Shotokan Katas
There are 27 Katas we practice. Each routine in a kata has one or more applications for self defence. It takes years of practice to learn these katas and requires good teaching from your association instructors to learn how to perform them well. You will also discover that there are variations to the kata movements depending on the association you study with. There are two links for each kata.
-
PDF diagram and
-
a Video.
Katas required for the Kyu grade examinations
10th Kyu to 9th Kyu
9th Kyu to 8th Kyu
8th Kyu to 7th Kyu
7th Kyu to 6th Kyu
6th Kyu to 5th Kyu
5th Kyu to 4th Kyu
4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu
3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu
2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu
First Kata learned by students
Peaceful Mind One
Peaceful Mind Two
Peaceful Mind Three
Peaceful Mind Four
Peaceful Mind Five
Horse Riding or Iron Horse One
To penetrate a fortress Dai- - big/large
To penetrate a fortress Dai- - big/large
These katas are required for the kyu grade examinations leading to the 1st Dan. In any examination candidates may also be asked to perform katas from lower kyu grades. See Syllabus pages for details of examination for each grade
Katas required for 1st Dan examination
In this section the candidates are shown the Katas that may be requested at the 1st DAN examination. For more information about the examination have a look at the SSKA Syllabus pages
As a part of the examination the candidate is asked to perform several of the katas learned up to 3rd Kyu; they are chosen on the day of the examination.
As the final part of the Kata examination the candidate is asked to select and perform their favourite (tokui) Kata from the list below:
To penetrate a fortress Dai- - big/large
Horse Riding or Iron Horse Two
To look at the sky. Dai - - big/large
Temple Grounds or Named after the Saint
Named after the Jion-ji temple
Ten Hands
Incredible Hands
Flying Swallow
Half Moon
Katas required for 2nd Dan examination
For the transition from 1st Dan to 2nd Dan the following Katas are required. The Syllabus for the 2nd Dan examination is not shown here, only the Katas required.
As a part of the examination the candidate is asked to perform several of the katas learned up to 3rd Kyu; they are chosen on the day of the examination.
The candidate will be asked to perform any of the Katas listed below.
To penetrate a fortress Dai- - big/large
Horse Riding or Iron Horse One
Horse Riding or Iron Horse Two
To look at the sky. Dai - - big/large
Temple Grounds or Named after the Saint
Named after the Jion-ji temple
Ten Hands
Incredible Hands
Flying Swallow
Half Moon
Katas required for 3rd Dan examination
Candidates are required to perform all the Shotokan Katas listed here.
Kata Kihon
First Kata learned by students
Heian Shodan
Peaceful Mind One
Heian Nidan
Peaceful Mind Two
Heian Sandan
Peaceful Mind Three
Heian Yondan
Peaceful Mind Four
Heian Godan
Peaceful Mind Five
Tekki Shodan
Horse Riding or Iron Horse One
Tekki Nidan
Horse Riding or Iron Horse Two
Tekki Sandan
Horse Riding or Iron Horse Three
Bassai Dai
To penetrate a fortress Dai- - big/large
Bassai Sho
To penetrate a fortress - - small
Kanku Dai
To look at the sky. Dai - - big/large
Kanku Sho
To look at the sky. Sho - - small
Ji'on
Named after the Jion-ji temple
Ji'tte
Ten Hands
Ji'in
Temple Grounds or Named after the Saint
Chinte
Incredible Hands
Enpi
Flying Swallow
Hangetsu
Half Moon
Sochin
Energetic calm
Nijushiho
Twenty four steps
Gankaku
Crane on a Rock
Gojushiho Sho
Fifty four steps. Small.
Gojushiho Dai
Fifty four steps. Big
Wankan
Crown of a King
Meikyo
Polished Mirror or Mirror of the Soul
Unsu
Cloud hands
