Wankan - 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
• wankan

[CaRC1n0g3n]

So? We don't respect great martial artists because of rank. We respect them for what they have demonstrated and any advances they may have made, not because they've taken a test and gotten a number. How often do you hear someone marvel over how many notches someone has gotten on their belt?

You're right, belts are a part of what we do, but I guarantee you that any Japanese instructor who has trained mind and body their whole lives will laugh at you or ignore you.

[slashdehell]

aalllll the besttt

[lilkidrocker]

@OxAxS Ah yes, Chotoku Kyan...the same man who encouraged his students to frequent brothels. Brilliant teachings.

Calm your tits bro.

[zfeckman2011]

@deek77 ooh rite well im in the JKS not the JKA maybe thats it

[deek77]

@zfeckman2011 Yes and no...the Junro kata were created by Tetsuhiko Azai for his branch of Shotokan, JKS. They aren't part of the JKA curriculum

[zfeckman2011]

ummmmm are junro katas shotokan? cas i dont see them here

[BodomChildBreeder]

guy below me is a wankan himself

[OxAxS]

Horrible what they did to Chotoku Kyan's teachings. This is not traditional karate.

[Genuinesaint]

It is a kata for close quarter fighting for all grades. It is the 25th of the 25 shotokan katas.

Originally Chinese in origin.

[Scorpio1186rs]

@musicismylifebaby Gojushiho -Sho I think :D Hope this is correct

[sadverrge]

Correct me if I am wrong:

-Is this the "forgotten kata"?