The 27 Shotokan Kata

Many Shotokan Dojo practice more kata, but here, we are just going to mention the 27 standard Shotokan kata that are practiced by thousands of karate-ka all over the world.

Several Shotokan groups have introduced other shotokan kata and kata from other styles, into their training, but when the JKA (Japan Karate Association) was formed by Nakayama Sensei, he put forward these 26 kata (not including taikyoku shodan or kihon kata), as the training kata for the JKA karateka. Even today, many thousands of Shotokan Dojo practice these 26 Kata only (leaving out Taikyoku Shodan or Kihon Kata).

The 27 Shotokan Kata

1. Taikyoku Shodan also known as Kihon kata (太極初段) – Means first cause first level; Introduced by Gichin Funakoshi
2. Heian Shodan (平安初段) Means ~ Peaceful way first level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
3. Heian Nidan (平安二段) Means ~ Peaceful way second level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
4. Heian Sandan (平安三段) Means ~ Peaceful way third level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
5. Heian Yondan (平安四段) Means ~ Peaceful way fourth level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
6. Heian Godan (平安五段) Means ~ Peaceful way fifth level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
7. Tekki Shodan (鉄騎初段) Means ~ Iron Horse first level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
8. Bassai Dai (披塞大) Means ~ To storm a fortress (dai=major); Introduced by ~ Peichin.
9. Kanku Dai (観空大) Means ~ To view the sky (dai=major); Introduced by ~ Kung Hsiang Chun
10. Enpi (燕飛) Means ~ Flying swallow; Introduced by ~ Wang Ji
11. Hangetsu (半月) Means ~ Half Moon; Introduced by ~ Bushi Matsumura
12. Jion (慈恩) Means ~ Thought to be named after the Chinese temple Jion-ji. Kata and comes from Tomari te
13. Sochin (壯鎭) Means ~ Preserve Peace; Introduced by ~Yoshitika Funakoshi
14. Meikyo (明鏡) Means ~ Mirror of the soul; and comes from ~Tomari-te
15. Ji’in (慈陰) Means ~ Named after the saint and comes from Tomari te
16. Gojushiho Dai (五十四歩大) Means ~ 54 steps; Introduced by ~Yasutsune Itosu
17. Jitte (十手)Means ~ Ten hands and comes from Tomari te
18. Gankaku (岩鶴) Means ~ Crane on a rock; Introduced by ~ Bushi Matsumura
19. Tekki Nidan (鉄騎二段) Means ~ Iron Horse second level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
20. Tekki Sandan (鉄騎三段) Means ~ Iron Horse third level; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
21. Chinte (珍手) Means ~ Incredible hands; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu?
22. Bassai Sho (披塞小) Means ~ To penetrate a fortress (sho=minor); Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
23. Kanku Sho (観空小) Means ~ To view the sky (sho=minor); Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu
24. Nijushiho (二十四步) Means ~ 24 steps; Introduced by ~ Seisho Aragaki
25. Unsu (雲手) Means ~ Hands of a cloud; Introduced by ~ Seisho Aragaki
26. Wankan (王冠) Means ~ Crown of a king; Introduced by ~ Gigo Funakoshi
27. Gojushiho Sho (五十四歩小) Means ~ 54 steps; Introduced by ~ Yasutsune Itosu

From www.shotokankarateonline.com