A ("form" or "model") is a set sequence of moves, stepping and turning, performed alone or in pairs. It is not meant as a literal mock fight but as a way to practise correct form, flow and the imagined use of each technique. 1,13 Studying how the moves would work against a real partner is called , "analysis". 42 Kata are taught in stages, and students keep repeating earlier kata at a higher standard as they progress. 13 The floor pattern a kata follows is its . 4
Why the same kata has several names
- When Gichin Funakoshi brought karate to Tokyo he renamed many Okinawan kata to make them easier to say and more acceptable in Japan at the time: Pinan became Heian, Naihanchi became Tekki, Kusanku became Kanku, Chinto became Gankaku. 5,13,43
- Spelling varies with romanisation (Enpi or Empi, Seienchin or Seiyunchin). 43
- The WKF's own rules warn that one kata may have different names in different styles, and in rare cases the same name is used for two different kata. 50
- Even where the name is the same, each style, association and sometimes each club performs its own version. 5,13
How to read the tables
Meanings are the usual translations; old names are often uncertain. Styles listed are examples, not a complete list. Levels are from four UK syllabi: KUGB (Shotokan) 61, EGKA (Goju-ryu) 70, SKF (Shukokai) 80 and the BKK's tournament groups (Kyokushin) 75. Other clubs differ.
Beginner kata
| Kata (other names) | Meaning | Styles | Rough level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taikyoku (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan; Kyokushin: Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni, San; the KUGB calls its first kata "Kihon Kata") | Named after the Chinese idea of taiji; simplified forms made by Yoshitaka Funakoshi on the Heian Shodan floor pattern | Shotokan, Kyokushin, some Wado and Sankukai schools | First kata: KUGB novice; BKK red and blue belts 4,5,43,61,75,84 |
| / (Shodan to Godan; Kyokushin: Pinan Sono Ichi to Go; Sankukai's version: Heiwa) | "Peaceful and safe" | Shotokan (as Heian), Wado, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Kyokushin, Shorin-ryu and many more | Early grades: KUGB 8th to 4th Kyu; SKF yellow to purple 30,61,75,80,84 |
| Gekisai Dai Ichi and Dai Ni (Kyokushin: Gekisai Dai and Gekisai Sho) | "Attack and smash" | Goju-ryu, Kyokushin; Sankukai's Shinsei is derived from Gekisai Dai Ichi | Goju first kata: EGKA 9th to 7th Kyu 6,75,84 |
| Fukyugata Ichi and Ni | "Promotional" kata, made in Okinawa in 1940 to teach schoolchildren | Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu (as Gekisai) | Beginner 6,11 |
The Pinan order differs. Shotokan's Heian Shodan is what Shito-ryu calls Pinan Nidan, and vice versa. Wado-ryu and Shukokai teach Pinan Nidan before Pinan Shodan; some Shito-ryu dojos teach Pinan Shodan last. 30
Intermediate kata
| Kata (other names) | Meaning | Styles | Rough level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naihanchi / Tekki (Shodan, Nidan, Sandan) | Often translated "internal divided conflict"; Funakoshi's Tekki means "iron horse". Done in a straddle stance, moving side to side | Shotokan, Wado (first one only), Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Shorin-ryu | KUGB 3rd Kyu (Tekki Shodan) 5,43,61 |
| "Three battles", often read as uniting mind, body and spirit | Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Kyokushin, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Sankukai | EGKA 5th Kyu; Uechi-ryu's first kata 6,10,43,75 | |
| Saifa | "Rip and tear" (also "pound and pulverise") | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shukokai | EGKA 6th Kyu; SKF 2nd to 1st Kyu 6,43,80 |
| Seiyunchin / Seienchin | Translations vary ("control and pull into battle", "pulling", "marching far quietly"); no kicks | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Kyokushin | EGKA 4th Kyu; SKF 2nd Dan 6,43,75,80 |
| Bassai / Passai (Dai and Sho) | Origin unknown; one theory links the name to a Fujian lion dance. Dai means big, sho small | Shotokan, Wado, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Shorin-ryu, Sankukai | KUGB 2nd Kyu and 1st Dan (Bassai Dai); SKF 1st Dan 43,61,80,84 |
