The goal of Heian Shodan is to teach the student proper weight distribution in ZKD & KKD, synchronized punching & blocking and the right hip position for blocking vs. punching (hip points straight forward for punching vs. hip points sidewards (Hanmi) for blocking).

The Highlights of this Kata

Gedan Barai – Kentsui Tate Mawashi Uchi – Oi Zuki
Three steps of jodan age uke
Step in angel from one kokutsu dachi to next kokutsu dachi with shuto uke

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This Kata teaches the student a deeper understanding of hip rotation & hip position: Hanmi, Gyaku Hanmi, etc. It also puts more effort on KKD.

Further the student will learn to connect his techniques as a sequence to perform several techniques as one action/combination.

Highlights of this kata:

#1 and #4 moves are the first morote (both arms) waza

Yoko Geri & Uraken synchronized execution, both techniques to their target areas

Hip position Gyaku Hanmi

From uchi ude uke (gyaku hanmi) to a front kick combination

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In this Kata the student will learn and practice KIBD, double (simultaneously) blocking. A turn over one’s back teaches a new way, option and direction one can move. The Fumikomi technique will teach proper hip use in a foot technique that is used as a block.

Highlights of this Kata

Double blocking (Kosa Uke & Moroto Uke)
Enpi uke (elbow block)

Hidari Kentsui Chudan Yoko Mawashi Uchi (Twisting through your backside after Nukite)

Stomping kick (Fumikomi) combined with blocking and attacking (Mawashi Uchi & Uraken)

Tai Sabaki – Yori Ashi (sliding)

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Heian 4 emphasizes muscle tension & relaxation and trains balance with its challenging kick sequences (Yoko Geri).

Highlights of this Kata:

Yoko Geri & Empi

Kosa Dachi

Uchi Kaki Wake
Hiza geri (knee kick)

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Same as the Kihon program challenges, the student now with body shifting from ZKD to KKD, also does Heian 5. Further, this Kata has a jump and teaches the student 3 different levels of the hip position: low (Kosa Dachi), standing (Renoji Dachi) and jumping.

Highlights of this Kata:

Mikazuki Geri (have the hand stable and kick into the hand rather than moving the hand down to the food)
Jodan Ura Zuki

The Jump

Shifting from KKD into ZKD

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Obviously, all 3 of the Tekki Kata emphasize KIBD and all 3 teach with raising difficulty level close combat techniques with quick tension/relaxation and quick block/counter attacks. The Tekki Kata also teach you how to control your body center (tanden).

Highlights of Tekki 1

Nami Gaeshi

Sokumen Uke

Fumikomi
Morote Zuki

Highlights of Tekki 2
Hold breaking technique

Soette Sokumen Uke

Soette Mae Enpi

Highlights of Tekki 3

Sokumen Tetsui Otoshi Uchi

Characteristic of these Kata:

Kiba Dachi, close distance fighting techniques (self defense)

Solid and stable stance with flexible upper body movements and techniques
Body shifting technique from kiba dachi to kosa dachi then back to kiba dachi

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This very old Kata can teach us agility, strength and the change from fast to slow techniques. It also has a variety of blocks and hip rotations. Bassai Dai (as well as Jitte) also teach a certain power that I want to describe as „Breaking Power“.

Highlights of this Kata

Hanmi & Gyaku Hanmi Hip Position

Morote Age Uke

Morote Tetsui Uchi

Haishu Uke

Yama Zuki

Kake Uke (against mae geri)

Characteristic of this Kata:

Series of right / left defenses executed quickly; teaches powerful techniques and mental commitment to perform solid and strong

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This Kata teaches a certain calmness and settledness in its techniques. It’s important to get a good feeling for the blocks and stay well connected to the ground while blocking. It will challenge you in balance and with its Bunkai against a Bo.

Highlights of this Kata

Morote Teisho Barai

Sokumen Awase Uke

Bo Tori
Haimen Kaki wake Uke

Morote Ura Zuki

Sokutei Uke

Mawashi Uke/Neko ashi Dachi

Characteristic of this Kata:

This kata teaches you balance and how to control your body center (core) through the 3 block techniques (Morote Teisho Barai)

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This Kata teaches us fast and slow techniques and rhythm, body flexibility/extension, rotation, jumping and dodging to the ground.

It also repeats nicely almost all techniques of the Heian Katas and is therefore not only a good Kata for black belt preparation, but due to its length, its also a great Kata to condition yourself.

