Shotokan Karate Traditional
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General Terms
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Name
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Kanji
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Description
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Arigato gozaimashita
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Thank you for teaching me
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Atemi
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当て身
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Blows directed against vital body points with the aid of hands, feet, elbows & knees.
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Bubishi
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The Bible of Karate It is the title of one of two different Chinese documents called „Account of Military Arts and Science” not to be confused with „Bushi-do” (see below)
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Bushi
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武士
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Aristocratic Warrior (Combat Personnel) roughly equivalent to old Western Knights or Samurai
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Bushi-do
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武士道
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Samurai Code of Conduct & Way of Life or Way of Warrior.
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Budo
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武道
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Japanese term for „Martial Arts” interchangeable with the word Bujutsu – Science of War”
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Bunkai
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Application, meaning or interpretation of Kata moves. Oyo Bunkai is similar using an alternative or a different layer of interpretation.
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Dachi
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Stance
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Dan
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段位
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Black Belt grade – Degree or Diploma
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Daruma
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Warm-up exercises
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Dojo
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道場
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Training Hall (place of the way)
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Dojo Kun
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Dojo Rules (Creed/Oath)
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Dozo one gaishimasu
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Please teach me
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Embusen
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The line along which a kata is performed
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Fukutsu no seishin
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Never Give Up!!
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Geri
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Kick
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Gi
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衣or 着
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karate suit or uniform (Gi is an abbreviation of Keikogi)
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Hajime
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始め
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Start/begin
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Hanshi
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藩師
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Instructor of Instructors 9th to 10th Dan
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Hei jo Shin
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平常心
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Ordinary Mind (Common Mind) – Always Ready
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Hidari
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Left
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Hikite
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Fist on Hip. Believed to have been developed by Kushanku.
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Hissho no seishin
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Winning Spirit
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Hitotsu tachi
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see next entry below
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Ichi no tachi
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or Hitotsu tachi (one cut). Entering the opponents striking range & drawing an attack rather than initiating one & then stepping inside the blow whilst delivering one`s own.
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Ikken Hisatsu
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to kill with one blow.
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Kaisai no genri
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finding hidden techniques in kata
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Kamae
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構え:かまえ
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Posture (whole body). Basic stance for sparring or self-defence/sparring.
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Kan-ken Futatsu No Koto
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Both the Eyes & the Mind Must See
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Kanto no seishin
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Good Fighting Spirit
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Karate
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Empty 空手 (or China) 唐手 Hand
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Karate-ka
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Student
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Karate-dō
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空手道
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the way of the empty hand
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Karate ni sente nashi
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There is no first strike (attack) in karate. [either mentally or physically] (the 2nd of Funakoshi`s 20 Precepts)
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Kata
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武or形
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Formal Exercise or Forms
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Keage
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Snap
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Keizo
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Lineage Family Tree
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Ki / Qui / Chi
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気
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Life force or spiritual energy (Chi in Chinese)
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Kiai
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気合
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Fighting Spirit or a short loud shout. The noise from a kiai is said to emit from the „hara” or „tanden„, and it involves the abdominal muscles and diaphragm. It should not be sounded in the throat.
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Kime
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Focus
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Kihon
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基本
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„Basic” e.g.. basic kata or basic kicks, punches, blocks and strikes
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Kiso Kumite
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pre-sequenced sparring from kata techniques
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Kitei
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Required basics Kitei Kata (video .wmv file) (not part of SSKA syllabus)
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Kobo Itchi
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Offence & Defence are One
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Koryū
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古流; こりゅう
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A Japanese word that is used in association with the ancient Japanese martial arts. This word literally translates as „old school” or „traditional (or classical) school”.
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Kumite
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組手
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Sparring
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Kyu
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級
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Levels leading towards Black Belt
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Maai
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間合い
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Distance….(between two opponents)
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Mawate
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回って
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Turn around
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Menkyo-kaiden
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A certificate of full proficiency in an art, usually given to a student deemed most suited to carry on the art of his sensei. A master customarily issued only one menkyo-kaiden in his lifetime.
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Migi
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Right
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Mushin
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無心
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A mind not fixed or occupied by thought or emotion. „No Mind” – the term used to describe the state of pure consciousness unburdened by thought and being free and flexible to react and adapt to a given situation.
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Narande
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並んで
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Line Up
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Nintai
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Perseverance, endurance & endurance.
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Obi
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Belt
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Okuden
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Hidden Teaching
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Osu
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押忍
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Positive Acknowledgement i.e. Yes or I Understand etc
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Randori
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Free Sparring
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Rei
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礼
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Bow (as in “Sensei Ne Rei” = “Bow to Instructor”)
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Reishiki
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Etiquette or manners
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Renshi
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連師
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Advanced Instructor 5th to 6th Dan
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Satori
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A state of enlightenment reached after much practice in meditation.
