Unsu - Shotokan Karate

[terrorrname]

240p, we meet again

[blackbird335]

lame

[pbzkfdt11]

is this the most difficult kata in shotokan?

[NATOFOXX]

@pbzkfdt11 No, but its up there. Most of its difficulty comes from the lack of many repeating moves and of course the jumping kicks.

[NATOFOXX]

@NATOFOXX Well, not saying it doesn't have some really difficult moves haha.

[BarWald29]

The most amazing kata. I love your beautiful movements...

[BoltonShotokanKarate]

These are related katas Jiin and jion.

[MrBaldy79]

my bro was supperb at ji hon not as good as kanizawa though

[leonardomalheiros556]

@caseyguitarist karate creation has nothing to do with judo or jujitsu. judo is an adaptation from jujitsu, but karate was created in okinawa for self defense, and the samurais didn't use karate. they used jujitsu.

[caseyguitarist]

@leonardomalheiros556 dude i know they didn't, i was refering to that time, i'm into all the japanese stuff and its easy to stereotype it by saying "samurai". After all every one knows what they were. Anyway i had a kind of limited knowledge of the forming of karate when i posted that but i learnt, i also forgot that i had posted that comment.

[killzone527]

it it still a 3rd dan kaka i have not traned in a long time i would like to get bk in to it i think it a good way to keep fit and good for kids so plz join ur karate clubs and learn new skills and meat nice people

[TheMinecraftrulz]

this is different to

the one i am learning

i have trouble

seeingg equal kata in this

[aRaShyIE]

Can anyone tell me why does it looks like nekoshidachi. sorry idk how spell. i tot this was supposed to be shotokan and why is there a shito ryu stance?

PS* im new in shotokan so i dun relali noe

[caseyguitarist]

@aRaShyIE shotokwan was the original (i think) and many forms have come from the style

[aman1234567890star]

he does a lot of body shakes!!!!!!

[brunobonatcardoso]

1:15 is just amazing. I'll never be able to do that lol

[EmeraldDuchesss]

I have a comment and a question: First, let me just say that I have a black belt in Shotokan Karate and when I was young, I watched my Sensei do this Kata quite often and I just couldn't wait until the day he taught it to me. :) It's still my favorite. :) Second, there are no Shotokan Dojos around the new city I live in. There are lots of Taekwondo, Isgoshin Do,Jui Jitzu, Okinawan Kenpo, and Tang Soo Do Schools around here. Which one would be most reminiscent of the Shotokan style? Thanks! :)

[jimrovisson]

People like him inspire me to work even harder on Karate. I wanna do Kata like him someday.

[EhabHamdy1000]

this is a good kata but the performance was not very good I guess

[TheEddge02]

Perfect Execution of UNSU :-)

[buzzardneckseahag]

Unsu is very difficult to learn, it is not an easy form

[hoangthanhthai]

michel millon can do better!

[doktormozg]

@hoangthanhthai could do

[luiskumite680]

ótimo kata se dependesse do meu sensei de sp eu nunca aprenderia o unsu agora que estou aperfeicoando sou faixa verde irei ensinar pro meu sensei faixa preta arigato gozahima oss!

[nandofrm]

kata com a execução mais linda que existe poucos conseguem executá-lo com tanta perfeição!

[xoxoxowhatsxoxoxo]

I'm using this kata for final in tournament.. sometimes I make a mistake.. T___T

[joeylord12]

Akemi

[microbot23]

shotokan karate is a life school not a fighting sport!

[RozzoFX]

@microbot23 "fighting sport" and yes it is, it IS a "Martial Art"

[timothydalton90]

hahahahahahahahahahaha 0:49 hahahahahahhaahaha



[rachy2392]

Awesome Kata! I learned this when i was going for my black belt :)

[CentredOne]

It's a shame I will never learn this kata

[2bjjones]

I see. The kata are very hard to memorize let alone practice.

[Keim4ever]

Very magestic kata, I have been learning some new katas lately like Unsu, Chinte, Sochin, and Nijushiho and its great!

