Kata & suburi video library

31 no jo kata

The 31-count solo kata — the backbone of aiki-jo practice.

Aiki-jo

Happo giri

Shomen cuts to eight directions; feet turn first, sword follows.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Irimi

Entering straight past the line of attack.

Aikido

Mae

Seitei Iai kata 1 — draw and cut against an opponent in front, from seiza.

Iaido

Nihon Kendō Kata 1 (Ipponme)

Kendō kata 1 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Okul kataları hakkında

Kenjutsu kata are school-specific; without a school, invest in cut quality or use the standardised Iaido/Kendo kata.

Kenjutsu

Taegeuk Il Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 1 — represents Keon (heaven).

Taekwondo

Taikyoku Shodan

First kata: only gedan barai and oi tsuki on an H-shaped embusen, 20 moves. The cleanest way to learn turns.

Karate

Tsukizue

Seitei Jōdō kata 1 — 'leaning on the staff'; opens the set.

Jodo

13 no jo kata

The 13-count solo kata; compact and rhythm-focused.

Aiki-jo

Heian Shodan

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

Karate

Kumitachi 1-5 (solo hali)

The five paired sword forms; practise the attacking side solo as shadow work, keeping the pauses.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Nihon Kendō Kata 2 (Nihonme)

Kendō kata 2 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Shomen giri

Vertical centre cut braked by the core, not the wrists.

Kenjutsu

Suigetsu

Seitei Jōdō kata 2 — thrust to the solar plexus (suigetsu).

Jodo

Taegeuk I Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 2 — represents Tae (lake).

Taekwondo

Tenkan

Pivot 180° around the front foot.

Aikido

Ushiro

Seitei Iai kata 2 — turning draw against an opponent behind.

Iaido

Aiki-ken suburi 1 — Ichi no suburi

Full overhead cut finishing at belly height; body drops with the cut.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Happo giri

Cutting to eight directions in sequence — the best warm-up for footwork and balance.

Aiki-jo

Heian Nidan

26 moves introducing side kick + backfist and nukite.

Karate

Hissage

Seitei Jōdō kata 3 — the jo held hidden, drawn at the last moment.

Jodo

Irimi-tenkan

Enter then pivot — aikido's fundamental 'walk'.

Aikido

Kesa giri

Diagonal cut along the monk's-robe line, both sides equally.

Kenjutsu

Nihon Kendō Kata 3 (Sanbonme)

Kendō kata 3 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Taegeuk Sam Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 3 — represents Ri (fire).

Taekwondo

Ukenagashi

Seitei Iai kata 3 — flowing parry that turns into a cut.

Iaido

Aiki-ken suburi 2 — Ni no suburi

Step back to jodan, step in and cut.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Choku tsuki

Straight thrust; rear hand drives, front hand aims. Target chudan.

Aiki-jo

Gyaku kesa giri

Rising reverse diagonal cut.

Kenjutsu

Heian Sandan

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

Karate

Nihon Kendō Kata 4 (Yonhonme)

Kendō kata 4 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Shamen

Seitei Jōdō kata 4 — strike to the side of the head.

Jodo

Shikko

Knee walking — the base of seated techniques.

Aikido

Taegeuk Sa Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 4 — represents Jin (thunder).

Taekwondo

Tsuka-ate

Seitei Iai kata 4 — strike with the hilt, then cut; from tatehiza.

Iaido

Aiki-ken suburi 3 — San no suburi

Low sweep then overhead cut.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Do giri (yoko ichimonji)

Horizontal torso cut driven by the hips.

Kenjutsu

Heian Yondan

27 moves — the most athletic of the series.

Karate

Kaeshi tsuki

Turning thrust: the tip deflects, then thrusts. Drill the hand change slowly.

Aiki-jo

Kesagiri

Seitei Iai kata 5 — rising and descending diagonal cuts.

Iaido

Mae ukemi (öne yuvarlanma)

Forward roll along the arm and across the back.

Aikido

Nihon Kendō Kata 5 (Gohonme)

Kendō kata 5 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Sakan

Seitei Jōdō kata 5 — controlling the sword from the left side.

Jodo

Taegeuk O Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 5 — represents Seon (wind).

Taekwondo

Aiki-ken suburi 4 — Yon no suburi

Walking continuous shomen cuts, one per step.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Heian Godan

23 moves with the jump — the series finale.

Karate

Monomi

Seitei Jōdō kata 6 — 'the lookout'; watching, then intercepting.

