Syllabus

This is not intended as an exhaustive syllabus but as a guide to the Kata studied in Kodokai. The Kata, forms, of Karate are the Cultural Artefact of Okinawan Martial Arts which contain the principles of movement and combative methods of said Martial Arts. To study the Kata is to study Karate. Without the Kata one is no longer studying or training in Karate.

Our actual training, as discussed in the about page, includes a lot more than Kata training. Those methods, however, are to provide context to the Kata and to educate the student in how they can use the Kata as a learning method for the study of movement. Under stress and duress, you will move how you have trained to move under stress and duress, and so our training is designed to illuminate how the kata movements can be used under such circumstances.

The below list is not an exhaustive list of the kata of Okinawan karate. It only contains the kata available for study in Kodokai. I have also listed them according to my best knowledge of their point of origin. I have included where the kata is usually introduced during the the training process.

Introductory Kata Group

These kata are taught to beginners and youth to learn the process of kata training and to work on the Kihon Waza, fundamental techniques, but are not part of the grading structure. Not containing any novel sequences of techniques they are not particularly useful for the study of Bunkai (applications). Furthermore, if one has time to practice these kata they ultimately have time to rehearse the basic techniques more effectively through Line Drills, against Impact Tools, or through Uden-Tanren (Pre-determined Partner Drills). With that said, however, the quality of a karateka’s movement during these kata is indicative of the quality of a karateka’s technique and so they are useful for even experienced karateka to review on occasion to check on their technique.

Youth Kata

Suzuki (Also known as Shiho-Zuki or Shiho-Uke)

Juni no Kata (Also known as Kihon Kata, Taikyoku Shodan, or Juni no Ichi)

Adult Kata

Fyukyugata Ichi

Core Kata Groups

The core kata groups are the primary kata studied in Kodokai. They come from Shorin-Ryu Kodokan, as founded by the late Arakaki Isamu Hanshi, Judan, who was the senior student of Higa Yuchoku, the founder of Kyudokan. Higa Sensei was a senior student of Chibana Chosin, the founder of Kobayashi-Ryu, and thus there is a direct lineage back to Itosu Anko and Matsumura Sokan.

Shuri Te/Suidii Kata Group (Matsumura Sōkon) 

Matsumura no Passai (Passai Dai) 

Passai Dai performed by Higa Yuchoku Hanshi, Judan, founder of Shorin-Ryu Kyudokan.

Kusanku Dai

Kusanku Dai performed by Peter Tinsley, Sandan, of Hyaku Dojo.

Naihanchin Shodan  (9th Kyu/3-1st Kyu)

Naihanchin Nidan 

Naihanchi Nidan performed by Lori Ridgeway Sensei, Yondan, for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Itosu Kata Group (Itosu Anko)

Itosu no Passai (Passai Sho) (3rd-1st Kyu)

Passai Sho performed by Peter Tinsley, Sandan, of Hyaku Dojo.

Kusanku Sho

Kusanku Sho performed by Peter Tinsley, Sandan, of Hyaku Dojo.

Naihanchi Sandan

Chibana Chosin Hanshi, Judan, founder of Kobayashi-Ryu performing Naihanchi Sandan.

Pinan Shodan  (8th Kyu)

Pinan Nidan  (7th Kyu)#

Pinan Sandan (6th Kyu)

Pinan Yondan (5th Kyu)

Pinan Godan (4th Kyu)

Kyudokan Kata Group (Higa Yuchoku) 

Fukyugata Ni/Gekisai Ichi (3rd-1st Kyu)

Fyukyugata Ni performed by Peter Tinsley, Sandan, of Hyaku Dojo.

Jitte (3rd-1st Kyu)

Jitte performed by Arakaki Ryuta Sensei of Shorin-Ryu Kodokan.

Jion 

Seisan

Seisan performed by Peter Tinsley, Sandan, of Hyaku Dojo.
An example of an application of the Mawashi Uke as found in Seisan. Performed by Michael Bayliss Sensei, Yondan, and Allan Bray Sensei, Nidan.

Additional Kata Groups

These kata groups are additional to the core kata group and are not part of the formal grading structure of the Kodokai. However, they are available for study to senior students who wish to expand their knowledge of Karate beyond Shorin-Ryu.

Higoanna Kata Group

Gekisai Ni

Gekisai Ni performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/brown-belt-kata/)
An example of an application of the Mawashi Uke as found in Gekisai Ni. Performed by Michael Bayliss Sensei, Yondan, and Allan Bray Sensei, Nidan.

Saifa

Saifa performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Sanchin

Sanchin performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/brown-belt-kata/)

Seienchin

Seienchin performed by Lori Ridgeway Sensei, Yondan, for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Sanseiryu

Sanseiryu performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Tensho

Tensho performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/brown-belt-kata/)

Arakaki Group Kata

Niseishi

Niseishi performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Kiyan Group Kata

Ananku

Ananku performed by Lori Ridgeway Sensei, Yondan, for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Kiyan no Chinto

Mabuni Group Kata

Shinpa

Shinpa performed by Lori Ridgeway Sensei, Yondan, for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)

Juroku

Juroku performed by Tony Holt Sensei for Kazoku Kai (Original Source: http://www.kazokukai.com/black-belt-kata/)