KATA (Forms)     Taikyoku Shodan                      First Cause (of Self-Defense) Taikyoku Nidan                         Second Cause Taikyoku Sandan                      Third Cause Heian Shodan                            Calm State of Mind 1st Heian Nidan                               Calm State of Mind 2nd Heian Sandan                            Calm State of Mind 3rd Heian Yondan                            Calm State of Mind 4th Heian Godan                             Calm State of Mind 5th Tekki Shodan                             Iron Horse Bassai Dai                                 Penetrate a Fortress Kami Bushi Kai Shodan            Kanku Dai                                  View the Sky Chung Moo                               Kami Bushi Kai Nidan              Wankan                                     Kings Crown   The Basics of Kata Kihon means basics, or fundamentals. If kata is the heart of the karate system, than the kihon is the blood and the foundation of the kata. These katas are designed to build strong basics and prepare students for the more advanced kata series. Taikyoku Shodan Emphasis on basic low block/strike and stepping punch, moving through the center and building a strong low front stance, proper basic breathing and application of kiai. Hip rotation, tight fists and keeping feet flush on the ground. Taikyoku Nidan Emphasis on basic high block/strike in a 45 degree angle and stepping punch being squared off, moving through the center sliding the feet and building a strong low front stance, proper basic breathing and application of kiai. Hip rotation, tight fists, keeping feet flush on the ground, and concentration. Taikyoku Sandan Emphasis on basic outer blocks/strikes in a 45 degree angle and stepping punch with a snap while squared off, moving through the center sliding the feet and building a strong low front stance, proper basic breathing and application of kiai. Hip rotation, tight fists, keeping feet flush on the ground, concentration, and finishing each movement together. Heian Shodan Emphasis on basic combination blocks/strikes in a 45 degree angle and stepping punch with a snap while squared off, moving through the center sliding the feet and building a strong low front stance, back stance, using proper basic breathing and application of kiai. Hip rotation, tight fists, keeping feet flush on the ground, concentration, finishing each movement together, head up, and elbows tucked in and chambered back. Heian Nidan Emphasis on basic combination blocks/strikes in a 45 degree angle, side snap kick, timing of lunging punch after kick, kicks exploding from the center, proper kicking chamber and snap back, control of arms and upper body during kick, building strong and low front stances, proper basic breathing and application of kiai, hip rotation. Heian Sandan       How to Practice Kata When practicing your kata, start with a different kata every time. The best way to do this is to print the names of the kata that you know onto cards and make these cards part of your normal training program. You can also use a pack of playing cards or number some pieces of card 1, 2, 3, 4 etc up to the number of kata you can perform. If you only know the first kata, that is fine, just keep practicing it while you learn another one. Now shuffle the cards placing them face down in your training area and then turn them over one at a time and do the kata that corresponds to the name or number as it appears, e.g. 5 (Heian Godan), 2 (Heian Nidan), 6 (Tekki Shodan) and so on. Another good way to train is to start each of your kata facing in a different direction and every so often during your practice. you should start a kata on a different angle. Both starting your kata facing different directions as well as occasionally starting them on angles is a good mental exercise as well as training you to be able to perform in different settings to what you are normally used to. You should still return to your original starting position irrespective of the direction you are facing or the angle you are on when starting your kata. There are a number of benefits that directly relate to the practice of kata. Some of these benefits are: 1. Self defense lessons 2. Learning and remembering your kata 3. Reinforcing basics 4. Physical fitness 5. Improving your concentration and focus 6. Improving your coordination 7. Relaxation and enjoyment When practicing kata your opponent must be real in your mind. You must block his attacks strongly and you must destroy him with your counter attack. This is the only way to get true self defense value from kata. Rote learning of kata teaches the pattern and the basic movements that are required to perform the kata. Continued repetition refines your techniques. Kata is full of basic techniques. Applying basics in a self defensive situation needs to just happen. The only way it can “just happen” is to teach the subconscious what to do in times of stress. The only way to do that effectively is through repetition of the basic techniques. To build cardio vascular fitness you only need to practice your kata. Practice kata, three hard with full speed and power and then one soft to catch your breath and relax. By performing the kata softly I mean performing the kata with little or no power but still performing the kata technically correct. Concentration and focus is improved by your having to remember and correctly perform the kata. Only practice can achieve this. Your coordination is improved by your brain having to continually make you use both sides of your body to perform intricate movements which become more and more complex with each kata we learn. You should enjoy performing kata. Do not see the performance of a kata as a task so much, but rather an opportunity to immerse yourself in the deeper meaning of the kata from a meditation perspective. You become the kata and the kata becomes you in your performance. You will get to a point in your pursuit of Karate-Do where you move beyond the physical in the performance of your kata. Seeing the beauty within the kata is a personal progression where mind and body become truly one, and the performance of the kata is art in itself.