GOJYU-RYU KATA GOJYU-RYU KATA

KATA

Sanchin was brought to Okinawa in the late 1800’s by Master Kanryo Higashiona. The translation of Sanchin is three battles using the mind, body and spirit. This form uses tightness of the muscles to harden the entire body to develop conditioning for testing in Sanchin.

 KAISHU KATA GEKISAI-ICHI & GEKISAI-NI

The Gekisai forms were developed in 1940 by Master Miyagi Chojun as a teaching form for novice students. Gekisai kata practice basic, intermediate and advanced techniques on both sides of the body preparing students for advance forms.

 KAISHU KATA SAIFA

Saifa was believed to be brought to Okinawa by Master Kanryo Higashiona. This form translates to breaking ground which has unique strikes. Many historians believe that Saifa was created to help teach combat tactics on a boat.

 KAISHU KATA

Shisochin named fighting four monks starts off with spear hand strikes, which are very different than all other Gojyu-ryu kata. Shisochin has four distinct moves in the kata that are fast and powerful. It is rumoured that this kata was Master Miyagi Chojun’s favourite kata.

 KAISHU KATA

Seisan believed to be the oldest kata of all the Gojyu-ryu system is a fighting kata. This kata relies on strong punches and hard , making it more hard than soft.

 KAISHU KATA SANSEIRYU

This form is an advance and requires strong crisp clean techniques. It has many powerful front kicks an advanced blocks. The number thirty-six may be symbolic of the thirty-six families that settled in Okinawa in 1392.

 KAISHU KATA

Unfortunately the direct translation has been lost over time, but many practitioners refer to it as marching far quietly. This kata has many low stances, it also has fast and devastating techniques which makes this form very hard and soft.

 KAISHU KATA SEIPAI

Seipai on of the more hard kata in the system to learn, consists of body twisting and turns. Hands and feet always move together in kata but none more than Seipai to properly execute the proper techniques in the form.

 KAISHU KATA KURURUNFA

This form teaches the practitioner to be graceful and have good balance. There is fast stance transitions making the form powerful, one should practice slowly at first making sure of proper stances.

 KAISHU KATA SUPARUNPEI

The kanji for Suparunpei says one hundred and eight techniques. This form has very basic movements that should be done with high execution. With difficult hand techniques there is also a unique in the kata.

 HEISHU KATA

Master Miyagi Chojun developed the kata Tensho. This form places more emphasis on the breathing rather than the tightening of the body like Sanchin kata. With the two katas Tensho and Sanchin you start to understand the word Gojyu. Tensho should be the last kata performed at the end of training session.

MEIBUKEN KATA

 KATA TENCHI

This form was originally named Fukyu ichi and Fukyu ni. This kata was developed around 1973. Tenchi is unique in its own way, in that the first half of the form and the second half of the form fight each other. However, when the kata is done in its entirety one would never know.

 KATA SEIRYU

Seiryu was developed in the mid 80’s by Dai Sensei Yagi Meitoku. This form has a lot of stance transitions, it goes through every stance within the first set of moves. With fast lashing movements like a dragon, and lots of suri ashi this kata should maintain a graceful look to it.

 KATA BYAKKO

The Byakko introduced in 1988, Byakko is more hard than soft. Like Seiryu, emphasis is placed on correct stance transitions. The kata has lots of powerful techniques, but also many soft defensive techniques. Most of the attacking movements are hard, fast and pretreating, the way a tiger would move.

 KATA SHUJAKKU

Shujakku taught to Meibukai members in 1990, uses your hands like talons and your arms like the wings of a bird. Most of the techniques in Shujakku are open handed. All of the attacks are fluid and the hands move quickly. The last movements of the kata represent the red sparrow taking flight.

 KATA GENBU

This form also introduced in 1990, has many defensive techniques, and retreating movements such as a turtle might do. Genbu has low stances in the kata to represent the turtle’s height. Attacks and blocks are at close range, the blocks are slow and deliberate like the movement of a turtle. Like Shujakku the last moves of the form have a distinctive look to it.