Taikyoku Shodan (Kihon Kata)
First Cause
Kata History
Taikyoku Shodan - first cause - is the first Kata all students learn. It contains just one stance, one block, and one attack, making it easy for beginners to assimilate. Yet the Kata is also known as the most difficult to master, for beneath the simplicity of it's movements lie the underlying principles of Karate-do.
The Embusen
is a capital letter 'H'.
The Moves
The Kata exercises the following moves and stances, in sequence, and takes around 26 seconds to complete at high speed:
Count | Move | Stance |
Rei | Musubi Dachi | |
Yoi | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
1 | Hidari Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
2 | Migi Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
3 | Migi Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
4 | Hidari Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
5 | Hidari Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
6 | Migi Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
7 | Hidari Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
8 | Migi Oi Zuki (KIAI) | Zenkutsu Dachi |
9 | Hidari Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
10 | Migi Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
11 | Migi Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
12 | Hidari Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
13 | Hidari Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
14 | Migi Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
15 | Hidari Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
16 | Migi Oi Zuki (KIAI) | Zenkutsu Dachi |
17 | Hidari Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
18 | Migi Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
19 | Migi Gedan Barai | Zenkutsu Dachi |
20 | Hidari Oi Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
Yame | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
Rei | Musubi Dachi |