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Sempei
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先輩
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Senior Student
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Sensei
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先生
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Instructor
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Shihan
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師範
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Senior Instructor
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Shingi Ittai
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Mind & Technique are One
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Shodan
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初段
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Degree/Diploma Black Belt grade
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Shoto
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pen or nick name for Gichin Funakoshi Sensei
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Shotokan
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松涛館
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House of Pine Waves – literally „Gichin Funakoshi`s hall”
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Shomen
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Front of Dojo
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Shugo
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Line Up command – class
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Tanden (hara 腹)
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丹田
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is described as an important focus point for internal meditative techniques, and refers specifically to the physical center of gravity located in the abdomen three finger widths below and two finger widths behind the navel.
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Ten No Kata (Omote & Ura)
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Basic kihon and kumite drills invented by Funakoshi Sensei
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Tui-te
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the Okinawan art of „arresting or catching an opponent by using only the hands” originally from the Cantonese art of Chin-Na
擒拿
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Tokui
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(Favourite) Kata
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Toridai
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or Himitsu – hidden techniques in kata, see Bunkai
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Uchi
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Strikes
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Uke
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Block
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Ushero
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Reverse
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Waza
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Technique
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Yame
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止め
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Finish
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Yoi
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用意
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Get Ready
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Yoko
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Side
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Yudansha
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Senior Grades – Blackbelts
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Zuki (Tsuki)
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Punches
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Zanshin
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残心
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Alertness or Readiness of Mind & Body – focus of concentration. Mind Like Moon
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Zazen
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坐禅
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A meditative posture & technique.
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Punches- Zuki
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Choku Zuki
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straight or lunge punch
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Gyaku Zuki
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Reverse – Punch (opposite arm to leg forward)
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Kage Zuki
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Hook Punch
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Kizami Zuki
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Forward Snap Punch
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Moroto Zuki
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Double Punch
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Oi Zuki
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Lunge Punch (Same arm & same leg forward)
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Mawashi Zuki
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Round house punch
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Age Zuki
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Rising punch (e.g. as in Kata Empi)
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Yama Zuki
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„Y” punch
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Strikes
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Empi
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Elbow Strike
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Teisho
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Strike made with the palm or „heel” of the hand
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Tetsui
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Hammer Fist Strike
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Uraken
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Back fist strike
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Blocks – Uke
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Age Uke
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Upper Rising Block
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Gedan Barai
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Downward Block
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Juji Uke
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„X” Block
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Moroto Uke
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Augmented Block
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Shuto Uke
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Knife Hand Block
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Soto Uke
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Outside Block
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Uchi Uke
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Inside Block
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Kicks – Geri
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Ashi Barai
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Foot/Leg Sweep.
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Ashi Gataana
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Foot Sword
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Fumikomi Geri
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Cutting Kick
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Hiza Geri
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Knee Kick
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Kakato Geri
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Axe Kick using the back of the heel
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Mae Geri
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Front Snap Kick (pronounced My Geri)
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Mae Geri Keage
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Front Snapping Kick
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Mae Geri Kekomi
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Front Thrust Kick
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Mawashi Geri
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Roundhouse Kick
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Mikazuki Geri
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Crescent Kick.
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Nidan Geri
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Double kick using alternate legs in the air (as in Kanku Dai)
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Ren-Geri
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Two Kicks using alternate legs i.e. left and then right.
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Tobi Geri
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Flying kick
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Tsumasaki Geri
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Kick using the tips of the toes.
