Bassai sho should be practiced after mastering bassai dai. Kanku dai to view the sky big most of the elements of the heian kata were derived from this kata. This very old kata can teach us agility, hip movements, strength and the change from fast to slow techniques. When we apply that to the shotokan versions of bassai, the dai version is the asato bassai and the sho version is a younger form that later came into the shotokan curriculum, maybe formulated by itosu himself maybe not. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks, and throws. When bassai was introduced to these shores in the 1950s1970s. Tomari bassai videos international hayashiha shito. The most obvious observation, when watching these katas, is the fact they move in a straight line. Some styles practice two versions of this kata, within their syllabus, known as bassaidai and bassaisho. Nevertheless, this short bunkai uses the larger movements of the kata, allowing us to practice the outward power of each technique.
However, the truth about the naming disparity between ski and the other shotokan organisations is quite easily discovered. It has punches, blocks, kicks, strikes, jumps, multiple direction changes and several. There may be differences between the taekwondo version and the karate version of this form. In the following i try to explain this idea with some photos, although i dont know very well the bo techniques and my bo positions can be rough or ineffective. Hence, passai sho is a shorter variation on passai and also bears some resemblances to bassai dai, indicating this kata may have been born out of combining elements of passai and passai sho. Many early karate authors split the kata into shorin ryu and shorei ryu, usually with some spurious explanation like shorin is for thin quick people, shorei is for slower stronger people but this definition aside, empi, kanku and bassai are almost always referred to as shorin ryu, while the more goju ryu looking forms like tekki and. The beauty of this book is how it examines in great detail how to properly perform these katas. Mar 02, 2014 bassai is not like sanchin it is not an exercise in isometric tension.
It is likely that the oldest version of bassai is the one we call matsumura bassai. Kushanku and channan therefore kanku dai, kanku sho and the heian katas and the various tai chi styles yang, chen, wu, sun were derived from the chang quan and bazi quan systems and the writings of wang zong yue and general qi. Bassaisho is an advanced shotokan kata and is the sister kata to bassaidai. Kata kion, heian shodan, heian nidan, heian sandan, heian. It requires a certain degree of athleticism, but dont neglect its interesting bunkai. Kiyuna ryo this majestic kata comes to us from the once secret family style of karate known as ryueiryu. This dvd, over an hour in length, features john burke sensei demonstrating the moves and the applications to this. Similarly, sugiyamas books reflect his unique approach to karate. When kanazawa hirokazu formed his own ski organisation after being expelled from the jka, he decided to change the names around as he felt that the smaller, more subtle kata deserved the.
If you practice other shotokan or non shotokan kata, please let us know. Tomari bassai videos international hayashiha shitoryu. The applications presented here, strictly adhering to the kata sequences, offer the reader the possibility to attain exact and comprehensive interpretations of the complex higherlevel kata. The karate kata developed by karate master matsumurasoken. Price new from used from paperback, 1982 please retry paperback. While i love talking about the inherent potential of karate kata, and many of the answers are also presented on our dvds and in our books, here are some of the frequently requested answers. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is difficult to pin point the origin or with any certainty, to describe the evolution of the many katas which are practiced in dojos around the world today. The first movement in this kata views the sky, which symbolizes the universe and shows your opponent that you are unarmed. Wangs treatise, the lost book of kushanku was taken to okinawa and served as the first karate syllabus. There are several variations of these kata, including passai sho or minor passai and passai dai or major passai. In the first movement, while preparing to step in to take care of a frontal attack, push aside the attack coming from the rear with both palmheels placed. The most popular image associated with kata is that of a karate practitioner performing a series of punches and kicks in the air.
Kankudai commentary shotokan sensei the online karate dojo. Dai and sho the light and shade of kata cambridge karate club. Another version probably authored by matsumuras friend kokan matsumora is tomari bassai. Shotokan karate, kata tekki nidan kanazawa hirokazu. The katas taught in this great book are middle black belt level kata and should not be practiced until one has learned hein 1,2,3,4,5, tekki shodan, nidan, sandan, bassai dai, kanku dai and jion. Fully described and illustrated in this volume are the widely practiced bassal and kanku kata from the jfa recommended group. Popular shotokan karate books meet your next favorite book. Even today, many thousands of shotokan dojo practice these 26 kata only leaving out 1.
In shotokan, kata is not a performance or a demonstration, but is for individual karateka to practice full techniqueswith every technique potentially a killing blow. The seminar covered bunkai for the whole of bassaidai and bassaisho. Many other shotokan dojo have added taikyoku shodan to the jka list, which gives us the 27 kata below. Nakaima kenri, the founder of ryueiryu, introduced this kata when he returned to okinawa from fuzhou, where he studied under the legendary fujian martial arts master, ru ru kou. Kanku sho is a great kata for the advanced student as it has a lot of different techniques within the kata.
