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Ashburn, VA 20147

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WMAF Kata Curriculum

At Williams Martial Arts and Fitness the karate program is based upon the study of Seito Shito-Ryu. Seito Shito-Ryu is the traditional form of Shito-Ryu as founded by Soke Kenwa Mabuni and as now taught by Soke Kenzo Mabuni. Shito-Ryu kata or forms are a combination of kata that were taught to Kenwa Mabuni by his teachers, Anko Itosu and Kanryo Higashionna.

Within the WMAF program there are 14 kata that students are required to know when they are 1st degree black belts, Sho Dan.

• Kihon Nijugo - means basic twenty-five. A twenty-five movement kata that incorporates the key elements of Shito-Ryu basic
  

• Kihon Kata Ichi (Kihon Kata Zenkutsu Dachi Di Ichi) - Kihon Kata literally means basic form. There are in fact 12 Kihon Kata, each with the same pattern or embusen but each with a different stance and/or block combination. Zenkutsu Dachi Di Ichi is the basic kata in front stance, with down block and step forward thrust punch.
  

• Kihon Kata Zenkutsu Dachi Di Ni - Zenkutsu Dachi Di Ni is the basic kata in front stance, with a blocking combination of down block, outside block, up block and step forward thrust punch.
  

• Kihon Kata Nekoashi Dachi Di Ichi - Nekoashi Dachi Di Ichi is the basic kata in cat stance, with down block and step forward thrust punch.
  

• Kihon Kata Nekoashi Dachi Di Ni - Nekoashi Dachi Di Ni is the basic kata in cat stance, with a blocking combination of down block, outside block, up block and step forward thrust punch.
  

• Pinan Nidan - Pinan translates as "peaceful mind". The five Pinan kata that are practiced were developed originally from the Chanan Kata by Anko Itosu to be used as forms taught in the Okinawan Elementary school system. They have changed very little over the decades and even though are considered to contain all the basic moves of Karate, each of these kata can be studied for years before they are mastered. Variations of the Pinan Kata are seen in other styles with the alternative name Heian kata.
  

• Pinan Sandan
  

• Pinan Shodan
  

• Pinan Yandon
  

• Pinan Godan
  

• Jitte - also known as Jutte which means "ten hands", the name Jitte translates to "temple hands". The kata is thought to have been a Tomari-te kata, Tomari-te being one of two forms, along with Shuri-te, that Anko Itosu based the development of Shorin-Ryu on.
  

• Matsukaze - means "wind flowing through pines" - Also thought to be a Tomari-te kata.
  

• Ananku - believed also to be from the Tomari-te style, the kata means "peace from the south". It is believed that the Kata was originally brought to Tomari from Taiwan.
  

• Bassai Dai - Bassai Dai is thought to be the original form of Bassai which means "to penetrate a fortress". It is originally from the Shuri-te lineage and as such has been brought into Shito-Ryu through Anko Itosu.
  

• Seienchin - The name Seienchin has a number of interpretations - one of the which  means "The calm within the storm". It is originally from the Naha-te lineage and was brought into Shito-Ryu through Kanryo Higashionna. It is considered to be one of the defining kata of Shito-ryu.
  

Beyond this required list Shihan Williams, at his discretion, may choose to allow a student to study one of the other many Shito-Ryu Kata. For a complete list of Shito-Ryu Kata please click on the link on the left.