[2bjjones]

But couldn't someone who has the forms either in book format or gets them from youtube be as formidable, maybe not as formidable as a master per say but an experienced student. I mean because there's plenty of bunkai on youtube also from the forms, and my main purpose of studying martial arts is for the bunkai.

[johnbsan]

@2bjjones You can of course learn the moves from YouTube. But you cannot gain more than that without an experienced instructor. I have met many instructors in my time and trained with many of the great instructors including Kanazawa Sensei. They have insights into the moves, the breathing, the application and can give you feedback on how you are performing the kata. There is a saying in shotokan - one kata, three years, that is it takes three years to master one kata. I agree.

[2bjjones]

this may sound dumb to ask, but i feel it's necessary to some degree. I studied Ninjutsu for four years and learned a lot from it. Im now studying karate on my own and i've been wondering something. In this day and age of youtube you would think that spending a lot of time practicing one kata until getting your next belt would be overrated. I know because I took Taekwondo for 3 years. Hold on im running out of characters.

[Ballowall]

This guy must practice everyday to get all these as down as he has them. In five years I have exactly two kata down kinda sorta good.

[alexrj2]

How many katas in shotokan? Are they the same in all karate style?

[deosullivan3]

@alexrj2 A lot. Going into my blackbelt test later this year, I have 14 to perform. My sensei knows many more, but he admits that he does not know all of them (he's a 5th Dan). Of course, Funakoshi O Sensei only practiced a handful--one only need to know a few to have enough to perfect for a lifetime--and many were developed after his death.

[pasglop974]

26 katas in shotokan.

they are not the same in all karate style.

[alexrj2]

well done. for which grade?

[pasglop974]

in France, Unsu is for 4th.

[pasglop974]

@alexrj2 in France for 4th dan.

[alexrj2]

@pasglop974

thanks. so to pass from 3rd to 4th you have to do only the 4th...

[pasglop974]

@alexrj2 to pass from 3rd to 4th, in France there is 5 katas: Nijushi Ho, Sochin, Jiin, Unsu and Tekki Sandan. You have to do 2: 1 you choose, the other at random; and many other things, like kihon, kumite and bunkai.

[alexrj2]

@pasglop974 complicated.it's jka? karate do traditional? thanks.

[pasglop974]

@alexrj2 it is not JKA, not a lot in France, it is WKF. do traditional, it is even more complicated for 1st, 2nd and 3rd becaure you have : 1- kihon 2-ippon kumite 3- katas 4- bunkai 5- jiyu ippon kumlté 6- ju kumite but of course the level is lower than for 4th! how is it in your country?

[shotojojo1986]

Im going to be testing under him in July. Im nervous as hell. I got to train HARD.

[Fowtowsjop]

We had a replacement Sensei once for 1 lesson, he taught us Unsu, it's so hard O.o

[nakotohs97]

I personally think Unsu is the most advanced kata, i just cant seem to get the jist of it weather or not its just me

[NoKnockaKnee]

@nakotohs97 I dunno...Kanku sho is right up there with it.

[torro454]

@NoKnockaKnee Hmm, as I mentioned in another post, some kata just fit some people. Kanku Sho came very naturally to me, and like Nakotohs97 I found Unsu a challange. I like your pen name, NoKnockaKnee. Regards.

[torro454]

@nakotohs97 Unsu-hand in the couds- Is an advanced Kata, usually learned about 3rd dan. It uses many techniques most people have not encountered previously. I'm not sure it is the most difficult, but it isn't an easy kata, especially to do correctly. Plus some kata just fit one person better than another. Keep training, working on it, and with patience, it will click for you. No, it's not just you. Best of luck. Regards

[TheDexta007]

@torro45I was sure Unsu was a 6th dan kata?

