Here are the 27 Shotokan Kata

27 SHOTOKAN Kata

We appreciate that many Shotokan Dojo practice more kata, but here, we are just going to mention the 27 standard Shotokan kata that are practiced by thousands of karateka all over the world.

Several Shotokan groups have introduced other shotokan kata and kata from other styles, into their training, but when the JKA (Japan Karate Association) was formed by Nakayama Sensei, he put forward these 26 kata (not including taikyoku shodan or kihon kata), as the training kata for the JKA karateka. Even today, many thousands of Shotokan Dojo practice these 26 Kata only (leaving out 1. Taikyoku Shodan or Kihon Kata).

Many other shotokan dojo have added Taikyoku shodan to the JKA list, which gives us the 27 kata below.

Here are the 27 Shotokan Karate Kata 

1 -- Taikyoku Shodan also known as Kihon kata (太極初段) Means ~ first cause first level Introduced by ~ Gichin Funakoshi

2 -- Heian Shodan (平安初段) Means ~ Peaceful way first level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

3 -- Heian Nidan (平安二段) Means ~ Peaceful way second level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

4 -- Heian Sandan (平安三段) Means ~ Peaceful way third level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

5 -- Heian Yondan (平安四段) Means ~ Peaceful way fourth level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

6 -- Heian Godan (平安五段) Means ~ Peaceful way fifth level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

7 -- Tekki Shodan (鉄騎初段) Means ~ Iron Horse first level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

8 -- Bassai Dai (披塞大) Means ~ To storm a fortress (dai=major) Introduced by ~ Peichin.

9 -- Kanku Dai (観空大) Means ~ To view the sky (dai=major) Introduced by ~ Kung Hsiang Chun

10 -- Enpi (燕飛) Means ~ Flying swallow Introduced by ~ Wang Ji

11-- Hangetsu (半月) Means ~ Half Moon Introduced by ~ Bushi Matsumura

12 -- Jion (慈恩) Means ~ Thought to be named after the Chinese temple Jion-ji. kata and comes from Tomari te

13 -- Sochin (壯鎭) Means ~ Preserve Peace Introduced by ~Yoshitika Funakoshi

14 -- Meikyo (明鏡) Means ~ Mirror of the soul and comes from ~Tomari-te

15 -- Ji’in (慈陰) Means ~ Named after the saint and comes from Tomari te

16 -- Gojushiho Dai (五十四歩大) Means ~ 54 steps Introduced by ~Yasutsune Itosu

17 -- Jitte (十手)Means ~ Ten hands and comes from Tomari te

18 -- Gankaku (岩鶴) Means ~ Crane on a rock Introduced by ~ Bushi Matsumura

19 -- Tekki Nidan (鉄騎二段) Means ~ Iron Horse second level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

20 -- Tekki Sandan (鉄騎三段) Means ~ Iron Horse third level Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

21 -- Chinte (珍手) Means ~ Incredible hands Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu?

22 -- Bassai Sho (披塞小) Means ~ To penetrate a fortress (sho=minor) Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

23 -- Kanku Sho (観空小) Means ~ To view the sky (sho=minor) Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

24 -- Nijushiho (二十四步) Means ~ 24 steps Introduced by ~ Seisho Aragaki

25 -- Unsu (雲手) Means ~ Hands of a cloud Introduced by ~ Seisho Aragaki

26 -- Wankan (王冠) Means ~ Crown of a king Introduced by ~ Gigo Funakoshi

27 -- Gojushiho Sho (五十四歩小) Means ~ 54 steps Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

I hope you find these 27 Shotokan kata resources useful. 

Oss!

In Shotokan Karate,  

The practice of the 27 Shotokan kata is central to honing the skills and techniques essential to the art. These kata, ranging from the fundamental Taikyoku and Heian series to the advanced kata like Gojushiho and Unsu, form the backbone of training, emphasizing precision, power, and fluidity of movement.

Karateka spends countless hours perfecting each kata, breaking down every stance, block, and strike to achieve mastery.

Through rigorous repetition and attention to detail, karateka deepen their understanding of Shotokan's principles and cultivate a profound sense of discipline and focus.

While the 27 Shotokan kata - serve as the cornerstone of training in many dojos, some Sensei choose to incorporate additional kata into their curriculum. These supplementary kata may come from other Karate styles or traditional Okinawan karate, offering students a broader perspective and enriching their practice.

By exploring a diverse range of kata, practitioners gain insight into different fighting strategies, footwork patterns, and stylistic nuances, enhancing their adaptability and versatility. Moreover, the introduction of new kata fosters creativity and innovation within the dojo, encouraging students to experiment with variations and interpretations while staying true to the core principles of Shotokan Karate. 

Ultimately, the incorporation of additional kata reflects the dynamic and evolving nature of martial arts training, ensuring that practitioners receive a well-rounded education that transcends the confines of tradition.

Through the www.mykarateclub.co.uk syllabus, a different kata is used for each (Grade) and belt, full dojo curriculum can be found on our website. 

U S S!

Shotokan Fitness Karate School

London, UK 

https://www.mykarateclub.co.uk