata,
Wanshu, is named after the politician who taught it. |
| Wankan |
| Wankan was originally
named Matsukaze. It comes from the Tomari area of Okinawa. |
| Gojushiho
Sho - Gojushiho Dai |
| These kata use
to be one kata. The original kata was called Useishi. Useishi
comes from China, and was originally shown in an ancient book
called the Bubushi. |
| Meikyo |
| Meikyo was originally
named Rohai. Rohai has three parts in Okinawan karate, however
Master Funakoshi thought the second Rohai or Rohai Chu, was all
that was needed. Meikyo is based on the old Rohai Chu kata. It
is believed that these kata were created by Master Chotoku Kyan.
|
Nijuhachiho |
| Nijuhachiho or
Nepai, was originally from To'on Ryu on Okinawa. Master Hirokazu
Kanazawa has been teaching this kata for a few years now and we
have added it into the United Shotokan Association kata requirements.
|
Hyakuhachiho |
| Hyakuhachiho
is one of the lost Shotokan katas. This kata was taught to Master
Funakoshi by Master Higashionna of Naha Te. This kata was mentioned
in Master Funakoshi's books, however he reserved teaching it to
only his most advanced students. |
| Pachu
- Heiku - Paiku - Anan - Anan Ni |
| These kata come
to us from the Nakaima family of Okinawa. They come from a little
known family system, however Sensei Offutt has trained extensively
in this family system, and is now incorporating these kata into
the United Shotokan Association as the highest kata. These kata
are only taught to our highest level of black belts. |
| Hakutsuru |
|
Hakutsuru is the kata of the
White Crane. This kata is a much guarded secret on Okinawa. Sensei
Offutt reserves teaching this kata to only his most advanced students. |