[torro454]

@TheDexta007 I think that depends on Organization. I've known Shodans that learned this kata, though it wasn't their first, or second kata. You may be right for this Organization. Usually they do have required kata for specific levels, but that does not mean you can not learn them earlier. I watched one 6th dan test, JKA, that he was "required" to know a kata to test for 7th Dan, but didn't. They gave him another kata, and passed him. So there is some discretion involved as well. Peace

[TheDexta007]

@torro454 Yes all i was saying that i thought was for 6th dan grading im only a 2nd dan and was taught Unsu when i was 1st. That would be very odd of JKA maybe he had to know 1 out of 4 or something stange that 1.

[Thsotus]

@nakotohs97 What about Suparinpei?

[torro454]

Master Kanazawa did not have the physique to make kata look pretty like some do, but he was technique excellent. His sparing was something to behold!

[Insidiousemoboy1]

@torro454 How do you mean? 

[torro454]

@Insidiousemoboy1 I know of several cases where shodan, and nidan were passed before 18, and none had to re-test for any rank. The examiner was one of the JKA Masters sent here from Japan, by Master Nakayama.

[Insidiousemoboy1]

@torro454 No about Kanazawa not having the physique to make kata look pretty. Is he to short or something?

[torro454]

@Insidiousemoboy1 Oh, no not at all. His body looks a little stiff. Some are blessed with a body that moves gracefully, more like a gymnast doing kata. Master Kanazawa's Karate is superb, but isn't as graceful as some. His sparing has been among the best. I was simply trying to point out, this is a Martial Art, not gymnastics, to those who said he isn't very good. Contrary, he is very good. Plus he's a true Gentleman! I have the utmost respect for him! Sorry if I wasn't clear. Regards.

[torro454]

@Insidiousemoboy1 I was going to send a pm but your channel is blocked. So... Master Kanazawa is no spring chicken, if I am as agile has he is at his age, I will consider myself to be truly blessed! I wanted to train under Master Enoeda sensei, unfortunately that never happened. I have been very fortunate to train under some of the true Masters in Shotokan. I hope to someday have a chance to train under Master Kanazawa sensei. I have heard nothing but good things about him! Regards

[torro454]

@Insidiousemoboy1 I'm curious, why did you ask? Is there a problem?

[Insidiousemoboy1]

@torro454 No I was just curious about what you meant about his physique.

[hotlilskaterboi]

actually u are correct at 16 u are able to obtain a junior dan. in very rare cases u can obtain a full dan at 16 but usually u go from junior dan witch u can only obtain by the time you are 16 u are not suppose to be allowed to test for it before that age... Once you are 18 u are able to test for your full dan yes u have to retest lol.... unless the head of the JKA permits you to just obtain it with out a retest.

[torro454]

@hotlilskaterboi Since when were all these restrictions put on age? I've never heard of jr. Dan's before, and I trained for many years. I know several occasions where this wasn't the case, and it was JKA!

[MrGuachipei]

the jump is hard, it's like if you were kicking the head with the non kicking knee on uke's chest

[Jammerjoint]

Beautiful kata. This is turning out to be a rather difficult one to master.

[xoni1996]

i am learning it now and it's not easy it's very hard

[rachy2392]

I just learned this kata to do for my black belt grading in September! :D

[YamaPiTV]

this and jion are my favourite katas

[sharpshootermaster]

This is a great kata to learn but it takes years to do well. The hardest part I find is the hand movements after the jump.

[TheSRaptor]

great

[mbandcf92]

This practitioner is great, and I appreciate the series of videos posted of him by shotokankataman. Could you please post the practitioner's name and when they were filmed?

[Ariel1Dominguez]

@mbandcf92 : Shihan Hirokazu Kanazawa 10º Dan.

[whyallagirl09]

yours your hips a bit more at the staart to make it look more effective!

[blugublu]

A lot of people don't even know what karate is even if they think they've been practicing for a few years.

People who talk bad about Kanazawa just show how bad they know karate and martial arts in general.

[whatdidyouexpecthuh]

what dan is this?

[GvowelS]

Erm one of my senseis did this as a demonstration when he went for his 3rd dan, not sure if that helps?

