YUKAN KAI KARATE DO
2024 Australian Open Karate Championship
GOJU RYU KATA
Japan JKF Tournament
The 49th all Japan JKF
Goju Kai Karate Championship at
Osaka, Japan 2023.
TAIKYOKU JODAN
TAIKYOKU JODAN
TAIKYOKU CHUDAN
TAIKYOKU CHUDAN
TAIKYOKU GEDAN
TAIKYOKU GEDAN
TAIKYOKU KAKE
TAIKYOKU KAKE
TAIKYKOKU MAWASHI
TAIKYOKU MAWASHI
Sanchin
SANCHIN
(三戦) “The Three Battles”.
San, 三" which means three
and "Chin, 戦" which means battle.
The kata is also known under the
translation "meditation in movement".
Sanchin is one of the most powerful
Karate Katas, it represents the strenuous
unification of mind, spirit, and body.
The basic elements that we gain
by exercising the Sanchin kata are
a correct and firm posture, correct
movements by maintaining excellent
balance, a good contraction and
release as well as a perfect
synchronisation of the musculature, an
excellent breathing control and a special
exercise for mental concentration.
Ho Goju Donto. The way of inhaling
and exhaling is hardness and softness.
Sanchin is the foundation for all other
Goju-Ryu kata, and is generally
considered to be the most
important kata to master.
Sanchin the core Kata of Goju Ryu Karate.
The answer lies within Sanchin Kata.
Start and end with Sanchin.
Tensho
TENSHO
“転掌” it means “rotating palms”,
“turning palms“, or "revolving hands".
This kata emphasizes the soft aspects
of “Naha-te” system encompasses
continuous, flowing movements. Tensho,
along with its harder counterpart Sanchin,
was created in 1921 as “Softer Sanchin”
by Master Chojun Miyagi from earlier
Chinese forms. Tensho may be a variant
of the Southern Chinese Kung Fu form
Rokkishu. It combines hard dynamic
tension with deep breathing and
soft flowing hand movements.
Like sanchin, tensho is a form of moving
meditation; tensho combines hard dynamic
tension with soft flowing hand movements,
and concentrates strength in the tanden.
Tensho can be considered the ju (soft)
counterpart of the sanchin's go (hard)
style. Tensho is a kata originating from
Goju Ryu karate. This kata emphasizes
the soft aspects of Goju Ryu, and
encompasses continuous,
flowing movements.
GEKISAI DAI ICHI
GEKISAI DAI-ICHI
Gekisai Dai Ichi (撃砕) The Gekisai
kata are taught as the first kata in
the Goju Ryu Karate syllabus.
The meaning of Gekisai Dai Ichi is
“Attack & Destroy One."
The characters that form
the name of the kata are:
撃 – Geki – meaning “to attack”
砕 – Sai – meaning “to smash,
break, crush”
Together the two characters
translate as “to pulverise”,
but the most commonly used
translation is “to attack and destroy”.
It is a power Kata designed
to help you to create power,
speed for your punches, kicks,
blocks and movements.
GEKISAI DAI NI
GEKISAI DAI-NI
(撃砕第二) “Attack & Destroy Two”.
This kata is basically the same as
Gekisai Dai-Ichi but it introduces
open hand techniques (Kake Uke),
circular block (Mawashi Uke) and
cat stance (Neko Ashi Dachi).
Which is a common feature of higher
level Kata. Were strongly influenced
by the Shuri-te techniques that Miyagi
Sensei learned from Anko Itosu.
The main difference between dai ichi
and dai ni is that dai ni introduces
open handed techniques Kake-uke
(hooking block) and new stances.
It is in gekesai dai ni that students are
introduced to the Neko ashi dachi (Cat)
stance, and to the round wheel block
(mawashi uke).
SAIFA
SAIFA
Saifa (砕破) “Smash and Tear."
Its characteristics of heavy back fist
and circular swinging movements
give meaning to its name.
It is a short Kata, but one with
numerous sequences that require
precise timing to execute correctly.
Saifa kata introduces tai sabaki
(body evasion) and open handed
palm-heel blocks and strikes (haito uchi).
It mixes swift, light stances (neko ashi
dachi & sagi ashi dachi) with solid,
grounding stances (shiko dachi).
Saifa contains a vast number of
techniques like hammer fist strike
(tettsui uchi), back fist (ura uchi),
morote tsuki (double fist punch),
ashi barai (foot sweep), haito uchi
(ridge hand strike).
SEIUNCHIN
SEIUNCHIN
(制引戦)
"To grab, pull in battle."
Sei: Means "grab"
Un: Means "pull"
Chin: Means "battle"
Along with its signature low Shiko dachi
stances and features a lot of (Hazushi
Waza (escaping techniques) with most
attacks being from wrist grabs or behind.
Seiunchin contains pulling and gripping
techniques, throws, hidden techniques and
requires a strong upper and lower body,
good breath control and lots of stamina.
There are NO kicks in this kata!!
This kata is most performed at tournaments
throughout the world. The techniques are
well suited for practical, close-in fighting.
Seiunchin kata demonstrates the use of
techniques to unbalance, throw and
grapple, contains close-quartered striking,
sweeps, take-downs and throws.
Though the kata itself is devoid of kicks,
many practitioners make the grave
mistake by missing the opportunity
to apply any leg technique, not
discovering a "hidden bunkai" in it.
Though almost invisible to the untrained
eye, the subtleness of ashi barai and
suri ashi can represent foot sweeps,
parries and traps.
The centrepiece of seiunchin kata
is a stance taken directly from
the White Crane style.
SANSERU
SANSERU
(三十六手) “36 Hands.”
Sanseru kata starts in the same way
as Sanchin, with three steps and three
solidly grounded punches (tsuki).
