Kata

Translations are approximate transliterations of the Chinese characters used to "spell" the kata names.

• kata -- form(s)

• heian shodan -- "stable and secure / stable peace, first level"

• heian nidan -- ditto, "second level"

• heian sandan -- ditto, "third level"

• heian yondan -- you get the idea

• heian godan

• tekki shodan -- "iron horseman," "first level"

• tekki nidan

• tekki sandan

• bassai dai -- "destroying a fortress, greater (version)" (*)

• bassai sho [shoh] -- "destroying a fortress, lesser (version)" (*)

• empi -- "flight of the swallow"

• jion -- "compassion and favor." This is a Buddhist term and possibly the name of some temple.

• kankuu dai -- "observing the sky/emptiness, greater (version)" (*)

• kankuu sho [shoh] -- "observing the sky/emptiness, lesser (version)"(*)

• jutte / jitte -- "ten hands"

• hangetsu -- "half-moon"

• nijuushiho -- "twenty-four steps"

• gankaku -- "boulder crane" (the bird on a rock)

• sochin [ soh-chin] -- "strength and control"

• unsu [unsuu] -- "cloud hands"

• gojuushiho ( dai) -- "fifty-four steps, greater (version)" (*)

• gojuushiho sho [shoh] -- "fifty-four steps, lesser (version)" (*)

• meikyo [ meikyoh] -- "bright mirror"

• ji'in -- "compassion and shadow." Possibly another temple.

• chinte -- "rare hands"

• wankan -- "king's crown"

(*) Kata with "lesser" or "greater" attached ("sho" or "dai") don't really mean "lesser" or "greater" in any sense. It's just a way of distinguishing two different kata.