[Zipidy2k6]

@whatdidyouexpecthuh

Depending on your assosiation (spelling) its usually around 2nd going for 3rd or 3rd going for 4th dan :)

[MrGuachipei]

@Zipidy2k6 true in mine it's from 2nd to 3rd

[Fireforce13]

show me some ken shi ho ans wansu

[Battoubro]

Such disrespectful words toward such a great aspect of Karate-do.

[MMAninjaboy]

man, i cant get the jumping part right Dx

[hotlilskaterboi]

oooooooooooo wow i have been doing Shotokan for along long time. and what i see in here is people who have not learned the meaning of martial arts. it is about disipline and hard work. IT HOWEVER IS NOT ABOUT TALKING BAD ABOUT EACH OTHER. IF I COME INTO TIS ROOM AGAIN AND SEE THESE COMMENTS CONTINUEING I WILL CONTACT THE DOJOS YOU TRAIN AND SPEAK TO YOUR INSTRUCTORS PERSONALLY. YOU ALL have been trained better than and i hope that you realize that martial arts is a privalidge not a rite

[gojuryukarateka]

@hotlilskaterboi say what? this guy's kata sucks and if i want to say so i will. unsu, when done properly, is one of shotokan's best kata ... but this performance is horrendous ... its just the truth ... get over it!

[deosullivan3]

@gojuryukarateka You will one day regret your foolish pride and boastfulness.

[droegegast]

@hotlilskaterboi you're right .it's a way of living !

[gggggggggg189]

@hotlilskaterboi for me martial arts is a way of life...

[WVK23]

This is my favourite kata. Although I cant master the jump well.

[tommylehman]

Kata: waste of time, energy.

[kontry89]

hahaha u are such a big loser

[Teracti]

Waste of time , energy , FUCK YOURSELF , ive been Doing shotokan karate for 9 years , Kata isnt a waste f time and energy , it takes real concentration to get it right , fuck you. Dont complain about something you barley know anything about. Also , katas like , Empi & Kunkudai , NOT A WASTE OF TIME.

[tommylehman]

Bahahahahaha!

[souleater1994122]

If you think so, then you are wasting your time in learning martial arts

[muhammedbalta]

zurna lol ...

[PenguinsNPuppies]

lol im only a purple belt and i kno up to empi....and im in the best dojo in virginia

[acerwk]

Crap!

[AdnanCucak]

Acerwk got beat up by a shotokan karate purple belt, the lil greek gayboy has been upset ever since ! he dosnt know how to fight.....

[mdrov]

that kind of words only show how silly and ignorant you are, I don't know if you practice martial arts or not, but if you can't assimilate a defeat and start insulting because of that, thta only shows what i said before

[acerwk]

shotokan is crap period

[PenguinsNPuppies]

probaly not 10th bcuz okasaki has 10th

[erbia907]

its okazaki

[xhaptic]

what dan does he have ?

[pillsburydoughboy47]

10th I believe.

[Shopaholic4395]

For which grade is this kata required??

[VOIDINGMYBOWELS]

Its a black belt kata, but you dont really need to know it when your a first dan for it is not required for your second Dan grading, Nijushiho is the main kata for this grading (well it is in the UK anyway). But in saying that you can learn this kata anytime when you get your black belt.

[brawlerZ09]

YOUR AN IDIOT ITS WHITE BELT

[VOIDINGMYBOWELS]

No mate YOUR an idiot, and it shows how much you know about Karate (which is fuck all). The white belt kata is called Kihon Kata I suggest you look that up and see how much more complex this kata is compared to that!

[NishidoKa]

I think he may have been joking, lol.

[VOIDINGMYBOWELS]

Fair do's ;-0

[sharpshootermaster]

In my club, we get to choose 2 kata that are black belt and above to preform for 2nd dan. Whether that be Unsu or Nijushiho.

I'm just curious, which assosiation are you with?

[VOIDINGMYBOWELS]

Im with the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) how bout yourself?

[sharpshootermaster]

The USK UNION OF SHOTOKAN KARATE DO.

