Nijushiho - 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
• nijushiho

[andykarate]

The legendary - and brilliant - Sensei Hirokazu Kanazawa.

The way Shotokan Karate SHOULD be done.

[jion080981]

a great sensei. i respect him so much. this year he was in my country and could not go and see him. i hope i meet him oine day. Sensei respect . iam from jka but Kanazawa expresses real karate . truly respectful and honorable man

[Naddig74]

@Insidiousemoboy1 hehe...you want to be careful about that...my instructor failed nidan the first time (about a million years ago) because he didn't say 'nijushiho' clearly enough :P

[TheGogDog]

Fantastic however his stances are not very low

[RozzoFX]

@Andreasrantzau It's not about which belt you are, I know alot of people who are white belt, yet they have 5 years of experience, they just never did exams for their Kyu's. As long as you understand what Karate is about and try hard enough, you're good to go. Even if you're a Yellow belt/9th Kyu (I'm assuming you perform Shotokan)

[Andreasrantzau]

he comes to my country next month and im gonna train with him and im only 9 kyu but my sensei want me to jump over 8. kyu oh i cant wait training with him

[everio17]

@groveavenue Karate is karate. There are no styles,some masters have always taught katas or training methods differently a little but its a the same.

When you say go=ju ryu,shito ryu,etc it doesnt mean a different martial art. Ryu means school.

Its just a different school of thought on karate.

[Insidiousemoboy1]

I can't stand when my sensei says nijushiho. For some reason he always says "nishishiho" D:<

[FinderofNemo]

Hadouken!

[SKIFTIGER]

opps,I mean a great legend and not legent(lol)

[SKIFTIGER]

Osu,Kancho Kanaza is 79 years old now.Truly a great legent.His son Nabuaki Sensei 6th Dan wil carry his good work on.