Jodo

Morote-tsuki

Seitei Iai kata 6 — two-handed thrust between cuts.

Iaido

Nihon Kendō Kata 6 (Ropponme)

Kendō kata 6 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Taegeuk Yuk Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 6 — represents Gam (water).

Taekwondo

Tsuki

Thrust to the throat — line over power.

Kenjutsu

Ushiro tsuki

Rear thrust — look first, then rotate the hips.

Aiki-jo

Ushiro ukemi (geriye)

Backward roll — progress from sitting to standing.

Aikido

Aiki-ken suburi 5 — Go no suburi

Side deflection returning to a centre cut.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Beş kamae

The five guards (see Bokken); names and angles vary by school.

Kenjutsu

Kasumi

Seitei Jōdō kata 7 — 'mist'; deceptive covering movement.

Jodo

Nihon Kendō Kata 7 (Nanahonme)

Kendō kata 7 — tachi (long sword) form, uchidachi vs shidachi.

Kendo

Sanpōgiri

Seitei Iai kata 7 — cutting three opponents in three directions.

Iaido

Taegeuk Chil Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 7 — represents Gan (mountain).

Taekwondo

Tekki Shodan

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

Karate

Tsuki gedan gaeshi

Thrust then low sweep at knee height; power from the torso, not the arms.

Aiki-jo

Yoko ukemi (yana)

Side breakfall — arm and leg strike together.

Aikido

Aiki-ken suburi 6 — Roku no suburi

Deflection finishing with a thrust.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Bassai Dai

'To storm a fortress' — powerful hip-driven blocks and strikes.

Karate

Ganmen-ate

Seitei Iai kata 8 — strike to the face with the hilt, thrust behind.

Iaido

Kodachi Kata 1

Kendō kodachi kata 1 — short sword against long sword.

Kendo

Shomen uchi

Overhead strike with the hand blade; same mechanics as a sword cut.

Aikido

Suburi rutini

30 vertical, 20+20 diagonal, 10+10 horizontal, 20 thrusts; check form in a mirror weekly.

Kenjutsu

Tachi otoshi

Seitei Jōdō kata 8 — dropping the sword with a strike.

Jodo

Taegeuk Pal Jang

Taegeuk poomsae 8 — represents Gon (earth).

Taekwondo

Tsuki jodan gaeshi uchi

Thrust, high turn, overhead strike — practise in three parts.

Aiki-jo

Aiki-ken suburi 7 — Nana no suburi

Combines deflection, cut and thrust — the series in one flow.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Kanku Dai

'Viewing the sky' — the longest of the core Shotokan kata.

Karate

Kodachi Kata 2

Kendō kodachi kata 2 — short sword against long sword.

Kendo

Koryo

First black-belt poomsae — named after the Goryeo dynasty.

Taekwondo

Rai uchi

Seitei Jōdō kata 9 — 'thunder strike'; from the chūdan series.

Jodo

Shomen uchikomi

Overhead centre strike; finish with the tip at eye level.

Aiki-jo

Soete-tsuki

Seitei Iai kata 9 — supported thrust with the hand on the blade.

Iaido

Yokomen uchi

Diagonal strike to the temple.

Aikido

Enpi

'Flying swallow' — quick level changes and darting movement.

Karate

Keumgang

'Diamond' — slow, powerful black-belt poomsae.

Taekwondo

Kodachi Kata 3

Kendō kodachi kata 3 — short sword against long sword.

Kendo

Renzoku uchikomi

Continuous alternating strikes — a rhythm drill.

Aiki-jo

Seigan

Seitei Jōdō kata 10 — thrust toward the eyes from chūdan.

Jodo

Seigan / Chudan no kamae

The basic guard — tip at the opponent's throat.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Shihōgiri

Seitei Iai kata 10 — cutting four opponents in four directions.

Iaido

Tsuki

Straight punch to the abdomen, stepping in.

Aikido

Ikkyo

First principle — arm pin through the elbow.

Aikido

Jion

Temple-named kata — solid stances and classical techniques.

Karate

Jodan no kamae

Sword overhead, ready to strike.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Men uchi

Strike to the head — the first of kendo's four target strikes.

Kendo

Men uchi gedan gaeshi

Head strike flowing into a low sweep on the same step.

Aiki-jo

Midare dome

Seitei Jōdō kata 11 — 'stopping the disorder'; complex exchanges.

Jodo

Sōgiri

Seitei Iai kata 11 — series of five complete cuts.

