Very early on in my karate journey, I was introduced to my dojo's kihon gata. These are the routines practiced alongside kihon and kata that form the main element for beginners and intermediate students, all the way through to those who are looking to go for their black belts. I produced the below aide memoire to her me to remember them.
Kihon Kata | Simple Description |
Shodan | 2 punch combination, Mae Geri |
Nidan | Mae Geri, 2 punch combination |
Sandan | 2 punch combination, Mawashi Geri off front leg |
Yondan | Mawashi Geri off front leg, 2 punch combination |
Godan | Right Mawashi Geri (land in front), left Mawashi geri (land in front), reverse punch, jab. |
Rokudan | Ashi uke, jab, cross, Mawashi Geri |
Nanadan | Mae Geri (land in front) right jab, back kick |
Hachidan | Mae Geri (land in front), back kick, reverse punch |
Kyudan | Shuffle, backhand forehand punch, shuffle, backhand forehand punch, right then left mawashi geri, spinning kick |
Judan | Shuffle, backhand forehand punch, shuffle, backhand forehand punch, right then left mawashi geri, hisa geri |
Before Covid so rudely interrupted things, I had got as far as my blue belt and was expected to know up to kihon gata Godan, as well as starting to learn Naihanchi Nidan. However, we have always been encouraged to try to learn as far as we can in preparation for things to come.
Since I still practice on my own (with Zoom lessons as well of course, circumstances permitting), due to my own worries because of my health conditions, I decided to try and make all 10 a part of my solo practices, amongst other things. Apart from the middle two kihon gata, they.can be considered as pairs.
Shoan and Nidan, Sandan and Yondan, Nanadan and Hachidan, then Kyudan and Judan can all be considered as related to one another, and this is how I like to practice them. Below are the videos of the pairings of Kihon gata taken from my last solo practice, along with a sequential video of the 10 together. This is to act as a marker for how far I have come so far, and hopefully for me to measure how much I have improved in later years.
SHODAN and NIDAN
SANDAN and YONDAN
I think given practice, I should eventually be able to comfortably remember them all. However, my favourite is still Judan, as it's the only one that features my favourite knee strike, also it's much easier to execute than the spinning back kick (or is it a hook kick now?), which takes it's place in Kyudan. That is something I struggle with, as spinning tends to lead to me disorienting myself in the process.
Here's to more practice to come 😄
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