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Ushero Geri
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Reverse Kick (back kick)
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Ushero Mawashi Geri
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Reverse Roundhouse Kick
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Yoko Geri Keage
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Side Snap Kick
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Yoko Geri Kekomi
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Side Thrust Kick
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Stances – Dachi
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Fudo Dachi
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Rooted Stance. Sometimes referred to as Sochin Dachi
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Gankaku Dachi
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Crane Stance – see Gankaku
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Hangetsu Dachi
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Half-Moon Stance
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Heiko Dachi
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Parallel stance
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Heisoku Dachi
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An informal attention stance
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Hachiji
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Natural Stance
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Katashi dachi
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Crane-like stance (as in Empi)
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Kiba Dachi
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Horse Riding or Straddle Stance
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Kokutsu Dachi
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Back Stance (front leg inline with back leg)
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Kosa Dachi
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Crossed-feet Stance
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Musubi Dachi
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Informal attention stance
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Naihanchi Dachi
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Kiba Dachi but with the feet turned in
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Neko-Ashi Dachi
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Cats Foot Stance
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Renoji Dachi
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L Stance
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Sagi Ashi Dachi
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Heron Leg Stance
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Sanchin Dachi
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Hour-glass Stance
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Shiko Dachi
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Square Stance
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Shizen Dachi
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Natural Stance
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Shizentai
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Ready Stance
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Sochin Dachi
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Immovable Stance
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Teiji Dachi
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T-shape stance
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Tsuru Ashi Dachi
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Crane Leg Stance (as in Gankaku)
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Uchi-Hachiji Dachi
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Inverted Figure Eight Stance. The feet are shoulder width apart with the feet facing inwards
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Zenkutsu Dachi
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Front Stance (wide stance)
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Shotokan Kata – Names & What They Mean
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Kata Names
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Kanji
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Attributed to
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Number of Steps
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Meaning
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Grade
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Old or Other Name
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Heian Shodan
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平安初段
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Itosu
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21 Steps
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Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity – Level 1
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9th Kyu
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Pinan
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Heian Nidan
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平安二段
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Matsumura
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26 Steps
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Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity – Level 2
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8th Kyu
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Pinan
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Heian Sandan
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平安三段
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Itosu
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21 Steps
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Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity – Level 3
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7th Kyu
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Pinan
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Heian Yondan
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平安四段
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Itosu
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28 Steps
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Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity – Level 4
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6th Kyu
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Pinan
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Heian Godan
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平安五段
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Itosu
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26 Steps
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Peaceful Mind or Tranquillity – Level 5
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5th Kyu
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Pinan
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Tekki Shodan
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鉄騎初段
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Matsumura
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24 Steps
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Iron Horse or Horse Riding 1st Level
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4th Kyu
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from Naihanchi kata
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Tekki Nidan
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鉄騎二段
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Itosu
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Iron Horse – Level 2
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Brown Belt Kata
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from Naihanchi kata
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Tekki Sandan
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鉄騎三段
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Itosu
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Iron Horse – Level 3
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3rd Dan Kata
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from Naihanchi kata
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Bassai Dai
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披塞大
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Matsumura
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46 Steps
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To Storm a Fortress.(major)
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3rd Kyu to 1st Dan
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variation of Passaikata
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Bassai Sho
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披塞小
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Matsumura
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27 Steps
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To Storm a Fortress (minor)
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2nd Dan Kata
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variation of Passai kata
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Kanku Dai
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観空大
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Matsumura
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69 Steps
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To view the sky (major) * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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from Kashankukata (or Kusanku)
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Kanku Sho
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観空小
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Matsumura
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48 Steps
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To view the sky (minor)
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2nd Dan Kata
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from Kashanku kata (or Kusanku)
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Hangetsu
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半月
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Matsumura
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41 Steps
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Half moon * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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Old root from Seisan kata (Jusan)
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Gankaku
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岩鶴
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Matsumura
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42 Steps
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Crane on a rock
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3rd Dan Kata
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Chinto
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Gankaku Sho
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岩鶴小
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Itosu
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45 Steps
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not part of SSKA syllabus
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not part of SSKA syllabus
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also called Koryu Gankaku
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Enpi
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燕飛
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through Itosu (1683)
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37 Steps
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Flying swallow * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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Wansu (Wanshu)
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Jion
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慈恩
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Itosu
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47 Steps
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Named after the Jion-ji temple (Kind and Graciousness) * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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NB: A compulsory kata in the „Federation of All Japan Karate-Do” organisations.
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Jitte
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十手
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Itosu
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24 Steps
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Ten hands * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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Jiin
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慈陰
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Itosu
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33 Steps
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Translated Love of Truth (or kind shade) * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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Nijushiho
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二十四步
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Seisho Arakaki
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24 Steps
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24 steps
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2nd Dan Kata
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Niseishi
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Meikyo
(or Rohai)
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明鏡
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Itosu
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33 Steps
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Clear or Bright Mirror
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3rd Dan Kata
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Sochin
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壯鎭
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Seisho Arakaki
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41 Steps
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Rooted or Tranquil Force – Named after the stance
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2nd Dan Kata
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Chinte
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珍手
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Itosu
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32 Steps
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Rare, Unusual or Incredible Hands * *
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Brown Belt Kata
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Wankan
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王冠
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Matsumura
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24 Steps
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Crown of a King or Emperor / A Proper Name
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3rd Dan Kata
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Unsu
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雲手
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Seisho Arakaki
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48 Steps
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Defence of a Cloud/Cloud Hands
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3rd Dan Kata
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Gojushiho Dai
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五十四歩大
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Matsumura
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54 steps
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Fifty Four Steps (major)
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3rd Dan Kata
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Useishi
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Gojushiho Sho
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五十四歩小
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Matsumura
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54 steps
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Fifty Four Steps (minor)
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3rd Dan Kata
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Useishi
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