Japanese Karate Sensei Ranks TOP 10 SHOTOKAN KARATE KATA

[@KarateDojowaKu]

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[@jamiefraser3658]

Great vid 👍

[@rickmcgibbon6290]

After I learned Hangetsu I went back and relearned all previous kata with what I found in that kata. It has improved all kata I have learned since. Oss !

[@kylemacarthur9863]

Bassai Dai: Am I a joke to you? Great analysis. You have a clever way of evaluating.

[@Payote88]

As someone currently struggling with Bassai Dai, I concur. I’ve been trying to find something to like in the kata but so far only struggles. I know it’s making me stronger and is gratefully useful in so many ways but no other kata has been a humbling up until this point.

[@KamenRider1]

I always go back to Tekki Shodan when I need a simple but holistic routine during my training. It, to me, is the ultimate expression of "simplicity is the ultimate sophistication". My girlfriend really likes it too. I taught it to her and it fixed her overall posture and stability. 😁 I've been warming up to training with Wankan as of late too. Another simple but rather interesting Kata. 🙏🥋

[@rcbmmines4579]

Jion was the first advanced Kata I ever learned and was my favorite for a long time. Kanku Dai became my favorite later on when I felt I got good enough with it haha. Just learned both Gojushiho's, hope to get better at them. Not very used to cat stance. I've watched my seniors practice Unsu before, definitely ab awesome kata.

[@escalagrega]

This is an excellent review of Shotokan style katas for competitions. I fully agree with this approach. Now, if we look at the aspect of karate as a martial art, I want to include Jitte, Hangetsu and Nijushiho, because the bunkais of these kata are very effective in my opinion. Congratulations on the top 10. Oss.

[@sliderx1897]

When i started competition i was doing bassai dai... crickets. Took some time to learn Enpi and started medalling almost immediately

[@lancecahill5486]

Excellent ranking criteria. Very good video!

[@BeardedBandit7012]

My Kata of choice right now in tournaments is Kanku Dai. Keep in mind I am currently a 1st degree, so some of these other Kata's I am still working on learning, but I like Kanku Dai during tournaments because I can get it to show speed, and power, and multiple different techniques. So far it has done me well. Until I learn Unsu of course. As always it's a pleasure watching your videos!!.

[@sprk11]

a friend did Unsu at an open tournament sponsored by a Tae Kwon Do club. They ended up calling it the gun slinger form when they asked us about it later in the tournament

[@MarioUcomics]

For Kyokushin, kanku is very important since the beginning hand motion was used for the bases for it's logo

[@سيدسيد-ص3م4ب]

Cool work sir 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@phillipleak9015]

Karate Dojo WaKu I see you sparred with the tae kwon do practioners. some folks been saying tae kwon do isn't a practical martial art. however i feel any martial art can be great depending on the practioner's skill level and fight IQ. i don't know why folks bash tae kwon do or call it safe space karate. Tae Kwon do to me is a versatile art with it's kicks. what are your thoughts on tae kwon do as a martial art?

[@9E_jeraldaidenmitra]

Empi is my one and only kata and my forever love got a 2nd place with this kata and its been my favorite for 2 years now

[@yamigo6130]

u are awsome :) so likeabel, im a matsubayashi-ryu student when i startede, befor i went "leung ting wing tsun kung fu" but i still love karate, its a lifestyle :)

[@rossellabarone7818]

Karate is my favorite sport I practice it and it's beautiful

[@cutedash1354]

I haven’t learn all the katas but the one I like the most ever since I practiced is Bassai Dai in 2nd kyu brown ( I subscribed :)) )

[@daniel-zh9nj6yn6y]

Maybe you can make a ''Top 10 best kata for self-defense''.

