Goju-ryu (I.K.G.A.) Kata List

剛柔流形の名称 (I.K.G.A.)

Serves as a brief introduction. More indepth material being developed

Resources:

PDF and/or Video links will go live as material becomes available.

Descriptions and meanings of the various Kata names coming shortly

Fukyū Gata - 普及形

	Taikyoku Jōdan I & II
	太極上段一 つ及び二 (タイキョクジョダン 1 & 2)
		The Taikyoku kata from Taikyoku Jodan to Taikyoku Mawashiuke were created by Gōgen Yamaguchi Sensei, the founder of the J.K.G.A. / I.K.G.A. - Beginners first practise Taikyoku Kata before learning Gekisai Dai-Ichi and Gekisai Dai-Ni. The Taikyoku and Gekisai kata are called “Fukyu kata” (Kata for propagation). Taikyoku Jodan is divided into two versions. In Taikyoku Jodan 1, both block and punches are performed in Sanchin Dachi . In Taikyoku Jodan 2, blocks are performed in Sanchin Dachi while punches are performed in Zenkutsu dachi. All blocks are Jōdan Uke and all punches are Jodan Seiken Tsuki. All steps in the kata are performed quickly. The word “Taikyoku” means the direction of movement. There are 19 movements in Taikyoku Jodan, from “Heiko Dachi Yoi” at the starting position to “Naore”. They all follow the basic “H” or “I” pattern, and increase slightly in difficulty as more techniques are added.
	Taikyoku Chūdan I &II
	太極中段一 つ及び二 (タイキョクチュウダン 1 & 2)
		Taikyoku Chūdan was also created as a kata for beginners and is divided into two different versions. “Taikyoku Chūdan 1” and “2”. In Taikyoku Chūdan 1, both blocks and punches are performed in Zenkutsu dachi. In Taikyoku Chūdan 2, block are performed in Sanchin Dachi while punches are performed in Zenkutsu dachi. All blocks are Chudan Uke (can also be called yoko Uke) and all punches are Chudan Seiken Tsuki. All steps in the kata are performed quickly. The word “Taikyoku” means the direction of movement. There are 19 movements in Taikyoku Chūdan, from “Heiko Dachi Yoi” at the starting position to “Naore”.
	Taikyoku Gedan I & II
	太極下段一 つ及び二 (タイキョクゲダン 1 & 2)
		In Taikyoku Gedan 1, blocks and punches are performed in Shiko Dachi 45°. In Taikyoku Gedan 2, blocks are performed in Shiko Dachi 45° while punches are performed in Shiko Dachi 90°. All blocks are Gedan Barai (can also be called Harai Otoshi) and all punches are Chudan Seiken Tsuki. All steps in the kata are performed quickly. The word “Taikyoku” means the direction of movement. There are 19 movements in Taikyoku Chūdan, from “Heiko Dachi Yoi” at the starting position to “Naore”.
	Taikyoku Kake Uke I & II
	太極掛け受一 つ及び二 (タイキョクかけうけ 1 & 2)
		In Taikyoku Kakeuke 1, blocks are perfomred in Sanchin Dachi while kicks/strikes are performed in Zenkutsu Dachi. In Taikyoku Kakeuke 2, Kakeuke is performed in Nekoashi Dachi (once in the original position, once stepping forward, and once stepping back) before performing Maegeri and moving into Zenkutsu Dachi with Hijiate. All blocks are Kakeuke, all kicks are Maegeri, and all strikes are Chudan Hijiate. All steps in the Kata are performed quickly. The word “Taikyoku” means the direction of movement. There are 30 movements in Taikyoku Kakeuke, from “Heiko Dachi Yoi”at the starting position to “Naore”.
	Taikyoku Mawashi Uke I & II
	太極廻し受一 つ及び二 (タイキョクまわしうけ 1 & 2)
		In Taikyoku Mawashiuke 1, blocks are performed in Sanchin Dachi, while Hijiate Yonhon Dōsa is perfomed in 45° Shiko Dachi. In Taikyoku Mawashi Uke 2, block are performed in Nekoashi Dachi while Hijiate Yonhon Dōsa is performed in 45° Shiko Dachi. All blocks are Mawashi Uke, and all strikes are Hijiate Yonhon Dōsa. Hijiate Yonhon Dōsa includes Yoko Hijiate, Urauchi, Gedan Barai and Chudan Seiken Tsuki. All steps in the kata are performed quickly. In Taikyoku Mawashiuke 2, Mawashi Uke is performed in succestion from Nekoashi Dachi (once in the original position, once stepping forward, and once stepping back) before performing Hijiate Yonhon Dōsa and moving into 45° Shiko Dachi. The word “Taikyoku” means the direction of movement. There are 60 movements in Taikyoku Mawashiuke, from “Heiko Dachi Yoi” at the starting position to “Naore”.
	Gekisai Dai Ichi
	ゲキサイ第一 (撃碎第一)
		Gekisai means "attack and destroy". These kata were created around 1940 by Chōjun Miyagi and Shōshin Nagamine as beginners' kata, to introduce the basic forms of karate (kihon) to middle school students in Okinawa, to help bring about the standardization of karate, and to teach a basic set of techniques for self-defense. Gekisai kata were strongly influenced by the Shuri-te techniques that Miyagi learned from Ankō Itosu.
	Gekisai Dai Ni
	ゲキサイ第二 (撃碎第二)
		Students first learn gekisai dai ichi and then gekisai dai ni. The main difference between dai ichi and dai ni is that dai ni introduces open handed techniques and new stances. It is in gekesai dai ni that students are introduced to the neko ashi dachi stance, and to the wheel block (mawashi uke).