Bassai sho is the minor form of the two shotokan katas developed from the kata originally known as passai. Passai in okinawan styles and bassai in japanese styles. This video looks at the bunkai for the beginning of bassaisho shotokan version. This hypothesisessay was originally written for my own club website a few years ago, and a version was published in martial arts guardian. Sometimes we get the same questions again and again. See more ideas about karate, karate kata and martial arts.
The book, on a didactic basis, supports the reader by providing tips for tactics, principles and additional. Bassai sho, in contrast, hardly uses front stance, and contains many movements involving turning either on a single foot, or with the feet together, requiring excellent balance on the part of the performer. The feeling of kata should be precise, with fast execution of technique and attention given to appropriate balance between speed and power. Bassai dai as well as jitte also teach a certain power that can be. There are several variations of these kata, including passai sho or minor passai and. This video demonstrates and explains each move of the kata stepbystep in detail. It was filmed during a two day seminar in dresden, germany in april 2015. Throughout the kata there is an emphasis on a strong front stance, with powerful hip movements generating power without moving the feet. Bassai sho has been introduced by itosu, it has been reported as containing techniques for defense against a long stick. Nijushiho commentary on the shotokan sensei youtube channel. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Feb 25, 2014 bassai sho is an advanced shotokan kata and is the sister kata to bassai dai.
He believes that just as the student should surpass the teacher his books will eventually become obsolete or collectors items as new books are written. It is difficult to pin point the origin or with any certainty, to describe the evolution of the many katas which are practiced in. Etymology when looking at bassai, we will begin with the name. One notable point is that bunkai describes it as a defense against a bo. Bassai dai applications, available in book or dvd form. Shotokan karate kata bassai dai bassai dai, literally translates to storm a castle, major or to penetrate a fortress, major is a kata practiced in shotokan karate and is one of many variations of the passai kata. The kata focus on the idea of changing disadvantage into advantage by strong and courageous response, switching blocks and differing degrees of power. This dvd, over an hour in length, features john burke sensei demonstrating the moves and the applications to this black belt kata on ross chesterton sensei. Like many forms in traditional taekwondo, bassai also known as palsek came to taekwondo by way of karate. Kata sochin with commentary shotokan karate kata, karate. Sep 09, 2015 many early karate authors split the kata into shorin ryu and shorei ryu, usually with some spurious explanation like shorin is for thin quick people, shorei is for slower stronger people but this definition aside, empi, kanku and bassai are almost always referred to as shorin ryu, while the more goju ryu looking forms like tekki and. It is a great kata with a lot of technical points that should be.
Nov 18, 2015 this pin was discovered by keagan tipton. Bassai sho to penetrate a fortress small this kata was derived from bassaidai. Contents heian shodan heian nidan heian sandan heian yondan heian godan naifanchi shodan bassai dai seienchin language. While there are overall similarities in the structure, and indeed some identical moves, bassai sho has quite a different feel to bassai dai, emphasising balance and quick turning moves, as opposed to the power of the latter.
The techniques in bassai sho, using sword hand, ridge hand and tiger mouth, make good defenses against stick attacks. Kata kion, heian shodan, heian nidan, heian sandan, heian yondan, heian godan, tekki shodan, bassai dai, kankudai, empi, jion, hangetsu, bassai sho. Bassai is one of the most important kata in the shoto ryu family. Fudoshin shotokan karate bassaidai kata shitoryu vs. Practised within the shorinryu schools of okinawan karate. Passai dai is the matsumura passai the old form and passai sho is the itosu passai the younger form. Complete series of shito ryu kata book 1 budovideos inc. There are two bassai kata, the other one being bassai sho, and although the sho translates to minor, it is taught after. This traditional taekwondo form is also used in shotokan karate. Bassai dai penetrating or capturing the fortress big. In kanko sho are many counterattacks to the upper level. The moves the kata exercises the following moves and stances, in sequence, and takes around 1 minute 10 seconds to complete at high speed. These advanced kata may be selected for testing above shodan level. Bassai sho was created by master itosu and means storming the fortress lesser, as bassai dai was greater, sho comes from dai, of course not meaning of lesser importance.
List of katas in traditional japanese shotokan karate. I also know of nobody who cites it as their least favourite kata. Unsu commentary unsu is without doubt a classic shotokan kata. His other books also break new ground and continue to develop the art of karate. This is bassai dai commentary by michael stilgoe on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them. Bassai thrust asunder, penetrating a fortress, remove an obstruction. Shotokan you have to study more than one style to understand the meaning behind the kata movements. Jan 19, 2010 shotokan karate kata bassai dai bassai dai, literally translates to storm a castle, major or to penetrate a fortress, major is a kata practiced in shotokan karate and is one of many variations of the passai kata.