[jspiteri15]

na im in the wkk(wales karate kan) n i think in britian you got an age restriction

[ashtinio]

I find his kata's a little sloppy. lots of uneeded exra movements, not a very clean karateka.

[mariozack500]

qui pior kata sem explosão fraco isso nao é um kata

[AlphMarco]

what is the dachi at the beggining?

[Fudoshin85]

I can see the applications for most of the moves, but what about that jump? It's cool to watch, but what's the pourpose?

[silentbutkrazy]

The do that same jump in Kanku Sho. And I have no idea what it's for. Usually the open palm getting kicked is representing holding a limb/head. Perhaps it's a combination of dodging a move and kicking something jodan...

[ithacakarate]

the jump could be a interpretation of a throw or something like that too.

[jesanovic]

it is a throw of a much bigger opponent, who is running towards you, by using his force against him

[TranquilDome]

My favourite kata, besides possibly Hangetsu.

XTKC: I think Unsu is so good because you can easily see the application of the kata, and it has a nice blend of fast and agile techniques, along with slow and focused ones, that's why i like it.

[XTKC]

im new at karate, and cant really tell whether his techniques are good/bad.. but i do know that he is very much in control of what he is doing, has good breathing techniques and appear v relaxed.

anyhow, could someone tell me why unsu is a good kata in general? we got this kid in our dojo who is like the german and british champion, and his specialty is unsu. like i said, im new, dont really get the essence of karate..

thanks :D

[tophearthgrl]

yeya!! shotokan!!!

[mavin174]

I'm a student of all shotokan , kyokushin , shito-ryu ways... That's GRATE!!! ^^

Kihon = Shito

kata = Shotokan

Kumite = Kyokushin

And it's the real karate-do ! (^_^)"

[mavin174]

I'm a student of all shotokan , kyokushin , shito-ryu ways... That's GRATE!!! ^^

Kihon = Shito

kata = Shotokan

Kumite = Kyokushin

And it's the real karate-do ! (^_^)"

[addeex1]

Wado ryu then? The biggest in the world;)^^

[mavin174]

I'm a student of all shotokan , kyokushin , shito-ryu ways... That's GRATE!!! ^^

Kihon = Shito

kata = Shotokan

Kumite = Kyokushin

And it's the real karate-do ! (^_^)"

[xKarateGirlx]

Ahhh funtimes! This is the one im doing for a competion in october just after my 2nd dan grading!

[Danielisew333]

lol i remember this kata..its the funniest one where you just fall on the floor and kick XD

[rbirrell]

used to do shotokan 20 years ago, i achieved my second brown, then got distracted! this kata is familiar to me, but i cant remember which belt its for . anyone know?

[charger089]

It's a black belt kata. I think you could do it at 3th or 4th dan exam, in JKS, but I'm not sure.

[rbirrell]

thanks, though im not sure if its for 3rd or 4th dan. i remember practicing some of it.

whats jks?

[charger089]

But I think you have a "great" choice of kata that you could do for 3rd or 4th dan.

JKS mean Japan Karate Shotorenmei. It's the old JKA Asai faction, who change their name for JKS. Now, it's Kagawa sensei who's the chief director. This is an another shotokan organization, like Kanazawa sensei who's kancho of SKI (Shotokan Karate International).

[charger089]

Instructor, not director. (Sorry for my mistake)

[rbirrell]

you are also a martial artist? still practicing?

[empowered2win]

isnt Masao Kagawa the Technical Director/Chief Instructor ? so you were close on both :D

[charger089]

In reality, Kagawa sensei is the world technical director. Chief instructor is always Asai sensei (they keep this title for him). :)

[empowered2win]

yea, i think alot of organisations tend to keep the top instructor description unique for them...World Technical Director sounds just as good 8D

[BrokenProtector]

I actually learned Unsu by watching this a few times. Kanazawa is an awesome teacher.