Kihon Gata - 基本形

	Sanchin
	サンチン (三戰)
		Sanchin means "three battles". This kata is a sort of moving meditation, whose purpose is to unify the mind, body and spirit. The techniques are performed very slowly so that the student masters precise movements, breathing, stance/posture, internal strength, and stability of both mind and body. Sanchin is the foundation for all other kata, and is generally considered to be the most important kata to master. When new students came to Miyagi, he would often train them for three to five years before introducing them to Sanchin. He would make them train very hard, and many of them quit before learning Sanchin. Those that remained would focus almost exclusively on sanchin for two to three years. Miyagi's Sanchin training was very harsh, and students would often leave practice with bruises from him checking their stance
	Tensho
	テンショウ (転掌)
		Tensho means "revolving hands". Like Sanchin, Tensho is a form of moving meditation; Tensho combines hard dynamic tension with soft flowing hand movements, and concentrates strength in the tanden. Tensho can be considered the ju (soft) counterpart of the Sanchin's go (hard) style.

Kaishu Gata - 開手形

	Saifa
	サイファ (碎破)
		Saifa means "smash and tear". Saifa has its origins in China, and was brought to Okinawa by Higashionna. It contains quick whipping motions, hammerfists, and back fist strikes; it particularly emphasizes moving off-line from an opponent's main force, while simultaneously closing distance and exploding through them. This is usually the first advanced Gōjū-ryū kata the students learn in most Gōjū kaiha, after gekisai dai ichi and gekisai dai ni.
	Seinchin
	セインチン (制引戰)
		The Characters represent Attack, conquer, suppress; also referred to as "to control and pull into battle": Seinchin kata demonstrates the use of techniques to unbalance, throw and grapple, contains close-quartered striking, sweeps, take-downs and throws.
	Sanseiru
	サンセイルウ (三十六手)
		The Characters represent 36 Hands: The kata teaches how to move around the opponent in close quarters fights, and emphasizes the destruction of the opponent's mobility by means of kansetsu geri.
	Seisan
	セイサン (十三手)
		The Characters represent 13 Hands: Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata that is widely practiced among other Naha-te schools. Other Ryūha also practice this kata or other versions of it.
	Shisochin
	シソウチン (四向戰)
		The Characters represent "to destroy in four directions" or "fight in four directions": It integrates powerful linear attacks (Shōtei Tsuki) and circular movements and blocks. It was the favorite kata of the late Miyagi.
	Seipai
	セイパイ (十八手)
		The Characters represent 18 Hands. Seipai incorporates both the four directional movements and 45° angular attacks and implements techniques for both long distance and close quarter combat.
	Kururunfa
	クルルンファ (久留頓破)
		The Characters represent holding on long and striking suddenly: Its techniques are based on the Chinese Praying Mantis style.
	Suparinpei
	スウパアルンペイ (壱百零八手)
		The Characters represent 108 Hands: Also known as Pechurin, it is the most advanced Gōjū-ryū kata. Initially it had three levels to master (Go, Chu, and Jo), later Miyagi left only one, the highest, "Jo" level.

 

Sanshu Gata - 三守形

New KATA for training, newly devised by Gōshi Yamaguchi (Chairman/President). Like SANCHIN and TENSHO, these kata were devised to contribute to the training of Gōjū-ryū Karate-dō. While they are made from simple movements, you can more deeply understand the concept of receiving (blocking) using the circular motions peculiar to Gōjū-ryū, and the concept of movements that turn into counterattacks. *These KATA are for training. They cannot be used for competitions.

	Kenshu
	拳守 (けんしゅ)
		To Protect with the Fist
	Shoshu
	掌守 (しょうしゅ)
		To Protect with the Palm
	Ryōshu
	凌守 (りょうしゅ)
		Overcome difficult things

Tokutei Gata - 特定形

Kata Specifically for I.K.G.A. / J.K.G.A. Shihan

	Genkaku
	玄鶴
		Dark Crane
	Chikaku
	地鶴
		Earth Crane
	Kōryū
	黄龍
		Yellow Dragon
	Tenryū
	天龍
		Heaven Dragon
- - - - - - - Under Development:
	Tenkaku
	天鶴
		Heaven Crane
	Kōkaku
	黄鶴
		Yellow Crane
	Chiryū
	地龍
		Earth Dragon
	Genryū
	玄龍
		Dark Dragon

Options:

• List of Gōjū-ryū Kata & I.K.G.A. Tokutei Kata (Tokutei Kata: for I.K.G.A. Shihan only)
• Taikyoku Jōdan I & II
• Taikyoku Chūdan I &II
• Taikyoku Gedan I & II
• Taikyoku Kake Uke I & II
• Taikyoku Mawashi Uke I & II
• Gekisai Dai Ichi
• Gekisai Dai Ni
• Sanchin
• Tensho
• Saifa
• Seinchin
• Sanseiru
• Seisan
• Shisochin
• Seipai
• Kururunfa
• Suparinpei

Color Key Code:

• - 入門 - Nyūmon (Kyu 0)
• - 初級 - Shokyū (Kyu 10-8)
• - 中級 - Chūkyū (Kyu 7-4)
• - 上級 - Jōkyū (Kyu 3-1)
• - 初伝 - Shoden (Dan 1 & 2)
• - 中伝 - Chūden (Dan 3 & 4)
• - 奥伝 - Okuden (Dan 5 & 6)
• - 口伝 - Kuden (Dan 7)