Gankaku - Shotokan Karate

The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air. The kata are executed as a specified series of approximately 20 to 70 moves, generally with stepping and turning, while attempting to maintain perfect form. There are perhaps 100 kata across the various forms of karate, each with many minor variations. The number of moves in a kata may be referred to in the name of the kata, eg. Gojushiho, which means "54 steps." The number of moves may also have links with Buddhist spirituality. The number 108 is significant in Buddhism, and kata with 54, 36, or 27 moves (divisors of 108) are common. The practitioner is generally counselled to visualize the enemy attacks, and his or her responses, as actually occurring, and karateka are often told to "read" a kata, to explain the imagined events.

In teaching the open handed kata, most styles of Karate start with a series of three, or sometimes two, very simple kata called blocking forms before advancing to five basic kata named Pinan in some systems and Heian in others. By working through this series (in order: Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, Godan (except in Wado Ryu Karate, where Shodan and Nidan are reversed)) the practitioner learns all the basic stances and techniques before moving on to more advanced kata. Traditionally, kata are taught in stages. Previously learned kata are returned to in order to show more advanced techniques or ways of doing things, as beginners do not have the same knowledge and experience that practitioners further up the ranks have. It is not uncommon in some styles for students testing for Shodan (first rank black belt) to have to repeat every kata they have learned from the first belt, but at a "black belt" level, for example, with better technique, power, amongst others. This system is often used for the lower grades as well. The student will perform one new kata and one or two previous ones, to demonstrate how much they have progressed and how quickly they can learn new things.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• karate
• shotokan
• kata
• black
• belt
• gankaku

[MattKarateman]

Kata and karate by its very nature niffer from style to style - exponent to exponent - world body to world body. What matters in the Bunkai - Easy to sit on your bum and be critical - much - much harder to get off your bum and demonstrate this or any kata to a reasonable/ better than good standard!

[doktormozg]

oh my god, i just can't stand these "grandmasters" who point out mistakes in this kata. Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa is one of the men who KNOW how to do the kata. even though i see some things that are not the same in the competitions. that is, if i have any rights at all to say something about someone who is better than me in any way possible

[99mag3r99]

Can't wait to learn this kata, it's perfect for competition, especially the balance parts before he does the side kicks

[deosullivan3]

@armanyoo Thanks for the evaluation. Perhaps you would be so kind as to put up a video of you showing us how to do the kata correctly?

[armanyoo]

this guy is all over the fucking place. sharp technique, but lacks crispness, snap, and timing

[origachima]

10 dislikes... 10 people from another karate styles... -.-

[naumutroi]

the rift between the various Shotokan camps, sport competition lies at the heart of it. Grand Master Funakoshi was not supportive of all of the changes that the organization eventually made to his karate style. Grand Master considered over emphasis of sport competition is contrary to the essence of karate.

[BOMBA4096]

also Italy knows this kata

[Chihiro961]

@J4MOS98 I'm black belt (no Dan xD) and I'm learning it. I'm from Spain

[JRBouncerz2010]

I am a Brown Belt and I know Kihon, all the Heians, all the Tekki's, Bassai Dai, Empi, Jion, Kanku Dai and Gankaku. I can do all these Kata's off by heart and love doing them. I have a competition in April so I am hoping that I can get all of these Kata's perfect. Here in Scotland you do not need to be a Black Belt to enter competitions. Since I was an Orange Belt I have took part in 6 competitions.