Contents
The canon, in order
The canon is shared across every Shotokan organisation; what diverges is the grade at which each kata is examined (next section). The grades below are the JKA reference.
| Tier | Kata (Shotokan spelling) | What it installs | JKA grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | Taikyoku Shodan | The embusen, the transition into zenkutsu-dachi (front stance), the first kime | 8th kyu |
| Foundation | Heian Shodan → Godan | The block-strike-step repertoire (age-uke, shuto-uke, kokutsu-dachi) | 7th–3rd kyu |
| Power | Tekki Shodan | Kiba-dachi (horse stance), the lateral line | 2nd kyu |
| Sentei (tokui) | Bassai Dai · Kanku Dai · Empi · Jion (choice) | The bridge to dan | 1st kyu and Shodan |
| Advanced (dan) | Tekki Nidan/Sandan · Bassai Sho · Kanku Sho · Ji'in · Jitte · Gankaku · Hangetsu · Sochin · Nijushiho · Gojushiho Dai/Sho · Chinte · Unsu · Meikyo · Wankan | The free repertoire | 2nd dan and up (choice) |
Teaching a kata: the five steps
The Heian series (Shodan → Godan) installs the vocabulary; Tekki adds kiba-dachi power; the sentei kata (Bassai Dai, Kanku Dai, Empi, Jion) bridge to dan. A kata is taught in five steps, never by plain repetition:
- Segmentation: break the kata into phrases, polish each transition, then reassemble;
- Embusen (the floor pattern): walk the line before you strike it. Each kata has its geometry, and the embusen says where the form must return to its start point;
- Count-and-flow: by the count (by the numbers) for form, continuous for rhythm (kyojaku, the alternation of tension and release);
- Criteria-focused correction: the kime points, the rhythm, the breathing (kokyu);
- Paired bunkai and oyo: the application. Bunkai is the reading of a movement, oyo its free application; the kata becomes understood fighting again.
The grade placement differs by organisation
The canon is shared; a kata's grade placement is not, and neither is the moment bunkai enters the exam. A dojo's program follows ITS organisation's syllabus.
| Organisation | Bunkai enters… | Grade anchors |
|---|---|---|
| JKA | at dan | Tekki Shodan at 2nd kyu; choice of Bassai Dai/Kanku Dai/Empi/Jion at 1st kyu and Shodan; jiyu kumite from 2nd dan |
| DKV | from the Mittelstufe (6th–4th kyu) | Three tiers (Unterstufe 9th–7th, Mittelstufe 6th–4th, Oberstufe 3rd–1st); Shodan age 16, Nidan age 20; 3 months between kyu (5 under 14) |
| SKIF | parallel to the JKA line | 9 colour kyu; Tekki Shodan at brown-belt level; 1st kyu → Shodan min. 6 / normal 12 months; Shodan → Nidan 2 years, 16+ |
| FFKarate | required at the dan exam (≥ 3 sequences) | Kyu to brown by the club; the dan is a state diploma (CSDGE), 2 announced kata + kihon-ippon + jiyu-ippon/randori |
The Shotokan names, and the separate WKF list
A kata keeps its Shotokan name. Importing a neighbouring style's spelling breeds confusion in class and at the exam.
| Shotokan name | Not to be confused with (neighbouring style) |
|---|---|
| Heian | Pinan |
| Kanku | Kūshankū / Kōsōkun |
| Bassai | Passai |
| Empi | Wanshu |
| Gankaku | Chintō |
Frequently asked questions
How many kata are needed before black belt?
Is the competition kata the grading kata?
When should bunkai be introduced?
Sources
JKA, Kyu/Dan Grading Guideline (effective 1 April 2017): kata and kumite by grade. DKV, Prüfungsordnung Shotokan (from January 2023, revisions 2024 and 2025): tier structure, bunkai from the Mittelstufe, ages and intervals. SKIF (Kanazawa lineage), grading syllabus and published intervals. FFKDA, « Passer un grade » and the CSDGE technical part: state dan, exam units (2 kata, ≥ 3 bunkai sequences). Nakayama, Best Karate (technical reference); Funakoshi, Karate-Dō Kyōhan (the historical shape of the curriculum). Paak Shotokan corpus, files 03 and 09. Content verified September 2026.