Taikyoku

The Taikyoku series is a series of kata in use in several types of karate. "Taikyoku" is translated as "first course" or "basic ultimate." The "Taikyoku" kata were developed by Gichin Funakoshi as a way to simplify the principles of the already simplified "Pinan"/"Heian" series. The "embusen", or pattern of the kata's movements, are the same as in "Heian shodan". Students of karate systems that use the "taikyoku" kata series are often introduced to them first, as a preparation for the "Pinan"/"Heian" kata. Goju-ryu developed five of its own "Taikyoku" katas, based on the Shotokan katas and retaining the I-shaped embusen.

The embusen (pathway) of all the Taikyoku kata is simple (here, the # represents the starting and ending point):

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On each turn, a block is executed, followed by a step and a strike. Up and back the middle, there are three punches.

Shotokan

Taikyoku shodan

Taikyoku shodan, often simply referred to as "kihon" is the first of the series, and involves only two basic moves: the gedan barai or low block, and chudan (middle) oi zuki (sometimes "oi tsuki"), or lunge punch. Allstances, except at the beginning and end, are zenkutsu dachi (forward stance).

Taikyoku nidan

The second kata of the series, taikyoku nidan, is similar to taikyoku shodan, except that the chudan punches are all replaced with upper-level (jodan) punches.

Taikyoku sandan

The third and last kata of the series, taikyoku sandan, is similar to Taikyoku Shodan, exceptthat moves 1, 3, 9, 11, 17 and 19 are uchi uke or inside-out block in kokutsu dachi (backward stance).

hito-ryu

Juni No Kata

Juni No Kata (十二の型, twelve step kata) is the version of Taikyoku taught in Shito-ryu. Typically, three version of this kata are taught: Juni No Ichi, Juni No Ni, and Juni No San. Juni No Ichi includes gedan-barrai (low block) in zenkutsu-dachi (forward stance) and oi-zuku (lunge punch) in moto-dachi (high stance), Juni No Ni replaces low blocks with middle blocks, and Juni No San - with high blocks in nekoashi dachi (cat stance).

Goju-ryu

These kata are performed largely the same, changing the stances and strikes to teach students the basics of moving and striking before moving on to more difficult kata.

The first in the series is taikyoku gedan. It employs the same strikes and blocks as Shotokan's "taikyoku shodan", but employs the "shiko dachi" ("straddle-leg stance", the equivalent of "horse stance") instead of the front stance. The second in the series, taikyoku chudan, alternates between front stance and "sanchin dachi" ("hourglass stance") and the low blocks have been replaced with "soto uke" (outer mid-level block). The third kata, taikyoku jodan, is identical to "chudan" but replaces the "soto uke" with "ake uke" (high block). The fourth, taikyoku tora guchi, is named after the trapping technique/block it teaches: the double handed hooking block, "tora guchi". The fifth, taikyoku kake uke is exactly the same as "taikyoku tora guchi", but teaches the ankle block, "kake uke".

Kyokushin

Taikyoku sono ichi

The first kata in the series. On every turn, a gedan barai is executed. Every punch is seiken oi tsuki chudan.

Taikyoku sono ni

The second kata in the series. It is performed the same way as taikyoku sono ichi, except that all punches are jodan instead of chudan.

Taikyoku sono san

The third kata in the series. The blocks when turning to the long side are mae gedan barai, while the others are chudan uchi uke. The punches on the long side are seiken oi tsuki jodan, while the others are seiken oi tsuki chudan.

okugi taikyoku sono ichi

The first sokugi (kicking) kata in the series. On every turn, kansetsu geri is executed, while on the following step or the three steps over the middle, mae keage is executed.

okugi taikyoku sono ni

The second sokugi (kicking) kata in the series. Instead of kansetsu geri being executed on every turn, yoko geri is executed, which is the same technique but going to chudan or jodan instead of gedan. On each step and the three steps over the middle, mae geri is executed.

okugi taikyoku sono san

The third sokugi (kicking) kata in the series. On each turn, a yoko geri is executed. The following steps on the short sides are uchi mawashi geri, while the three kicks executed over the long side are soto mawashi geri.

okugi taikyoku sono yan

The fourth sokugi (kicking) kata in the series. On each turn, a yoko geri is executed. The following steps on the short sides are mawashi geri, while the three kicks executed over the long side are ushiro mawashi geri.

Ura

The taikyoku series can also be done "in Ura" denoting that each step is reversed, meaning that every other step one steps in circle to reach the target, then performs the technique. The round steps are always performed on the strikes, not the blocks

Tate

The series can also be performed "in Tate" a variation invented by Yoshikazu Matsushima and unique to IKO3. In this variation the steps are performed in a straight line, starting by stepping directly forward, then the turns being 180 degrees rather than ninety. On the last step, one turns to the where one was originally facing rather than stepping forward.

Go-Kan-Ryu

Taikyoku Shodan

Identical to the Shotokan form (see above)

Taikyoku Nidan

In the Go-Kan-Ryu Karate-do organisation, a new kata devised by Kancho Robert Sullivan is used with the name "Taikyoku Nidan." It is much the same as Taikyoku Shodan but incorporates kicks that follow each punch (on the same count) along the top and bottom, and kicks that precede each punch (on the same count) going down the line. This kata is useful in assisting the development of balance and control in newer students. It is needed to progress from 8th Kyu (yellow belt) to 7th Kyu (orange belt).

Shuri-ryu

In Shuri-ryu, Taikyoku Ichi is performed at gedan level, Taikyoku Ni is performed at chudan level, and Taikyoku San is performed at jodan level. All performed in the typical "H" or "I" pattern.

ee also

*Karate kata

External links

* [http://www.karate-psv-hattingen.de/images/Kata/Taikyoku_Shodan_g.gifTaikyoku Shodan kata diagram]
* [http://www.gojuryu.com/kata.htm Goju-ryu Taikyoku katas]
*cite web|url=http://shitokai.com/juninokata.php|title=Juni No Kata|publisher=Shitokai.com|accessdate=2007-05-15