[@myles2004myles]

I think this young YUDANSHA has a old head on young shoulders. God bless you young man Sonlei! Joe

[@chengfu7063]

Yusuke excellent content excellent material a nice analysis on the breakdowns of the forms excellent eye for detail and away forms do represent real battle as in terms of fighting in a rotated State and attacking from all positions and all sides peace be well in all the best on your fighting Journey 👍👊

[@oRafaMoura]

The 3 katas I love most to do it, is Gankaku, Enpi and Unsu 🫶🏻

[@manorueda1432]

Nice video! In taekwondo, two of my favourite poomsaes are really very different between them... one is indeed quite short and the other is rather long compared to the first one. One is very dynamic and has some fast paced hand combinations, and features some poses with one foot raised, while the other feels more stuck to the ground, with some heavier movements and slow, energy charged attacks. (They are Pyongwon and Sipjin, in case you wonder)

[@YannisStavrakas]

The best shotokan katas for me are outside the shotokan curriculum. Gankaku sho, meikyu nidan, hyaku hachi ho, niju hachi ho...

[@Docinaplane]

I have similar feelings about Heian Shodan. Very basic - very important.

[@jameshicks7125]

Thanks for the video! Please watch for explanations and reasoning, but here is the list: 10. Bassai Sho, 9. Jion, 8. Kanku Sho, 7. Kanku Dai, 6. Enpi, 5. Gojushiho sho, 4. Gojushiho Dai, 3. Gankaku, 2. Sochin, 1. Unsu.

[@bjam27]

I love Jion because it fit very well with my composition. I love Enpi despite it absolutely not fit with me, i just love practicing it. 😅

[@loki200]

Where is my Bassai dai 😭. Thats my favourit Kata, but I also love Sochin, so I'm fine :D Thanks for the ranking, the diagram idea was realy good!

[@hamdadesrut6611]

10

[@elvisthegamecollector7053]

Basai Dai was always my favourite. Jion and Empi I enjoyed doing too 😊

[@Payote88]

Can I ask what makes it a favorite? Currently struggling with it.

[@elvisthegamecollector7053]

@@Payote88 for me I think it's because I practised it that much before my Black Belt Grading that I still remember the sequence perfectly even after 23 years.

[@AntonGolovatyuk]

my top is: 1 gojushiho sho 2 unsu 3 gankaku 4 basaidai 5 empi 6 nijushiho 7 jion 8 kankudai 9 jite 10 heian nidan

[@kagemusha013]

Excellent video 🙏

[@shantri17]

Nice analysis... Regard from Indonesia Osh...!!!

[@MrHitotsumusha]

Interesting fact, Gojushiho Sho and Dai are interchangeable between SKIF and other shotokan styles. SKIF calls Gojushiho Sho, Gojushiho Dai. It might be true to other Shotokan styles too. Same kata names are switched.

[@raynerben3843]

My Top 10 10- Jion 9- Jiin 8. Enpi 7. Kanku Dai 6. Kanku Sho 5. Goju Shiho Sho 4. Goju Shiho Dai 3. Sochin 2. Gankaku 1. Unsu

[@crowent9922]

0:47 KING 🥋🇹🇷

[@spacecadet35]

In Shotokan Kwanku Dai is probably the most important kata. The whole Shotokan Karate system is based upon it.

[@georgefoley9793]

Great analysis and ranking, Sensei! Would you be able to do this for other styles such as Goju-Ryu, Shito-Ryu, and Wado-Ryu, among others?

[@KarateDojowaKu]

I will try to invite guests for that video!

[@martinmfmflores8585]

Wado ryu katas reviews would be of a great help🙏☺ arigato gozaimazu🙏

[@primaadhyaksantara7406]

@@KarateDojowaKu Arigatou Sensei🙏

[@pawned79]

@@martinmfmflores8585 I second the request for Wado Ryu kata! Ohtsuka’s book illustrates the five Pinan kata, kushanku, naihanchi, seishan, and chinto. All of which are on belt tests. Bassai is not there, though dan in my dojo do Bassai. There’s also all the kihon Kumite paired kata (Otsuka - French book).

[@Aboriginal_of_Pokhara]

@@KarateDojowaKu My son follows Shotokan Karate. He's 12 years old and 2nd Dan. I'm still in a bit confussion that which karate is best to follow. Can you suggest me?

