GOJUSHIHO DAI
Gojushiho sho, or “Fifty-Four Steps Big,” is the longer and more complex of the two Gojushiho kata. At 67 counts, it is the lengthiest of Shotokan kata, beating Gojushiho Dai(and Kanku Dai) by two moves. Its surplus of movements over its twin can basically be accounted for by the inclusion of two techniques in Gojushiho Sho that are not present in Gojushiho Dai: koko-sukui-uke/tsukidashi and washide. Washide, or “eagle-hand,” is a precise attack using all five fingertips pressed together in the shape of a bird’s beak to strike an opponent’s pressure points. Outside of this kata, washide does not exist in Shotokan. Gojushiho Sho has a smaller frame than its twin, mostly due to its “trademark set” of kitsutsuki-no-kamae, keito-nagashi-uke, and otoshi-ippon-nukite. Essentially, the larger frame of the ryuun (flowing cloud) set of Gojushiho Dai is replaced by the smaller kitsutsuki (woodpecker) set of Gojushiho Sho. The grand style of ryuun-no-uke is replaced by the smaller curving keito-uke; the long shihon-tate-nukite are exchanged for shorter otoshi-ippon-nukite; and the big zenkutsu-dachi and kokutsu-dachi are traded for the much smaller neko-ashi-dachi. Gojushiho Sho has more techniques executed in neko-ashi-dachi than any other Shotokan kata. Along with Unsu, it is one of only two Shotokan kata that have no kokutsu-dachi at all (excluding Tekki, of course). This can prove difficult for Shotokan karateka who generally practice kokutsu-dachi to a much greater extent, often neglecting the practice of neko-ashi-dachi. One of the more difficult aspects of the kata occurs when changing direction from one neko-ashi-dachi to another; many students tend to have difficulty maintaining balance throughout. At one time, Gichin Funakoshi tried to change the name of the kata to Hotaku, meaning “woodpecker,” due to the frequency of poking strikes found within the kata. Some consider the true woodpecker’s strike to be ryo-kentsui-koho-hasami-uchi (#61), viewing it primarily as a head butt attack. Regardless, for reasons unknown, the name Hotaku was never really accepted. Striking with the fingers is the norm for Gojushiho Dai so one must have an understanding of an opponent’s vital areas.
| # | Technique | Translation | Stance | Target | Notes |
| 1 | mizu-nagare-uraken-kamae (uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi) | water flowing back-fist posture (vertical back-fist strike) | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | slow speed |
| 2 | ryoken-morote-uke (morote-tate-uke-zuki) | both fists double-hand block (both hands block-punch) | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 3 | ryoken-morote-uke (morote-tate-uke-zuki) | both fists double-hand block (both hands block-punch) | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 4 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 5 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 6 | tsuki | punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 7 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 8 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 9 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 10 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 11 | tsuki (oi-zuki) | punch (lunge punch) | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 12 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 13 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 14 | tate-empi-uchi | vertical elbow strike | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | |
| 15 | koko-sukui-uke / koko-osae (tsukidashi) | tiger-mouth scooping block / tiger-mouth press (thrust) | zenkutsu-dachi | gedan gedan | |
| 16 | keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae) | chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture) | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 17 | keito-kamae / gedan-uke | chicken-head posture / down block | neko-ashi-dachi | jodan gedan | slow speed |
| 18 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | yori-ashi |
| 19 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 20 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 21 | keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae) | chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture) | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 22 | keito-kamae / gedan-uke | chicken-head posture / down block | neko-ashi-dachi | jodan gedan | slow speed |
| 23 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 24 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 25 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 26 | haito-uke | ridge-hand block | kiba-dachi | gedan | |
| 27 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | — | — | kosa-ashi slow speed |
| 28 | ryosho-bo-tsukami-uke | both palms grasping stick block | ashi-dachi kiba-dachi | jodan gedan | |
| 29 | haito-uke | ridge-hand block | kiba-dachi | gedan | |
| 30 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | — | — | kosa-ashi slow speed |
| 31 | ryosho-bo-tsukami-uke | both palms grasping stick block | ashi-dachi kiba-dachi | jodan gedan | |
| 32 | keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae) | chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture) | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 33 | keito-kamae / gedan-uke | chicken-head posture / down block | neko-ashi-dachi | jodan gedan | slow speed |
| 34 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 35 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 36 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 37 | shihon-nukite (yoko-nukite) | 4-finger spear-hand (sideways spear-hand) | zenkutsu-dachi | gedan | shuto variation |
| 38 | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical back-fist strike | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | slow speed |
| 39 | shihon-nukite (yoko-nukite) | 4-finger spear-hand (sideways spear-hand) | zenkutsu-dachi | gedan | shuto variation |
| 40 | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical back-fist strike | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | slow speed |
| 41 | washide-otoshi-uchi | eagle-hand dropping strike | zenkutsu-dachi | gedan | |
| 42 | washide-tsuki-age | eagle-hand rising thrust | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | |
| 43 | mae-geri | front kick | ashi-dachi | jodan | |
| 44 | ken-kata-ue / tsuki | fist above shoulder / punch | ashi-dachi | — chudan | |
| 45 | koho-gedan-uke / yoko-empi-uchi | rear down block / sideways elbow strike | hizakutsu | gedan jodan | |
| 46 | keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae) | chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture) | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 47 | keito-kamae / gedan-uke | chicken-head posture / down block | neko-ashi-dachi | jodan gedan | slow speed |
| 48 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 49 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 50 | otoshi-ippon-nukite | dropping one-finger spear-hand | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 51 | haito-uke | ridge-hand block | kiba-dachi | gedan | |
| 52 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | — | — | kosa-ashi slow speed |
| 53 | tate-shuto-uke & shihon-tate-nukite / hari-empi-koshi-kamae | vertical knife-hand block & 4-finger vertical spear-hand / elbow guard hip posture | ashi-dachi kiba-dachi | chudan chudan — | |
| 54 | haito-uke | ridge-hand block | kiba-dachi | gedan | |
| 55 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | — | — | kosa-ashi slow speed |
| 56 | tate-shuto-uke & shihon-tate-nukite / hari-empi-koshi-kamae | vertical knife-hand block & 4-finger vertical spear-hand / elbow guard hip posture | ashi-dachi kiba-dachi | chudan chudan — | |
| 57 | mizu-nagare-uraken-kamae (uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi) | water flowing back-fist posture (vertical back-fist strike) | zenkutsu-dachi | jodan | slow speed |
| 58 | kentsui-uchi-mawashi-uchi | inside hammer-fist strike | kiba-dachi | chudan | |
| 59* | oi-zuki | lunge punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 60 | ryo-hiji-suhei-kamae | horizontal elbows posture | hachiji-dachi | — | slow speed fast variation |
| 61 | ryo-kentsui-koho- hasami-uchi | both hammer-fists rear scissors strike | hachiji-dachi | chudan | |
| 62 | ryo-hiji-suhei-kamae | horizontal elbows posture | hachiji-dachi | — | |
| 63 | ryoken-sonomama | both fists as is | zenkutsu-dachi | — | |
| 64 | ryosho-kakiwake-uke | both palms wedge block | neko-ashi-dachi | gedan | slow speed |
| 65 | ryo-keito-hane-age-uke | both hands chicken-head rising block | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 66* | ryo-otoshi-ippon-nukite | both dropping one-finger spear-hands | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | yori-ashi |
| 67 | keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae) | chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture) | neko-ashi-dachi | chudan | slow speed |