Kata
Simply, to master kata, one must practice and practice. - Hironori Otsuka
There are 15 katas in the Staffordshire Wado Ryu syllabus which are taught and graded in the following order:
There are 15 katas in the Staffordshire Wado Ryu syllabus which are taught and graded in the following order:
Pinan Katas
Pinan Nidan Pinan Shodan Pinan Sandan Pinan Yondan Pinan Godan |
Brown Belt & Dan Grade Katas
Kushanku
Naihanchi Seishan Chinto |
Dan Grade Katas
Bassai Wanshu Rohai Niseishi Jitte Jion |
Below you will find video clips of Hironori Otsuka, the founder of Wado Ryu,
demonstrating the five pinan katas and Kushanku.
demonstrating the five pinan katas and Kushanku.
Pinan Nidan
Pinan Shodan
Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yondan
Pinan Godan
Kushanku
Key Principles of Kata Practice
- Every technique has a purpose - imagine an opponent and remember the objective of each particular movement.
- Kata practice should be alive and not dead.
- Ensure that each stance and technique is the best you can make it - try not to think about what comes next.
Some falsely believe that mastery and progress comes by knowing as many kata as possible. In the older days, one knew only about two or three at most. Even to use one kata properly and efficiently is not an easy task. One must remember that it is quality over quantity when practicing any kata.
- Hironori Otsuka