| Kusanku / Kanku / Kushanku / Kosokun (Dai and Sho) | Named after Kusanku, a Chinese visitor recorded around 1756; the name Kanku is usually translated "sky viewing" | Shotokan (Kanku), Wado (Kushanku), Shito-ryu and Shukokai (Kosokun), Kyokushin (Kanku Dai), Shorin-ryu | KUGB 2nd Dan list; SKF 3rd Dan; BKK brown belts 5,43,61,75,80 |
| Jion, Jitte, Ji'in | A group beginning with the same hand position; Hirokazu Kanazawa suggested they come from the Jion temple. Jitte means "ten hands", Ji'in "temple ground" | Shotokan, Wado (Jion, Jitte), Shito-ryu, Shukokai | KUGB 2nd to 4th Dan lists; SKF 1st Kyu (Ji'in) and 1st Dan (Jion) 5,43,61,80 |
| Enpi / Wanshu | Enpi means "flight of the swallow". Funakoshi renamed Wanshu as Enpi, and the two are often called sister kata. Both trace to Tomari | Shotokan (Enpi), Wado, Shito-ryu, Shukokai (Wanshu) | KUGB 2nd Dan list; SKF 3rd to 2nd Kyu 5,43,61,80 |
| Seisan / Seishan / Hangetsu | Seisan means "13" (the popular "13 hands" has no historical basis); Funakoshi's Hangetsu means "half moon" | Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, Shito-ryu, Wado (Seishan), Shotokan (Hangetsu) | KUGB 2nd Dan list 5,6,43,61 |
| Chinto / Gankaku | Funakoshi's Gankaku means "crane on a rock" | Shotokan (Gankaku), Wado, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Shorin-ryu | KUGB 3rd Dan list; SKF 1st Dan 5,43,61,80 |
| Rohai / Meikyo | Rohai: "image of a heron". Meaning of Meikyo not confirmed | Shotokan (Meikyo), Wado (Rohai Shodan), Shito-ryu | KUGB 4th Dan list 5,43,61 |
| Tensho | "Revolving hands"; the soft partner of Sanchin | Goju-ryu, Kyokushin, Shukokai, Sankukai | Goju core kata; BKK senior grades 6,43,75,84 |
Advanced kata
| Kata (other names) | Meaning | Styles | Rough level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nijushiho / Niseishi | "Twenty four steps" | Shotokan, Wado, Shito-ryu | KUGB 2nd Dan list 5,43,61 |
| Gojushiho (Dai and Sho) / Useishi / Sushiho | "Fifty four steps". Kyokushin calls it Sushiho; the JKA and SKIF swap the Dai and Sho names | Shotokan, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Kyokushin | KUGB 3rd and 4th Dan lists 43,61,75 |
| Shisochin | "Fight in four directions" | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shukokai | EGKA 2nd Kyu; SKF 2nd to 1st Kyu 6,43,70,80 |
| Sochin | "Tranquil force" or "preserve the peace" | Shotokan, Shito-ryu | KUGB 3rd Dan list 43,61 |
| Chinte | "Rare hand" or "unusual hand" | Shotokan, Shito-ryu, Shukokai | KUGB 3rd Dan list; SKF 3rd to 2nd Kyu 43,61,80 |
| Wankan / Matsukaze | "King's crown"; also Matsukaze ("pine tree wind") in some schools | Shotokan, Shito-ryu, Shorin-ryu; Shukokai and Sankukai list a Matsukaze | KUGB 4th Dan list; SKF 3rd Kyu (Matsukaze) 43,61,80,84 |
| Unsu | "Cloud hands"; often treated as the most advanced Shotokan kata | Shotokan, Shito-ryu, Wado | KUGB 3rd Dan list 43,61 |
| Sanseru / Sanseiryu | "36" | Goju-ryu (Sanseru), Uechi-ryu (Sanseiryu) | Advanced 6,10 |
| Sepai / Seipai | "18" | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shukokai, Kyokushin | SKF 3rd Dan 6,75,80 |
| Kururunfa | "Hold on long and strike suddenly" | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, Shukokai | SKF 3rd Dan 6,80 |
| Suparinpei / Pechurin | "108"; the most advanced Goju-ryu kata | Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu, some Wado schools | Highest Goju kata 5,6 |
Kata found mainly in one style
- Kyokushin: Yantsu, Tsuki no Kata, Saiha, Garyu. Tsuki no Kata means "kata of punches"; the meanings of the others were not confirmed. 75
- Uechi-ryu: Kanshiwa, Kanshu, Seichin, Seiryu, Kanchin, added by Kanei Uechi and senior students in the 1950s. 10
- Sankukai: Heiwa Shodan to Godan, Shinsei, Tazima; Tazima is required for shodan in the BSKA. 84
- Shito-ryu and Shukokai: Aoyagi, Nipaipo, Annanku, Jurokono and many others; Shito-ryu has one of the largest kata lists of any style. 7,9,80
- Wado-ryu partner kata: kihon kumite, kumite gata, ohyo kumite, idori, tanto dori and shinken shirahadori, which vary between Wado organisations. 5
Competition kata
The WKF's 2026 rules allow only the 102 kata on its official list, which includes the main kata of Shotokan, Goju-ryu, Shito-ryu and Wado-ryu plus Okinawan forms such as Kyan no Chinto, Matsumura Bassai and Chibana no Kushanku. 50 See the competition page.