Iaido

Taebaek

Third black-belt poomsae — named after Mt. Taebaek, symbol of the founding legend.

Taekwondo

Hasso no kamae

Vertical sword at the shoulder — an observing posture.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Jitte

'Ten hands' — defence-oriented kata built around blocking a staff (bo) attack.

Karate

Kote uchi

Strike to the wrist.

Kendo

Men uchi ushiro tsuki

Head strike forward, thrust to the rear — two-opponent assumption.

Aiki-jo

Nikyo

Second principle — wrist turn that takes the balance.

Aikido

Nukiuchi

Seitei Iai kata 12 — sudden draw-and-cut; closes the set.

Iaido

Pyongwon

'Vast plain' — wide, expansive movements.

Taekwondo

Ran ai

Seitei Jōdō kata 12 — the longest kata of the set; closes the series.

Jodo

Bassai Sho

Companion to Bassai Dai — same 'storming a fortress' theme, lighter and faster.

Karate

Do uchi

Strike to the trunk.

Kendo

Gyaku yokomen ushiro tsuki

Reverse side strike to the temple, then rear thrust.

Aiki-jo

Honte uchi

Basic strike with the standard grip.

Jodo

Nukitsuke

The draw that cuts; half the speed is the scabbard pulling back.

Iaido

Sankyo

Third principle — spiral wrist control.

Aikido

Sipjin

'Ten' — symbolises steady growth and development.

Taekwondo

Waki gamae

Sword hidden behind — striking 'from nowhere'.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Gankaku

'Crane on a rock' — one-legged stances testing balance, formerly known as Chinto.

Karate

Gedan no kamae

Tip low — an inviting guard from which rising deflections grow.

Bokken (Aiki-ken)

Gyakute uchi

Strike with the reversed grip — both ends are weapons.

Jodo

Jitae

'On the earth' — grounded stances, humility toward the ground.

Taekwondo

Katate gedan gaeshi

One-handed low sweep; mind the wrist load.

Aiki-jo

Kirioroshi

The main descending cut.

Iaido

Tsuki

Thrust to the throat guard.

Kendo

Yonkyo

Fourth principle — pressure control on the forearm.

Aikido

Cheonkwon

'Sky' — reverent, expansive movement toward the heavens.

Taekwondo

Chiburi

Shaking the blood off — a zanshin phase, never rushed.

Iaido

Gokyo

Fifth principle — pin used against weapon attacks.

Aikido

Hangetsu

'Half moon' — slow breathing kata in a deep hangetsu-dachi, tension over speed.

Karate

Hiki otoshi uchi

The signature technique: sliding strike that drops the sword.

Jodo

Joge buri

Large full swings opening the shoulders.

Kendo

Katate toma uchi

One-handed long-range strike from the very end of the jo.

Aiki-jo

Hansu

'Water' — flowing, adaptable movement.

Taekwondo

Kaeshi tsuki

Turning thrust to the throat.

Jodo

Katate hachi no ji gaeshi

One-handed figure-eight — the basis of jo spinning.

Aiki-jo

Noto

Re-sheathing without looking; slow noto is the hard one.

Iaido

Shiho nage

Four-direction throw; drill the footwork with a bokken.

Aikido

Shomen suburi

Centre cuts finishing at men height.

Kendo

Zenkutsu dachi

Front stance, 60% weight forward.

Karate

Gyakute tsuki

Reversed-grip thrust.

Jodo

Hasso gaeshi uchi

Turn the jo up to hasso at the shoulder, strike from there.

Aiki-jo

Ilyeo

'Oneness' — final black-belt poomsae; body and mind as one, named for a monk's teaching.

Taekwondo

Irimi nage

Entering throw — moving through the attack line.

Aikido

Kokutsu dachi

Back stance, 70% rear — home of shuto uke.

Karate

Sayu men

Alternating diagonal men cuts.

Kendo

Seiza / tate hiza kalkışları

Rising from seiza in one motion, 10 reps daily.

Iaido

Ap chagi

Front kick — the mother of all kicks.

Taekwondo

Hasso gaeshi tsuki

Thrust from hasso.

Aiki-jo

Haya suburi

Jumping fast suburi — the conditioning benchmark.

Kendo

Kiba dachi

Horse stance; hold one minute as a first goal.

Karate

Kote gaeshi

Outward wrist-turn throw; the tai sabaki patterns are 80% of the throw.