Highlights of this Kata

Jodan Shuto Uchi

Urazuki Hiza Gamae

Ryote Fuse

Tobi Nidan Geri

Characteristic of this Kata:

Repetition of many rather simple Kihon and Heian techniques

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This Kata teaches us fast and slow techniques and rhythm, body flexibility/extension, rotation, jumping and dodging to the ground. Many offensive and defensive techniques.

Highlights of this Kata

Yoko Uchi Uke

Morote Yoko Tsuki

Bo Uke

Bo Osae

Two jumps

Characteristic of this Kata:

This Kata is similar to Kanku Dai, but with techniques more demanding in execution & timing

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Jion is a Kata that requires power and good conditioning.

The 3 block techniques teach how to lock and tighten the side of your rib cage and chest. The Kata has many techniques that exercise hip rotation and shifting directions. It has calm movements, yet strong and explosive with fast and slow tempo changes.

Highlights of this Kata

Morote Kaki Wake

Morote Uke

Juji Uke

Morote Uchi Kaki Wake

Nagashi Uke

Otoshi Uke

Yoko Tsuki

Characteristic of this Kata:

Simultaneous execution of double techniques

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This is a light and quick Kata. It teaches hip smoothness through Shomen, Hanmi and Gyaku Hanmi hip position. It further emphasizes an “up and down” of the hip that suggests the flight pattern of a swallow. This is what gives this Kata its name.

Highlights of this Kata

Kagi Tsuki

Jodan Age Uchi/Tsukami

Haito Uke

Teisho Uke

Characteristic of this Kata:

Quick change of hip level combined with the different speed/rhythm of the Kata (the flight patter of the swallow)

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I would consider this Kata special and unique within the Shotokan system. It emphasizes breathing and tension (and relaxation) like no other kata and is challenging with its Hangetsu Dachi stance. The footwork teaches how to get into the opponent and destroy his balance (by protecting your groin area at the same time).

Highlights of this Kata:

Ippon Ken

Shuto Yama Gamae

Morote Shuto Barai

Teisho Awase Uke

Characteristic of this Kata:

Exercise of muscle relaxation & contraction; development of muscles; breathing

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This Kata mainly teaches us balance.  It has many quick moves and changes of directions, but still  the enbusen is only one straight line

Highlights of this Kata:

Sokumen Awase Uke

Kaishu Morote Osae Uke

Shuto Kaki Wake

Haito Uchi Kaki Wake

Empi Uke

Pivoting
Tsuru ashi Dachi

Characteristic of this Kata:

Execution of double techniques; balance training

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The name “strength of 10 men” gives it away already. This is a powerful Kata and one must show good use of power.  As in Heian Sandan, but also Bassai Sho, this Kata challenges the practitioner with the concentration and locking of the hips during the 3 kicking blocks (Jodan Yoko Uchi Barai). Jitte (as well as Bassai Dai) also teach a certain power that I want to discribe as „Breaking Power“.

Highlights of this Kata

Tekubi Kake Uke

Haito Uchi

Bo Uke/Tsukami tori

Uke Kae

Bo Hiki

Jodan Yoko Uchi Barai
Sagi ashi Dachi

Characteristic of this Kata:

Block techniques against Bo attacks

This Kata has not a single punch

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This Kata has its origin in China and therefore we find many circular movements in it. Its challenging to master developing and transferring power from Tate Shuto Uke to Tate Tsuki; learning to use the back leg to create power and shift from Sochin Dachi (or Fudo Dachi) into ZKD

The open finger attacks/counters make this a good kata for self-defense or people who lack power. This Kata also has many changes of directions but also in its tempo.

Highlights of this Kata:

Tetsui Uchi

Naka Daka Ippon Ken

Uchi Uke Nihon Nukite

Morote Tsuki

Characteristic of this Kata:

Circular movements, due to the eye attacks with Nihon Nukite; it is also known as a self defense kata mainly for women

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Not too much is known about this kata and it seems that it is not taught a lot in the Shotokan style.  It originated in the Shorin Ryu style and shows similarities with Jion and Jitte.  It is said that Funakoshi did not teach this kata very much.

Highlights of this Kata:

Kosa Uke

Ren Zuki

Morote Gedan Uke

Characteristic of this Kata:

Simultaneously executed double blocking and several changes in direction

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Its special hip rotation and pivoting of the feet makes this kata interesting. Its jump is unique as well. This Kata is known in other styles as Rohai.