[@ijustgotyeeted148]

Yusuke I'm having trouble with performing the kata bassai dai.Do you think you could do a tutorial of the kata.

[@BobarissGish]

I love bassai dai, seppai, empi, seiunchin kanku dai, tensho

[@louislouis2963]

After the basic Katas, the 4 Katas than you maybe mean are Bassai-Dai, Kanku-Dai, Jion and Enpy.

[@abuamna9250]

Thank you so much...absolutely fantastic 💖 😘 ❤ 💕 💛 💗 💖 😘 ❤ 💕 💛 rafi doha Qatar 🇶🇦 💖 😀

[@mattiamodena5791]

I simply despise the Unsu meta of competitive Shotokan. Everyone likes Unsu and everyone does Unsu, no self expression, no originality, just pure and cold math based on difficulty. It's ok if you like it, I like it too, it's an objectively pretty kata, but come on, it's so boring when in competition you see 5 contestants in a row do it. It would be a great thing if practitioners started to be less tryhards and more martial ARTISTS.

[@Goran-x4o]

Totally agree I love to practice it like when u get in neko ashi dachi with ippon nukite first strike also I wished more people would perform Nijushiho or Gojushiho Sho I find those as entertaining as Unsu

[@teovu5557]

My favorite Shotokan Kara is gankaku or chinto. The embusen is very Chinese.

[@amomtan]

I would really love if you put something about the Katas introduced to Kanzawa sensei SKIF Shotokan. Especially haykuhachiho (suparempie) and Nijuhachi Seinshin. I have a special love to Suparempie.

[@TimWillie]

Id like to see a video of Kanku Dai. We just learned a Kata in our system called Kashanku Dai. I'm wondering if it is the same thing or at least very similar.

[@kevionrogers2605]

Variations of the same form.

[@Leo-lj6vs]

When you teach katas, do you break down each action and explain the bunkai?

[@karate-emptyhand.1m131]

I love shotokan

[@xx_roi_xx2221]

Please!! Do a series that you react cobra kai!!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@lahirusampath5316]

Please give top 10 shito ryu kata tutorial video

[@ramlaabdullah8195]

Sensei, what is your view about ishhinryu

[@tsundoku5733]

In Japan, do they teach Tekki Shodan before Heian Nidan through Godan? I learnt Tekki Shodan after all the Heian katas?

[@kerrykennedy733]

I enjoy your videos and will not comment on your top ten list, since they are your personal choices. However, as a point of historical accuracy, neither Shotokai (through the Obata - Keio / Egami - Waseda lineages) or JKA (through the Nakayama lineage) have taught Kanku-sho as one of the "four" primary Kata after the Heian / Tekki kata. Shotokai listed four Kata - Bassai-dai, Jion, Empi & Kanku-dai, while JKA lists "five" primary Kata after Heian / Tekki ... Bassai-dai, Jion, Empi, Hangetsu & Kanku-dai. Best regards, K.

[@bi-han8179]

What do you think about Ten No Kata? It may look simple but it's tricky!

[@isoladellerosetv]

I actually liked bassai dai :P and i didn't like that much kanku dai.. empi is cool! also sochin and unsu :) I'm not sure but during my exam for the black belt I made bassai dai, but maybe I am wrong.

[@Payote88]

Why you like that kata?

[@jifangzhang2832]

Missing nijushiho is kind of acceptable, but missing bassai dai just went too far...😕 Very good analysis for those included anyway.

[@ralfhtg1056]

I would skip the "entertainment"-aspect entirely. As you know: Karate is not menat to be entertaining for others.

[@MejaTerbang]

I don't practice karate or any martial arts for that matter, but your content is always so interesting and insightful to watch! On a completely separate and unrelated note, i just realised you were featured in one of Paolo's video a while ago, no wonder i thought you look so familiar lol.

[@georgegeorge5124]

we need bunkai in katas !!

[@jezuschristusii1169]

It feels weird to me that you are actually ranking kata. In my eyes one is never “better” than the other. I feel like every kata is important in it’s own right.

