Taikyoku Kata

The first kata, or series of kata that I teach are the Taikyoku kata. And besides the form themselves, along with self-defense applications found within the movements of the kata, I also require my students to know where the kata came from. I have done a little research into each kata and here is what I have come across regarding the Taikyoku kata.

The Taikyoku kata were developed by Master Gichin Funakoshi (1868-1957) in or around 1922 as he says “after many years of research into the art of karate.” They are described as elementary kata since they are the easiest of the kata to learn which consist of basic stances, strikes and punches. To quote from Master Funakoshi’s book Karate-Do Kyohan – The Master Text “… it should be the form with which beginners start.”

Originally there were only three Taikyoku kata. At some point two more kata were added and then a sixth. It is unknown when these extra kata were added or by who, but according to Master Funakoshi’s book Karate-Do Kyohan originally published in 1935 with a second edition published in 1957, there were still only three.

Master Funakoshi named the set of kata, Taikyoku which is said to mean “First Cause,” to reflect the maxim “In karate, there is no advantage in the first attack.” Some styles, Japanese and Korean, refer to the Taikyoku kata as Kihon kata. Kihon is a Japanese term meaning “basics” or “fundamentals.” In some styles this reference is a total renaming not just a reference. In a more informal reference regardless of the name the kata are commonly referred to as “H” pattern kata, however, the pattern represents more of an “I” than an “H.”