Kata (型 or 形 form) is a Japanese word describing detailed choreographed patterns of movements practiced either solo or in pairs. Kata are used in many traditional Japanese arts such as theater forms like Ryukyuan Dance and schools of tea ceremony, but are commonly known for their presence in the martial arts. Kata are used by most traditional Japanese and Okinawan martial arts and especially in karate-do.
Kata are the foundation of traditional Okinawan Karate-do. The true meaning and spirit of karate are embedded in kata. Dedicated practice and diligent study of kata is the best path to development of technique and understanding of application.
Goju Ryu kata are choreographed sets of movements, put together over many years by our predecessors, to facilitate teaching, practice, and study of basic and advanced techniques. Each kata has unique characteristics and must be learned and studied under the guidance of a qualified instructor. Kata are living guides in which karate’s techniques and philosophy are passed down. If we simplify or change kata to either accommodate and instructor’s preference or to enhance a tournament competitor’s chances of winning then we lose the true meaning and spirit of our karate.
The practice of kata provides the practitioner a study reference, sense of structure, flow, and possible applications to use in conflict. Bunkai (分解 analysis or disassembly), is the analysis or interpretation (oyo-bunkai) of kata movements. After the analysis of kata, karate-ka usually practice two or more person drills to ingrain the application into muscle memory and build and understanding of how the application will affect the opponent.
The kata taught in Goju Ryu are traditional, and in most organizations, are emphasized more than kumite. This emphasis in kata includes an emphasis in bunkai application, the actual self-defense application of the kata movements. When performing kata the karate-ka should imagine he or she is being attacked and is responding to a threat.
SANCHIN
Kanji: 三戦 – Katakana: サンチン (three battles): In Goju, there are two Sanchin kata:
- Miyagi’s Sanchin: The most widely taught as initial and Kihongata, was created for such purpose by Chojun Miyagi Sensei, and has no turns so the karateka goes forward and then backwards.
- Higaonna’s Sanchin: It is a full-version Sanchingata, is older, and was taught by Kanryo Higaonna Sensei. In this kata the karateka goes forward turning 180 degrees twice before stepping backwards.
– Sanchin is the fundamental kata of Goju Ryu. The purpose of this kata is to train the three essential elements of Budo: ki, breathing, and body (or the mind, the body, and the spirit). Additionally, Sanchin is a form of moving and standing meditation.
GEKISAI DAI ICHI and NI
Kanji: 撃砕; katakana: ゲキサイ- (to attack or crush): These kata were developed by Chojun Miyagi Sensei in the early 1940s for beginners, and incorporation into the junior high school education programs. These very powerful kata introduce basic block, punch, and kick combinations.
SAIFA
Kanji: 砕破– Katakana: サイファー (to destroy and defeat): Saifa is the first of the classical kata taught in Goju Ryu. This is usually the first advanced Goju Ryu kata students learn after the Gekisai kata. Saifa’s origins come from the martial arts taught in the Fuzhou area of southern China. Saifa contains quick whipping motions, hammer fists, and back fist strikes. It emphasizes moving off-line from an opponent’s main force, blending, and simultaneously closing distance to exploding through them.
SEIYUNCHIN
Kanji: 制引戦– Katakana: セイユンチン (attack, conquer, suppress; also referred to as to control and pull into battle): This kata demonstrates the use of techniques to unbalance, throw and grapple, contains close-quartered striking, sweeps, take-downs and throws.
SHISOCHIN
Kanji: 四向戦– Katakana: シソーチン (to destroy in four directions or fight in four directions): This kata emphasizes open hand techniques with controlled hip movements. It integrates powerful linear attacks and circular movements and blocks.
SANSEIRU
Kanji: 三十六手 – Katakana: サンセイルー (36 Hands): This kata develops the use of low kicks, double hands techniques, and upper and lower body coordination. It teaches us how to move around the opponent in close quarters fights, and emphasizes the destruction of the opponent’s mobility by means of kanzetsu geri.
SEPAI
Kanji: 十八手 – Katakana: セイパイ (18 Hands): This kata continues to build on multi-direction engagements.
KURURUNFA
Kanji: 久留頓破 – Katakana: クルルンファー (holding on long and striking suddenly)
SEISAN
Kanji: 十三手 – Katakana: セイサン (13 Hands): This kata contains close range fighting techniques such as short-range punches, low kicks, and directional changes to unbalance the opponent. Additionally, it has techniques performed under full tension thru the range of motion, as well as strong fast techniques.
SUPARINPE
Kanji: 壱百零八 – Katakana: スーパーリンペイ (108 Hands): Also known as Pechurin, it is the most advanced Goju Ryu kata.
TENSHO
Kanji: 転掌 – Katakana: テンショウ: Tensho was created in 1921 as “softer sanchin” by Chojun Miyagi to balance Go aspect of Sanchin kata with a Ju variation. Tensho means “revolving hands.” It is a combination of hard dynamic tension with deep breathing and soft flowing hand movements.