KATAS

KATAS	1^ST KIAI	2^ND KIAI	COUNTS
Heian Shodan (Peaceful Mind #1)	9	17	21
Heian Nidan (Peaceful Mind #2)	11	26	26
Heian Sandan (Peaceful Mind #3)	10	20	20
Heian Yondan (Peaceful Mind #4)	13	25	27
Heian Godan (Peaceful Mind #5)	12	19	23
Tekki Shodan (Iron Horse #1)	15	29	29
Tekki Nidan (Iron Horse #2)	16	24	24
Tekki Sandan (Iron Horse #3)	16	36	36
Bassai-Dai (To Storm A Fortress)	19	42	42
Kanku-Dai (To View The Sky)	15	65	65
Jutte (10 Hands)	13	24	24
Hangetsu (Half-Moon)	11	40	41
Empi (Flight Of The Swallow)	15	36	37
Gankaku (Crane On A Rock)	28	42	42
Jion (Monk’s Name)	17	47	47
Bassai-Sho (To Storm A fortress)	17	25	27
Kanku-Sho (To View The Sky)	28	47	47
Chinte (Unusual Hands)	9	32	33
Unsu (Cloud Hands)	36	48	48
Sochin (Preservation Of Peace)	28	40	40
Nijushiho (24 Steps)	18	32	33
Gojushiho-Dai (54 Steps)	54	61	62
Gojushiho-Sho (54 Steps)	57	64	65
Meikyo (Bright Mirror)	32	---	33
Jiin (Monk’s Name)	11	35	35
Wankan (King’s Crown)	24	---	24

This next section comes from UNH Shotokan Karate Club. Thank you!

Shotokan Kata

Meaning

A basic explanation of what kata is can be often found as "a pre-arranged set of defensive moves and attacks against an imaginary single or multiple opponents". The Shotokan katas contain a plenty of very important elements which one needs to practice according to his/her personal level of training. When performing a kata the karate practitioner must live and feel each single technique. There are 26 standardized katas in Shotokan. Here we exclude the taikyoku kata and some other kata practiced by different organizations and schools.

The basic differences in the training and teaching methods among the various styles in karate can be distinctively seen in kata. Kata must be performed with serious attitude just as in kumite (sparring). Mind must be calm a clear. This is a very important point which will help the karate practitioner to truly understand the meaning of kata. Studying kata on a regular basis will teach the student to combine defensive techniques and attacks with proper breathing.

Kata must be studied not for a demonstration purposes but for improving the kumite techniques and eventually applying them in a real fight. The essence of kata is not in how beautiful the movements are but how effective they are. When performing a kata in front of other people the practitioner should be able to make the audience to feel the spirit and the strength of the techniques. If one thinks about karate as a system of self defense then he/she should practice many katas because in each kata there are different methods and applications on how to defend and attack.