[metalmanmatt]

i cant find teki nidan(sorry for mispelling)

[mooseven]

There are people out there who can do better-looking kata than Kanazawa, but c'mon, it's KANAZAWA! The guy has kicked ass, won tournaments, taught karate around the world, and remained a well-liked and ego-free individual. Kanazawa don't give a damn about WKF style fancy-pants kata, he's a karate man not a ballerina.

[rtyush]

@mooseven WKF is a dumbed down load of rubbish, they can't fight, they just prance around like a tit.

[takis1984]

You know that's the point!!

I doubt if any of us could stand the training of a sensei like Kanazawa or Yahara etc!

[philippides]

Everyone makes mistakes, joes.

I'd love to study under Sensei Kansazawa...

[ROffan]

OMG! If ure SO good that u can critisize sensei Kansazawa then u must be really good!

He isnt showing us that HE can do it!

He is showing us that WE can do it!

If he wanted to..he could probally do it much better!

[joespiteri]

sorry people i commented on the wrong video

[joespiteri]

this guy is crap he has no power ive been doin shotokan karate for 11 years and im only 15 i know that the kata he is doin Unsu aint very good for a black belt he would never win any competion with a kata like that.

[suetonius01]

if you have been doing shotokan for 11 years you should know who kanazawa is unless you are a low grade black belt. kanazawa he has won more then you ever will faggot

[jspiteri15]

if you read later i said it was for the rong cooment and im only 15 cant get my 2nd dan til im 16

[OblivionRps]

You sure? Cause I'm pretty sure it's 18. Because once you're 16 you are registered as an official 1st Dan in the database, and then you have to wait 2 years from then to get your 2nd Dan.

[leghead]

r u talkin about the age you can grade? cos i got my 1st dan when i was 11 and 2nd dan when i was nrly 14 theres no set age for those 2 dan grades but u have to wait till ur 21 t grade for ur 3rd dan. 2 more years to go lol. i like unsu bcos its a flashy kata in competitions but my favourites sochin. just cos its a really powerful kata. plus it built my leg strength a hell of a lot bcos of the main dachi through the kata

[Zipidy2k6]

@leghead

Sochin does build leg strength, but GAWD i hate that stance :D

Wow! Thats seems a weird way of grading to me, I was taught you could get 2nd dans before the age of 16 though they are technically junior 2nd dans, then when you turn 16 you revert back to a 1st dan but this is then classed as an adult dan grade. Never heard of the way your doing it but i suppose its 6 and two 3's :)

[leghead]

R u KUGB? cos there isnt an age restriction for ur 2nd dan in kugb wb

[mafrek]

belt tying has nothing to do with skills. the belt is just a sign of how much of the art the student has learned. its as ipponwaza said. there are students with colored belts but suck at what they should be able to do.

[lukemullane]

a belt is a belt, it means nothing, perfect technique on every move and people are talking about his belt??

[ipponwaza]

"a black belt, yet he cannot tie his belt" - ??? That is simply the most ridiculous comment I have ever read on the internet. Kanazawa is not a "black belt" but the living incarnation of the perfect karateka! Unsu is a very beautiful kata. Osu

[LUischem]

His belt it's tied up correctly, look closer, what happens its that because of the use, the black part of it comes down, and you see only the white "body" of the belt, very common with belts like tokaido, mine has that "problem" because of the use, only that the body of my belt it's black. But like mamapie1 says, focus on something more important than the belt.

[Mamapie1]

so preoccupied with the belt, missing the darn kata folks!

[takis1984]

""""a black belt, yet he cannot tie his belt""""

WORDS ARE CHEAP!!!!

[julianwilliams07]

The belt holds up his trousers...nuff said. Being preoccupied by trivia makes you miss the wood for the trees. What is it with some 'students' who feel they have top denigrate others as a way to deal with their own inadequacies? Open your eyes - and learn something.

[RicLea]

...do you really not realise who that is? 'tard.

[noisyturtle]

yeah, it's Kanazawa, a legendary figure in Shotokan karate. And the fact still remains: In this video, he cannot correctly tie his belt.

[sensiemike]

a black belt, yet he cannot tie his belt.