[@albencangastv7383]

Ossu Sensei!

[@mohamedelhagib]

Unsu yeeeeeees I,ll put a pare of wings to do the final jump

[@julesx8830]

I think you mean in Kanku Sho the first three blocks are Morote Uke not Manji Uke?

[@panos3051]

Correct! (Manji-uke is the double block --jodan uchi uke combined w gedan barai-- found in Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai and Heian Godan.)

[@matthewguthrie9929]

Sensei Hotton?

[@philonglam5562]

in next video. please talk about belt rank in shotokan, i dont' understand one thing, if got the black belt, it's black belt no degree, and after will test for 1st degree, or 1st black belt is minimum in black belt system ?

[@TimWillie]

I won't speak for Shotokan, but from what I've seen, most systems your first black belt is 1st Degree or Shodan.

[@bradlong7941]

The rank system came from the Japanese art of Judo and Dr. Kano. Funakoshi Sensei was not a fan of ranking or belts. But, when it Rome...... The Founder attained the rank of 5th Dan from the Japanese government, hence considered Master grade. The HIGHEST rank Funakoshi Sensei awarded with 5th dan. The other numbers kind of came later- like inflation.

[@YoukaiSlayer12]

Next time Bassai Dai & Jitte . Next time. Lol . As much as I like Hangetsu I know it can be hard to win with it in some competitions because it doesn’t have that flair like some of the other katas. But I love it anyway

[@loki200]

You are not alone, I love it too :)

[@karatefella]

I gather that the JKA don't practice a couple of Kata anymore (I can't remember which ones at the moment !) Why is this ?

[@escalagrega]

The JKA in their competitions has not shown the following katas: Jiin, Hangetsu, Nijushiho, Meikyo, and with some restrictions on the tekki series, they still use the Heian series for the preliminaries, however they exclude the Heian Shodan. And in terms of teaching they don't include the kata Jo no (JKS) and the Taikyoku series. I hope I've helped.

[@iamsh1han797]

I have trained for 40yrs there is 2 schools of thought some say there are 25 katas of shotokan, some say 27. I have done all 27 and can probably do 20 of those, but I only studied 2 so I can do 20 katas but only truly know 2

[@widsonbcadet5630]

Jiin

[@victorfigueiredo9282]

Masatoshi Nakayama did not include in their books, and JKA , Jiin and Wankan. Jiin because move34 is a jodan tsuki, not existing in JKA and you have tô pull left leg to end at same place, and not right leg as JKA req. Wankan has many way not , the most used because is uncompleted. Both are in the WKF list for competitions.

[@kevionrogers2605]

@@escalagrega I've never heard or seen Jo No Kata. Do you have a link to share?

[@XeIanXI]

I really missed Hangetsu =(

[@spencerorde8090]

During your 9th kyu brown or 1st Dan black belt, how many kata did you have to show the judges/senseis?

[@gordonburns8291]

For my final brown we did all heian kata then tekki shodan, Bassai dai and Sho , for Shodan we pick 3 of those kata then, Jion,Empi,Hangetsu

[@danielreid3476]

In my dojo for Shodan it was Bassai Dai, and then three Heians of the instructors choice. The Heians chosen were completely random, so you had no idea which ones he was going to request. For Nidan, you had to show your Bassai Dai had improved. You also had to demonstrate working knowledge of Enpi, Jion and Kwanku. In our system there was also a time in grade requirement for rank beyond Shodan. Once you attained Shodan, you had to wait two years before you were eligible to test for Nidan. Likewise going from Nidan to Sandan required a three year wait.

[@spencerorde8090]

For our final brown belt, we get 3 of our pinan katas, matsukaze, jyuuroku, annanko and bassai dai. For Black Belt we do Junyo Kata, H-Kata, all Pinan Kata, matsukaze, jyuuroku, jiin, rohai, annanko, bassai dai, niseishi and lastly shinto. I'm gonna record them this Thursday, if things go well.

