Entries Tagged 'Karate' ↓

Black and white video of Hangetsu
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/Hangetsu-old_480x360.flv
Hangetsu (Seisan) Black and White version. This version has great timing and very clean technique. A bit more difficult to see but my favorite version anyway.

More modern version of Hangetsu
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/Hangetsu-new_480x360.flv
This version of Hangetsu is a more modern, colored version of the kata. The timing is not the same but the techniques are much more easily seen.

Black and white version of Empi
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/Empi-old_480x360.flv
As is the standard, this version of the kata has much better timing but is somewhat difficult to see.

Modern video of Empi
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/Empi-new_480x360.flv
Much easier to see and study the movement even though I think the timing is different then what I prefer.

Black and white video of Bassai Dai
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/BassaiDai-old_480x360.flv
Great timing but can be difficult to see detail of the moves in the kata.

Modern video of Bassai Dai
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/BassaiDai-new_480x360.flv
Newer and easier to see. Timing is different and in some cases the movements have changed a little over time from the older version above.

Black and white video of Tekki Sandan
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/TekkiSandan-old_480x360.flv
Good timing but can be difficult to see.

Newer video of Tekki Sandan
http://www.guinnmartialarts.com/movies/karate/TekkiSandan-new_480x360.flv
Not the same timing as above but a good version to learn the pattern from before trying to apply the timing of the first kata above.

The Tekki kata are also named the Naihanchi kata and have a variety of controlling and lethal techniques. Each kata in the series is fairly short but all three kata combined are very effective. Some of my personal favorites.

Heian Godan is the last of the Heian kata and demonstrates the final series of effective techniques in this series of kata. A culmination of all the skills and yet something that builds well on the rest of the series very well.

The Heian kata name while still taught in Okinawa were named Pinan.  Iain Abernethy is a big exponent of applied Karate and someone I repect a great deal has a theory that the name Pinan translates as “Safe from Harm”.  Pointing back to the creator of the kata series as something he is quoted as saying that once known you should be safe from any single attacker.

Sandan has some one of my most liked bunkai in it.  Watch for the spear hand strike and see how one could handle a opponenet who has a tight grip on your hand after an attempted attack.

Technically the first kata of these series. Designed by Ankho Itosu this kata is the introduction to all the others. It has some great applications. Controlling to lethal force from the very beginning. Proof that these kata are well though out for an introduction to this system.

Heian Nidan: