Kata

Kata is the key to Shotokan Karate. Everything that you do in Karate comes from your Kata. This is why in our gradings, Kata are worth over 50% of the final exam mark.

Shotokan Kata

We focus on the 10 kata below as we move through grading from white to black belt, although there are in fact 26 different Shotokan Kata.

Heian Shodan - Peaceful Mind - Level 1

Heian Yondan - Peaceful Mind - Level 5

Jitte - Ten Hands

Bassai Dai - To Penetrate a Fortress Major

Heian Nidan - Peaceful Mind - Level 2

Heian Godan - Peaceful Mind - Level 5

Tekki Nidan - Horse Riding - Level 2

Heian Sandan - Peaceful Mind - Level 3

Tekki Shodan - Horse Riding - Level 1

Empi - Flying Swallow

Full Shotokan Kata List

This guide shows you the name of all the katas (in English and Japanese), how many movements there are, and the position of the first and second Kiai in each.

Kata	Movements	Kiai Position 1	Kiai Position 2
Heian Shodan 平安初段	21	9	17
Heian Nidan 平安二段	26	11	26
Heian Sandan 平安三段	20	10	21
Heian Yondan 平安四段	28	13	27
Heian Godan 平安五段	27	13	20
Tekki Shodan 鉄騎初段	32	17	32
Tekki Nidan 鉄騎二段	32	21	32
Tekki Sandan 鉄騎三段	36	17	36
Empi 燕飛	45	19	44
Gankaku 岩鶴	43	29	43
Chinte 珍手	37	10	29
Bassai Dai 抜塞大	50	20	50
Bassai Sho 抜塞小	37	20	26
Kanku Dai 観空大	68	16	67
Kanku Sho* 観空小	50	8	32/50
Jitte 十手	33	18	33
Jion 慈恩	53	21	53
Jiin 慈陰	37	11	37
Sochin 壯鎭	40	28	40
Meikyo 明鏡	34	25	33
Wankan** 王冠	26	26	-
Unsu 雲手	60	45	60
Hangetsu 半月	42	12	40
Nijushiho 二十四歩	37	20	35
Gojushiho Dai*** 五十四歩大	74	65	72
Gojushiho Sho*** 五十四歩小	68	60	78

* Kanku Sho – The second Kiai can either be on move 32 or 50 depending on your association.

** Wankan - This kata only has one kiai.

*** The Gojushiho katas may vary in which kata is classed as Dai and Sho as again depends on association.