Karate

Karate is the richest kata tradition; this guide follows the Shotokan curriculum. Learning order: Taikyoku Shodan, the five Heian kata, then Tekki Shodan.

Starter program (from zero)

Daily 15 min kihon: punches, blocks and front kicks in stance
Weeks 1-4: memorise Taikyoku Shodan step by step
Week 5+: one Heian kata per month, older ones weekly

Kata / Forms

Taikyoku Shodan 太極初段

Entry

First kata: only gedan barai and oi tsuki on an H-shaped embusen, 20 moves.

Step by step

Yoi (ready) — facing north
Turn left (west): gedan barai in zenkutsu dachi
Step forward: oi tsuki (chudan)
Turn 180° (east): gedan barai
Step forward: oi tsuki
90° left (north): gedan barai + three stepping punches (kiai on the third)
Turn 270° (west): gedan barai + oi tsuki
180° (east): gedan barai + oi tsuki
90° left (south): gedan barai + three punches (kiai)
Turn 270° (west), mirror the sequence; yame at the start point

Heian Shodan 平安初段

Beginner

21 moves adding age uke, shuto uke and kokutsu dachi.

Heian Nidan 平安二段

Beginner

26 moves introducing side kick + backfist and nukite.

Heian Sandan 平安三段

Intermediate

20 moves: paired uchi uke, elbows in kiba dachi.

Heian Yondan 平安四段

Intermediate

27 moves — the most athletic of the series.

Heian Godan 平安五段

Intermediate

23 moves with the jump — the series finale.

Tekki Shodan 鉄騎初段

Intermediate-advanced

29 moves entirely in horse stance on a single line — ideal for small spaces.

Techniques & Strikes

Stances

Zenkutsu dachi: Front stance, 60% weight forward.
Kokutsu dachi: Back stance, 70% rear — home of shuto uke.
Kiba dachi: Horse stance; hold one minute as a first goal.

Punches & strikes

Choku tsuki: Straight punch; power comes from the retracting hand.
Oi tsuki: Stepping punch — foot and fist finish together.
Gyaku tsuki: Reverse punch driven by hip rotation.
Uraken uchi: Backfist snap from the elbow.
Shuto uchi: Knife-hand strike, inside and outside paths.
Empi (hiji ate): Elbow strikes in four directions.

Blocks

Age uke: Rising block at 45° above the forehead.
Soto uke: Outside-inward block.
Uchi uke: Inside-outward block.
Gedan barai: Downward sweep — the most repeated block in kata.
Shuto uke: Knife-hand block in back stance.

Kicks

Mae geri: Front kick with the ball of the foot; retract faster than you kick.
Mawashi geri: Roundhouse — knee points, hip turns.
Yoko geri (kekomi/keage): Side kick, thrusting and snapping versions.
Ushiro geri: Back kick with the heel, looking over the shoulder.

Tips

In kata, kime (a focused moment of power) scores, not speed — ask yourself if each move ends in a clear, stable stance.
Deep stances (kiba dachi, zenkutsu dachi) carry injury risk without ankle and knee mobility; 10 minutes of dynamic stretching before kata is essential.

Turn this guide into a daily practice: log your sessions, keep your streak, earn belts.