Highlights of this Kata

Morote Ura Zuki
Mikazuki Geri

Tobi (jump) Jodan Empi

Characteristic of this Kata:

Many close combat techniques with quick moves

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Wankan is one of the shortest Katas in the Shotokan style and with its rather uncommon steps and moves it is harder to learn than it seems. It is difficult to stay balanced during the Neko Ashi Dachi turns and also difficult not to tense up during the Mae Geri Oi Zukis.

Highlights of this Kata:

Kakiwake Uke

Hasami Uke

Koko Hiza Kuzushi

Neko Ashi Dachi

Mae Geri Oi Zuki

Yama Zuki in Sochin (Fudo) Dachi

Characteristic of this Kata:

Attack to the knee joints with Koko Hiza Kuzushi; wrist attack with Hasami Uke

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The difficulty to master in this Kata is the fluency of the movements.  It has to be smooth and fluent and every technique has to flow unbroken into the next. However, its important to execute every technique to its end and Kime point. Its a challenge to perform the Kata fluently with Kime without rushing.  Its recommended to practice Nijushiho and Sochin together to learn the fluency of Nijushiho and the rootedness of Sochin. I personally like the many changes of directions.

Highlights of this Kata

Nagashi Osae Uke

Jodan Tate Empi Uchi
Jodan/Chudan Morote Uchi
Yoko kekomi from Kiba Dachi

Ryosho Sukuy Uke??? (I do not know which technique you are referring to)

Mawashi Tekubi Kake Uke

Characteristic of this Kata:

Tempo, rhythm, contraction & relaxation

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The rooted strong stance (Sochin Dachi) is characteristic of this Kata and needs to be mastered.  The rather slow pace of this Kata, with its strong and big moves, combined with quick, explosive release into the next technique gives it a certain awesomeness and power.  Many of the techniques are brought gradually from total relaxation to full tension and maximum Kime. Although it may first look like an easy Kata, strong leg power and ground connection is absolutely necessary.  It has to be combined with full relaxation and tension within the shortest time possible. This makes the Kata very difficult and should be the choice of more advanced black belts (Sandan and up).  Its recommended to practice Nijushiho and Sochin together to learn the fluency of Nijushiho and the rootedness of Sochin. To learn proper Sochin Dachi and to master it one has to understand very well the outside tension of this stance.

Highlights of this Kata:

Sochin Dachi

Yoko Geri Keage

Ura Nukite
Jowan Nagashi Uke/Tate Uraken Uchi

Characteristic of this Kata:

Good ground connection through deep Sochin Dachi; strong, big techniques with explosive release after a slow muscle build up and tension.

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This Kata requires varied smooth and flowing techniques and is challenging because of the balance in Neko Ashi Dachi.  A high technical set of skills is necessary to show all techniques required in this Kata.  Good ground connection after the Mae Geri kicks is a difficultly and needs special attention. The pivoting into Kiba Dachi has to be fast and powerful without loss of balance.  Since a lot of the Kata is in Neko Ashi Dachi you will get a nice left leg workout. Challenging as well are the changes of directions.

Highlights of this Kata

Morote Tate Tsuki

Morote Sukui Uke

Keito Uke Ippon Nukite

Ippon Nukite

Washide Uchi

Morote Uchi

Morote Shuto Kaki Wake

Morote Keito Uke Ippon Nukite

Morote Ippon Nukite

Characteristic of this Kata:

Your left leg will hurt 🙂

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As its sister Kata, Gojushiho Dai, this Kata should be performed by an experienced Karateka.  Smoothness, quick release of tension and relaxation are key.  This Kata will give you a nice right leg workout in Kokutsu Dachi. Challenging as well are the changes of directions.

Highlights of this Kata:

Shuto Nagashi Uke
Ippon Nukite

Tekubi Kaeshi

Awase Tsukamite

Morote Keito Uke

Characteristic of this Kata:

Your right leg will hurt 🙂

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This is a very quick Kata.  It challenges the practitioner with its rhythm, change of directions, fast and slow techniques, jumps, kicks, sliding and feints.  This Kata requires many skills and therefore is one of the most challenging Katas in the Shotokan system.

Highlights of this Kata:

Morote Teisho Uke

Morote Tate Shuto

Haito Uchi

Uke Tsuki

Teisho Hasami Uke
Mawashi geri from the ground
Jump and Ushiro Geri in the air

Characteristic of this Kata:

Quick moves and change of directions and rhythm; very challenging kata that requires a certain agility and athleticism.