In the last blog, we looked at techniques for white belts. Now we begin to learn the Katas or a pattern of movements. These are combination moves that involve attack, defence, forward and backward movements, among others. Katas originated in the olden days when common people didn’t know how to read and write, and they needed a system to remember and practice the techniques.

This blog is on Kata Taikyoku Shodan. This is the first of the Katas of the Taikyoku series and is a basic learner's Kata. The word ‘Taikyoku’ in Japanese means great or ultimate. There’s a reason for this nomenclature. Despite being a basic Kata, this forms the foundation for achieving greatness in Karate. It encompasses all the basic moves that you need to perfect in order to advance in Karate training.

The movements in this Kata can be visualized in the shape of the alphabet ‘I’. The Karateka uses the following:

• Forward stance – forward movements with down blocks
• Forward stance – back turns with blocks
• Forward stance – sideways turns with blocks
• Forward movements with punches
• Forward stance – 3/4 turn

Start by looking forward, look to the left, lift up your left hand, cover your body with the other hand for a block, keep the ball of your foot towards the left, and switch your weight in a forward stance. Immediately follow through with a move forward and punch.

Next you need to perform a back turn. Look back, get ready for the down block, keep your leg back beyond the line of the front leg, and turn. Now move forward and punch. This completes the bottom line of the letter ‘I’.

Look towards the left, lift your elbow for the down block, draw a semicircle with your left leg for a left half turn, and finish in a forward stance with down block. Look straight and move forward along the line with three punches, one after the other, ending with the ‘Kiai’ sound! This completes the vertical line of the ‘I’.

Now execute a 3/4 turn using your back leg with a down block to face the right in a forward stance, and complete the move with a move forward and punch. Look back, lift up your arm, keep your leg back for a back turn, move forward and punch. This completes the top line of the ‘I’

Look towards the left, lift your elbow for the down block, draw a semicircle with your left leg for a left half turn, and finish in a forward stance with down block. Look straight and move forward along the line with three punches, one after the other, ending with the ‘Kiai’ sound! This moves you back along the vertical line of the ‘I’.

Repeat one last set of movements along the base of the ‘I’, and finish the Kata with a bow. This Kata adds to the skills that you have already picked up as a part of this series on Karate training. Practice them along with the other techniques till they're perfect. Our next blog is on Techniques for Yellow Belts.