Kata

Kata (Japanese: 形, or more traditionally, 型; lit. “form”) is a Japanese word describing detailed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pair. Kata are the soul of karate. They combine both basic and advanced techniques, stances and body movements into a set of flowing compositions. Funakoshi the founder of Shotokan Karate sincerely believed it would take a lifetime to master a handful of kata and that sixteen would be enough. He chose the kata which were best suited for physical stress and self-defense, stubbornly clinging to his belief that karate was an art rather than a sport. To him, kata was karate. There are a total of 26 Kata in Shotokan however when Funakoshi arrived in Japan in 1922, he originally taught a total of fifteen kata, although it has been speculated that he probably knew many more.

Funakoshi’s Kata Knowledge

The fifteen kata in Funakoshi’s syllabus included:

The Complete list of 26 Kata (video 1 hr 32 mins)

KataNo. of “Steps”Kata meaning
Heian Shodan21“Peacefull Mind One”
Heian Nidan26“Peacefull Mind Two”
Heian Sandan20“Peacefull Mind Three”
Heian Yondan27“Peacefull Mind Four”
Heian Godan23“Peacefull Mind Five Universe”
Tekki Shodan23“Iron Horse One”
Tekki Nidan24“Iron Horse Two”
Tekki Sandan26“Iron Horse Three”
Bassai Dai42“Penetrating the Fortress-Big”
Bassai Sho27“Penetrating the Fortress – Small”
Kanku Dai65“To look at the Sky – Big”
Kanku Sho48“To look at the Sky – Small”
Enpi37“Flying Swallow”
Jion47“Love (and) Goodness”
Gankaku42“Crane on the Rock”
Hangetsu41“Half Moon”
Jitte24“Ten Hands”
Chinte32“Incredible Hands”
Sochin41“Preserve Peace”
Meikyo33“Mirror of the soul”
Jiin38“Named after the Saint”
Gojushiho Dai67“54 Steps – Big”
Gojushiho Sho65“54 Steps – Small”
Nijushiho24“24 Steps”
Wankan24“Crown of a king”
Unsu48“Cloud Hands”

Kata by belt

The requirements increase with the kyus, and a number of Kata, more and more elaborate, will have to be mastered.

BeltKata Required
YellowHeian Shodan
OrangeHeian Nidan
GreenHeian Sandan
BlueHeian Yodan
BrownHeian Godan
Black 1st dan ShodanTekki Shodan
Nidan 2nd DanBassai dai

Kanku dai

Empi

Hangetsu

Jion
Sandan 3rd DanTekki Nidan

Bassai sho

Kanku sho

Gangaku

Jitte
Yodan 4th DanTekki Sandan

Ji’in

Nijushiho

Sochin

Unsu
Godan 5th DanChinte

Gojushiho dai

Gojushiho sho

Meikyo

Wankan