Aikido

Maki otoshi

Spiral wrap that drops the sword — angle over speed.

Jodo

Suburi (bokken)

Cut mechanics with a bokken when no iaito is available.

Iaido

Choku tsuki

Straight punch; power comes from the retracting hand.

Karate

Dollyo chagi

Roundhouse — taekwondo's signature.

Taekwondo

Hasso gaeshi ushiro tsuki

Rear thrust from hasso.

Aiki-jo

Kaiten nage

Rotary throw.

Aikido

Kuri tsuke

Pinning sword and hands downward.

Jodo

Okuri ashi

The sliding step underlying all kendo movement.

Kendo

Fumikomi

The stamping step at the moment of the strike.

Kendo

Hasso gaeshi ushiro uchi

Rear strike from hasso.

Aiki-jo

Kuri hanashi

Pinning then casting away.

Jodo

Oi tsuki

Stepping punch — foot and fist finish together.

Karate

Tenchi nage

Heaven-and-earth throw — one hand high, one low.

Aikido

Yop chagi

Side kick with the foot blade.

Taekwondo

Dwit chagi

Back kick — straight line, look first.

Taekwondo

Gyaku tsuki

Reverse punch driven by hip rotation.

Karate

Hasso gaeshi ushiro barai

Rear sweep from hasso — impossible without hip rotation.

Aiki-jo

Kirikaeshi (solo)

Shomen + nine alternating men + shomen; solo it is a breath-and-rhythm drill.

Kendo

Koshi nage

Hip throw.

Aikido

Tai atari

Body check through the jo.

Jodo

Hidari nagare gaeshi uchi

Flowing left deflection merging into a strike.

Aiki-jo

Kokyu nage

Breath throw — off-balance and cast without a joint lock; the umbrella term for a whole family of throws with no single fixed form.

Aikido

Naeryo chagi

Axe kick — requires hamstring flexibility.

Taekwondo

Tsuki hazushi uchi

Evading a thrust into a strike.

Jodo

Uraken uchi

Backfist snap from the elbow.

Karate

Ap hurigi / Bandal

Whip and crescent kicks of modern competition.

Taekwondo

Dou barai uchi

Parrying a torso cut into a strike.

Jodo

Kokyu-ho (kokyu dosa)

Seated power-extension exercise: unbalance a two-hand grip using the centre, not arm strength — distinct from the kokyu-nage throw.

Aikido

Migi nagare gaeshi tsuki

Flowing right deflection into a thrust; chains into freestyle work.

Aiki-jo

Shuto uchi

Knife-hand strike, inside and outside paths.

Karate

Empi (hiji ate)

Elbow strikes in four directions.

Karate

Juji nage (juji garami)

Cross-arm throw — the arms are locked into an X shape before the throw.

Aikido

Momtong jireugi

Middle punch — the most frequent poomsae technique.

Taekwondo

Tai hazushi uchi

Off-line evasion merging into a strike.

Jodo

Age uke

Rising block at 45° above the forehead.

Karate

Sonnal chigi

Knife-hand strikes, inward and outward.

Taekwondo

Sumi otoshi

Corner drop — off-balance straight back into the rear corner; deceptively simple, easy to muscle instead of blend.

Aikido

Palkup chigi

Elbow strike (from Taegeuk 5).

Taekwondo

Soto uke

Outside-inward block.

Karate

Arae makki

Low block.

Taekwondo

Uchi uke

Inside-outward block.

Karate

Gedan barai

Downward sweep — the most repeated block in kata.

Karate

Momtong makki

Middle block, inward and outward.

Taekwondo

Olgul makki

High block.

Taekwondo

Shuto uke

Knife-hand block in back stance.

Karate

Mae geri

Front kick with the ball of the foot; retract faster than you kick.

Karate

Sonnal makki

Double knife-hand block in back stance.

Taekwondo

Ap seogi

Walking stance.

Taekwondo

Mawashi geri

Roundhouse — knee points, hip turns.

Karate

Ap kubi

Long front stance.

Taekwondo

Yoko geri

Side kick, thrusting and snapping versions.

Karate

Dwit kubi

Back stance, 70% rear.

Taekwondo

Ushiro geri

Back kick with the heel, looking over the shoulder.

Karate

Juchum seogi

Horse stance.

Taekwondo

Kakato geri

Axe kick — the leg swings up then drops with the heel; used to break a rising guard.

Karate

Nukite

Spear-hand thrust with the fingertips; conditioning comes before power.

Karate