[@wallyllaw]

For JKA that's standardized, so it's Taikyoku Shodan, Heian 1-5, Tekki Shodan, Bassai Dai (for 1st kyu). Then for 1st Dan test it's one of Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi and Jion, your own choice, so it's absolute minimum of 8 or 9 katas according to your choice. Obviously you will do other katas as well, but these are mandatory. At 4th kyu I have practiced so far at least 13 katas (plus couple of more so briefly that I know pretty much nothing about them), but I can remember all the moves only for maybe 10 of them.

[@R0nge]

How weirdly arbitrary. Which is fine I suppose. For me form should always follow function and as none of the 5 criteria cover martial or combative practicality I think my top 10 would be very different.

[@Payote88]

Would be interested in hearing your top 10

[@Hy-jg8ow]

How many katas in total are there in shotokan?

[@bradlong7941]

About 30 of them. All have been shotokanized. Just stick with the 15 Funakoshi Sensei brought over and you will have plenty on your plate.

[@Hy-jg8ow]

@@bradlong7941 Thanks, I'm in itf tkd at the moment, so I am just looking at karate to complement my style. Boxing is the other thing I took up for the same reason.

[@kevionrogers2605]

@@bradlong7941 I've used the term Shotokanized before too. They made a Shotokan version of 108 from Goju and Shito Ryu. Naihanchi and Seishan (Tekki and Hangetsu) are supposed to be infighting forms and they stretches out and elongated the movements to the point that Shotokan really doesn't teach infighting in it's forms or curriculum. Shorin Ryu the main parent art of Shotokan has a version of kakie, but it is virtually unknown nor used in most Shotokan dojo.

[@Hy-jg8ow]

@@kevionrogers2605 In Europe, esp in smaller towns you can't get any other form of karate other than Shotokan, even that is rare. While I appreciate all martial arts [I think all has something useful to teach], I once stayed after my 3 hours/day tkd training to watch them train. Its interesting, but I think their stances are impractically low. I liked some other aspects tho. But I am sure that Okinawan styles would be even cooler.

[@alfiefelix7968]

❤️

[@akashbanerjee1718]

No Bassai Dai 🤧😭

[@1980BUFF]

Gankaku should be 1 or 2.

[@Blashkyrk]

Sochin any day!

[@zurkavuk4377]

you cant put kaknu dai after kanku sho

[@ismaelnin8960]

Falta Bassai Dai !!!!!

[@JúliaFernandesA]

can you put subtitles in portuguese?

[@odanocruz]

Kanku Dai

[@fernandopristupa8836]

Faltou o bassai daí!!!!

[@alunoluisfernando6264]

OSS

[@mohdazreenaghashim9444]

Not agree with sochin number 2🤣.. maybe number 5-6

[@akashkarateandhealth5412]

Osm 🔥

[@Bikkurine]

Unsu is a Kata that demonstrates how sad the state of shotokan karate is nowadays. When Karate was first seen as a sport is when all of this mess started. Unsu is the most overrated Kata for competitions and whatnot. People just see it as cool or whatever but fail to grasp what it truly entails. It has lost its essence and become the main act for the circus that competitive karate is. Also, the IKA is a joke (sorry not sorry)

[@tanujm9435]

Um....sansai?

[@Hiteshjariwala-24]

Osssss

[@IraqVeteran2tours]

This is useless. How can you rank a kata? It is just his opinion and highly doubt that he is over 50 years old.

[@onikillah9596]

I disagree with you. First, yes, it might be his personal opinion, however that doesn't invalidate his opinion. And secondly, kata are ranked in the dojo according to their level of difficulty. For example, you wouldn't start teaching Unsu or Gojushiho Sho to a white-belt for his first kata.

[@heian1973]

I'd personally rank gankaku as the most technically difficult one. Balancing in crane stance and, especially, turning 270 degrees on one leg into a stable crane stance when you do it on relatively soft tatami is too challenging for me. I've never dared to perform this kata on tournament (for the fear of loosing balance). I find unsu technically easier, although physically more demanding for sure.