It requires lots of explosive and speedy
movements and introduces Kansetsu Geri
(joint kick) to the Goju-ryu Kata system.
It features defences against multiple
attacks. Is an array of close in grabs,
knee locks and joint kicks. The kata
develops strong fast kicks and turns
in the practitioner giving the ability to
move or stand solidly and deliver
powerful techniques. It also focuses on
fighting in all four directions.
Sanseru teaches how to move around
the opponent in close quarters fights,
and emphasize the destruction of the
opponent's mobility by means of
kanzetsu geri. It is easy to see some
of the roots of Suparinpei in this form,
or perhaps conversely the derivative
aspects of this form from Suparinpei.
The techniques in this kata seem basic,
direct and hard, however there are some
unique and advanced, close-in techniques.
Joint and knee locks and kicks, low front
kicks while moving forward and blocking
after turning are techniques that require
lots of practice. Slow movements evolve
into fast, explosive ones.
SHISOCHIN
SHISOCHIN
(四向戦) “To Battle in Four Directions."
"Shi means four and chin is battle,"
“Four Gates" or "Four Directions of Conflict."
Most open-hand strikes in karate kata
come by way of a knife hand (shuto uchi).
Shisochin, however, utilises the spear
hand (yon-hon-nukite) and palm strikes
(teisho uchi). It also endorses the use of
moving in space and getting onto the
outside line of an opponent and attacking
with the forearms and elbows. The focus
when doing this, however, is not so much
to counter strikes with strikes, but to seize
an opponent and render a joint lock or break.
The focus of power in this kata is derived
through side-ways action and a short
decisive hip rotation. It also contains
numerous close grabbing techniques
and close quarter strikes.
SEIPAI
SEIPAI
(十八手) “Eighteen Hands."
Seipai is considered to be a Naha-Te
Kata, with both hard and soft movements,
including grabs arm locks and throws,
circular motions for response to close,
multiple attacks maintaining a low centre
of gravity using leg and core strength.
The majority of the movements and
defences are from grabs and holds,
requiring fast escaping techniques.
Is a very close-range Kata relying
on maintaining a low centre of gravity
using leg and core strength.
A lot of balance and co-ordination
between the hips and body is required
to perform this Kata correctly.
Incorporates both the four directional
movements and 45° angular attacks
and implements techniques for close
quarter combat. With circular, whipping
movements and body evasion (taisabaki),
dropping your body to rise up and push
your opponent off balance and faints are
all found within this kata. Many of the
bunkai techniques focus more on
unbalancing the opponent after
striking them as a distraction.
SEISAN
SEISAN
(十三) “Thirteen hands.”
Seisan is believed to be the oldest of all
Goju-Ryu Kata and the Goju-Ryu version
is longer and much more complex.
The Goju-Ryu (Naha-te) version of the
kata is a more complicated version that
contains close range fighting techniques
such as short-range punches, low kicks,
and directional changes to unbalance the
opponent. It contains techniques performed
under full tension thru the range of motion,
as well as strong fast techniques.
It contains 8 defensive and 5 offensive
techniques, both of which involve a change
in direction. The form stresses close range
fighting using short punching and low
kicking techniques to break through an
opponent's defences. Involving grabbing
and controlling an attacker while striking
a vulnerable part of the body. Seisan is an
extremely important Kata in Goju-ryu
and many hours should be given to
it for practice. It has a wealth of
knowledge and information
contained within it.
Seisan is a great self defence kata
and contains some of the most deadly
techniques of the Goju-Ryu system.
KURURUNFA
KURURUNFA
(久留頓破)
“Holding on and Striking Suddenly”.
Kururunfa’s kanji is made up of
four characters.
* The first – Ku – is translated
‘long’ (or always).
* The second – ru – as ‘hold’ (or still).
* The third – run – as ‘sudden’.
* and its fourth – fa –
is translated as ‘tear’
(or break – similar to the fa in Saifa).
This reinforces the quintessence
of the kata which is of remaining
calm and holding still while
awaiting a committed attack, which,
when it comes, is countered
by rapid evasion and answered
by way of kicks to the knee, kakate
(hooking, grabbing techniques),
palms strikes, arm breaks
and takedowns.
Kururunfa’s senjutsu of tai-sabaki
works equally well at close range
while defending against a grab or
hold. Even when being wrestled,
a competent practitioner of
Kururunfa will be able to use
kakate (grabbing techniques)
combined with a swift shifting
of the body to take control of
an opponent’s centre of gravity.
Combining hard striking attacks
such as the Kansetsu-geri
(joint kick), Mae-geri (front kick)
and close hand punches with
softer open hand circular
techniques for attacking,
blocking, and controlling
the opponent, including joint
locks, grappling and throws.
SUPARINPEI
SUPARINPEI
(壱百零八) ‘108’.
“One Hundred and Eight Hands”.
Is the highest, most advanced & most
difficult kata in the Goju Ryu system.
Suparinpei is a very long and complex kata.
This kata utilizes many techniques and
contains a great number of applications
from the earlier kata. The concept of sticky
palms (kakae), blocking techniques, breaks,
offensive countermeasures, and even has
two kicks not previously displayed in other
katas. The mae tobi geri (jumping front kick)
and mikazuki geri (crescent kick).
108 Steps of the White Crane.
The white crane, a defensive style,
is considered the counter to the
tiger style. The white crane style
relies on speed, evasion and accuracy
in techniques delivered to vital points.
Suparinpei is deceptive in that it
appears simple in execution but when
combined with transitions and changing
tempos, it is a technical kata to perform.
Suparinpei has been a classic choice for
Karate Kata finals in the World Karate
Federation (WKF) and the Olympics.
