First and Second Kata

GKR Karate – Taigoyoku Shodan

GKR Karate – Taigoyoku Nidan

History Of Taigyoku Shodan And Taigyoku Nidan

Karate was originally only taught to one or two carefully selected students and as such, the student would often spend years training in one single kata under the watchful eye of their master.

In the 1900s, a number of Okinawan masters feared karate would die out and thus decided to introduce it to the public (including the school system). When this occurred, students were taught numerous kata in a brief period.

To combat a potential drop in standard and frustration of a beginner, Yasutsune Itosu, who was instrumental in introducing karate to the public school system, cut a number of kata into smaller pieces, creating five ‘Pinan’ kata, putting the techniques into a H-shaped pattern. This provided beginner students with ideal training before tackling the longer, more detailed kata.

When Itosu’s student, Gichin Funakoshi, moved to Japan and created the karate style known as Shotokan, he changed the name of the ‘Pinan’ to ‘Heian’ (a Japanese name) and then chose to further simplify these kata by creating three Taigyoku kata (translated as ‘first course’ or ‘basic ultimate’). These followed the same performance line as the Pinan/Heian kata yet contained simpler techniques. Like his instructor (Itosu), he did not abolish any kata, but added these kata to help beginners train their body and mind for more advanced kata.

This proved a massive success, as students were able to develop their basic karate techniques while moving through in stances, turning and pivoting. It also served to build their confidence and memory to tackle the more slightly difficult kata.

His success was noted by other karate styles (such as Goju), who shortly after adopted five of their own Taigyoku kata. While these were technically different, they still followed the H-shaped embusen (performance line). Today, almost every Karate and Taekwondo organisation uses the Taigyoku kata for their beginner students.

GKR’s First kata (Taigyoku Shodan) is taken directly from the Shotokan style, which incorporates the long forward stance (zenkutsu-datchi), lunge punch (oi tsuki) and downward block (gedan barai).

GKR’s Second kata (Taigyoku Nidan) however is completely unique. No kicks exist in any Taigyoku kata, however Kancho Sullivan, realising the importance of developing a fluency between kicks and punches, introduced a front kick into Taigyoku Nidan.

Lineage Of Taigyoku Shodan And Taigyoku Nidan

Sokon “Bushi” Matsumura (born 1796-1893)

Taught kata Kanku-dai (then known as Kusanku), Bassai-dai (then known as Passai) and kata Gojushiho to his student Yasutsune Itosu.

Yatsutsune “Ankoh” Itosu (1830-1915)

When Itosu introduced karate to the Okinawan school system, he broke up the kata he had learnt from Matsumura, and also Channan (a kata he had learnt from an unknown teacher) into pieces and created 5 smaller ‘Pinan’ kata. This was to give students a stepping stone to the longer and more difficult kata. He kept most of the techniques along a H-shaped embusen (performance line). Itosu was the teacher of Gichin Funakoshi (see below) and taught him all kata (including his five ‘Pinan’ kata)

Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957)

Founder of Shotokan karate. When Funakoshi moved to Japan and introduced karate there, he created 5 Taigyoku kata by simplifying the Pinan kata (keeping the same performance line but simplifying the techniques). This was to give students a stepping-stone to the Pinan kata. He also changed the name of the Pinan kata, giving them a Japanese name of ‘Heian’.

GKR Karate

While Taigyoku Shodan shows up in almost every karate style, GKR derives its version directly from Shotokan Karate. GKR’s Taigyoku Nidan however is unique because Kancho Sullivan added a front kick (something not done before with a Taigyoku kata).