A brief overview

Modern Name	Original Name	Meaning	Source/Origin
Kihon Kata	Taikyoku Shodan	Basic Form #1	Gichin Funakoshi
This kata is now utilized by most Shotokan groups around the world. There are also Taikyoku Nidan and Sandan (#2&3) but they are not so popular among the Shotokan communities. Taikyoku Nidan is the same as Taikyoku Shodan except that all the punches are performed at high (chin) level and in Taikyoku Sandan all the blocks change from down block in front stance to middle inside-outside block in back stance with all punches at high level.
Heian Shodan Heian Nidan Heian Sandan Heian Yondan Heian Godan	Pinan Nidan Pinan Shodan Pinan Sandan Pinan Yondan Pinan Godan	Peaceful form/mind #1 Peaceful form/mind #2 Peaceful form/mind #3 Peaceful form/mind #4 Peaceful form/mind #5	Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu
The Heian kata are essentially the same as the older Okinawan Pinan. The name is derived from the phrase heiwa-antei (peace and calmness). It is said that master Itosu has changed the order of the techniques in the five Heians so that students first learn simplier movments (Heian 1&2) and then gadually proceed to more advanced techniques (Heian 3&4&5). Another idea is that master Itosu has derived these five katas from the much longer and complicated kata Kanku Dai (Kushanku).
Tekki Shodan Tekki Nidan Tekki Sandan	Naihanchi Shodan Naihanchi Nidan Naihanchi Sandan	Iron Horse #1 Iron Horse #2 Iron Horse #3	Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu Yasutsune Itosu
The Naihanchi (Tekki) katas are tipical for Shuri-te style. Funakoshi renames Naihanchi to Tekki. Naihanchi Shodan was revised by Itosu who created the second and third forms of this kata using the original as a model. Before the creation of the Pinan/Heian kata, Tekki/Naihanchi was one of the most important basic forms of Shorin Ryu. According to the martial arts phylosophy these kata represent a fight when one does not have space to retreat or move like fighting with his back close to a wall for example.
Bassai Dai (Major)	Passai	To storm a castle	Oyadomari
There are many versions of Bassai kata, including Matsumura Bassai, Ishimine Bassai, Tomari Basai etc. The oldest form of the kata can be traced back to Oyadomari Peichin.
Bassai Sho (Minor)		To storm a castle (Minor)	Yasutsune Itosu
Itosu has created this kata based on Bassai dai.
Jion	Jion	Buddhist Monk	From Tomari te
It is considered that this kata is from chinese origin and that Jion is word from the buddhist scripts. Another idea suggests that it was named after the temple Jion where monks had practiced martial arts and later it was passed from China to Japan.
Jiin	Shokyo	Temple Grounds	From Tomari te
Shokyo was the name given to this kata by Gichin Funakoshi. Later it was changed back to Jiin. The standard Shotokan form lacks the last four techniques that are found in the Shorin Ryu version.
Jitte	Jitte	Ten Hands/Techniques	From Tomari te
It is said that the techniques in Jitte are designed to disarm a bo (long staff) wielding opponent.
Kanku Dai (Major)	Kushanku/Koshokun	Looking into the Sky	Kung Hsiang Chun
Many forms of Kanku Dai exist in Shorin Ryu and was thought to be Gichin Funakoshi's favorite. It is believed to be based on the teachings of the 18th century Chinese instructor Kung Hsiang Chun. It is strongly recomended that one should first study carefully the five Heians before starting Kanku Dai.
Kanku Sho (Minor)		Looking into the Sky (Minor)	Yasutsune Itosu
Itosu derives this kata from Kanku Dai.
Enpi	Wanshu	Flying Swallow
It is often claimed that the origins of this kata can be traced to the Chinese envoy Wang Ji who visited Okinawa in 1683. Wanshu was known only to karate-ka in Tomari village and was taught by Kosaku Matsumora. Later this version was adapted by Matsumora and Itosu.
Hangetsu	Seisan, Seishan	Half Moon	China
Perhaps the oldest kata in karate versions of this form can be found in many styles. It is said that Bushi Matsumura introduced this kata into Okinawa from China .
Gankaku	Chinto	Crane on a Rock
This is considered to be a very old kata and the real source is unknown. Funakoshi explains that this kata belongs to the Shorei style. The kata was practised by Matsumura and later was modified by masters Kiyataka and Itosu.
Sochin	Hakko	Strongly Rooted	Gigo Funakoshi
This kata was probably created by Yoshitaka Funakoshi in the late 1930s. There are a number of similarities to the older Aragaki Sochin especially at the end of the kata, so he may have used the older version as a model.
Nijushiho	Niseishi	Twenty-four steps	Seisho Aragaki
This kata was practised by Shotokan adherents during the 1930s and is featured in Nisaburo Miki's book Kempo Gaisetsu. It was adapted by JKA instructors to conform to their standards.
Unsu	Unsu/Unshu	Cloud hands	Seisho Aragaki
This kata is said to have been taught to Bushi Matsumura by a shipwrecked Chinese sailor.
Chinte	Shoin	Strange Hands
Shoin was Gichin Funakoshi's name for the kata. Later the older name was re-adopted. Chinte features close in attacks to the eyes, nose, and ribs.
Meikyo	Rohai	Bright Mirror
From the original Tomari-te kata called Rohai, Itosu derived three kata known as Rohai shodan, nidan, and sandan. Meikyo is based on Rohai nidan.
Wankan	Hito/Shiofu	King's Crown	Gigo Funakoshi
This form shares the same name as an Okinawan kata and parts of the two are vaguely similar. It may have been created by Yoshitaka using the older form (from Tomari-te) as a model.
Gojushiho Dai (Major)	Useshi or Hotaku	54 Steps (Major)	Yasutsune Itosu
This kata is an advanced form in many Shorin Ryu groups.
Gojushiho Sho (Minor)		54 steps (Minor)	Yasutsune Itosu
Gojushiho Sho was created by Itosu using Gojushiho Dai as a model.

References:
Cook, Harry. 2001. Shotokan Karate: A Precise History.
Kanazawa, H. Shotokan Karate International Kata, Vol 1&2

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