Kata

Kata are the formal sequences at the heart of Kyokushin. Every movement is set out below, step by step, with the photographs that go with it. Choose a kata from the list to begin.

Gekisai Dai

Required for 2nd Kyu

Strong and powerful movement. Sai — the fortress or stronghold. Geki — literally, to breakdown. Therefore, Gekisai Dai (large) means to breakdown the fortress. This kata teaches strength through fluidity and mobility, illustrating that flexibility will always be superior to rigidity.

Approximate performance time
47 seconds minimum; 50 seconds maximum
Stances
Fudo Dachi Musubi Dachi Uchi-Hachi-Ji-Dachi Yoi Dachi Sanchin Dachi Zenkutsu Dachi Kiba Dachi

Gekisai Dai

Start the kata in fudo dachi (fig. 1).

Gekisai Dai fig. 1
fig. 1

Move into musubi dachi and mokuso on the command “Mokuso” (fig. 2).

Gekisai Dai fig. 2
fig. 2

On the second command “Gekisai Dai”, open eyes, move into the yoi position with ibuki (figs. 3 to 5).

Gekisai Dai fig. 3
fig. 3
Gekisai Dai fig. 4
fig. 4
Gekisai Dai fig. 5
fig. 5

On the command “Hajime” turn at 90° to the left into left sanchin dachi, moving the left foot straight across (i.e. do not bring feet together) and block left jodan uke (fig. 6).

Gekisai Dai fig. 6
fig. 6

Move forward into right zenkutsu dachi and punch jodan tsuki (fig. 7).

Gekisai Dai fig. 7
fig. 7

Move the right foot back 180° into kiba dachi and block left gedan barai (figs. 8 and 9).

Gekisai Dai fig. 8
fig. 8
Gekisai Dai fig. 9
fig. 9

Turning 90° bring the left foot to the right and take it back so that you are in right sanchin dachi and block right jodan uke (fig. 10).

Gekisai Dai fig. 10
fig. 10

Move forward into left zenkutsu dachi and punch jodan oi tsuki (fig. 11).

Gekisai Dai fig. 11
fig. 11

Move the left foot back 180° into kiba dachi and block right gedan barai (figs. 12 and 13).

Gekisai Dai fig. 12
fig. 12
Gekisai Dai fig. 13
fig. 13

Turn your head to the front and move 90° into right sanchin dachi and block right chudan uchi uke with ibuki (figs. 14 and 15).

Gekisai Dai fig. 14
fig. 14
Gekisai Dai fig. 15
fig. 15

Move forward into left sanchin dachi and block left chudan uchi uke with ibuki (figs. 16 and 17).

Gekisai Dai fig. 16
fig. 16
Gekisai Dai fig. 17
fig. 17

Move forward into right sanchin dachi and block right chudan uchi uke with ibuki (figs. 18 and 19). (N.b. in the previous three sequences of movement the moving into sanchin dachi together with the initial arm position are both done fast and the block is done slowly).

Gekisai Dai fig. 18
fig. 18
Gekisai Dai fig. 19
fig. 19

Retaining the hand positions kick left chudan mae geri (fig. 20), place the foot into left zenkutsu dachi and strike left jodan age hiji ate (fig. 21) follow immediately with left uraken oroshi ganmen uchi (fig. 22) and position for (fig. 23) and block left mae gedan barai (fig. 24) and punch gedan gyaku tsuki (fig. 25).

Gekisai Dai fig. 20
fig. 20
Gekisai Dai fig. 21
fig. 21
Gekisai Dai fig. 22
fig. 22
Gekisai Dai fig. 23
fig. 23
Gekisai Dai fig. 24
fig. 24
Gekisai Dai fig. 25
fig. 25

Still looking straight ahead bring the right foot to the left knee, slightly in front as if to sweep someone in front of you, and position the right fist closed adjacent to the left ear (fig. 26).

Gekisai Dai fig. 26
fig. 26

Turn your head 180° and then place the right foot back into kiba dachi and strike shuto uchi to the neck keeping the left fist closed in the ready punch position and KIAI (figs. 27 and 28).

Gekisai Dai fig. 27
fig. 27
Gekisai Dai fig. 28
fig. 28

Turn 90° bringing the left foot to the right into left sanchin dachi and block left chudan uchi uke with ibuki (fig. 29).

Gekisai Dai fig. 29
fig. 29

Move forward into right sanchin dachi and block right chudan uchi uke with ibuki (fig. 30).

Gekisai Dai fig. 30
fig. 30

Move back into left sanchin dachi and block left chudan uchi uke with ibuki (fig. 31). (N.b. in the previous three sequences of movement the moving into sanchin dachi together with the initial arm position are both done fast and the block is done slowly).

Gekisai Dai fig. 31
fig. 31

Retaining the hand positions kick right chudan mae geri (fig. 32), place the foot into right zenkutsu dachi and strike right jodan age hiji ate (fig. 33) follow immediately with right uraken oroshi ganmen uchi (fig. 34) and position for (fig. 35) and block right mae gedan barai (fig. 36) and punch gedan gyaku tsuki (fig. 37).

Gekisai Dai fig. 32
fig. 32
Gekisai Dai fig. 33
fig. 33
Gekisai Dai fig. 34
fig. 34
Gekisai Dai fig. 35
fig. 35
Gekisai Dai fig. 36
fig. 36
Gekisai Dai fig. 37
fig. 37

Still looking straight ahead bring the left foot to the right knee, slightly in front of you as if to sweep someone in front of you, and position the left fist closed adjacent to the right ear (fig. 38).

Gekisai Dai fig. 38
fig. 38

Turn your head 180° and then place the left foot back into kiba dachi and strike shuto uchi to the neck, keeping the right fist closed in the ready punch position and KIAI (fig. 39).

Gekisai Dai fig. 39
fig. 39

Move forward at 90° into right zenkutsu dachi and punch morote tsuki (fig. 40) (right fist chudan, left fist jodan).

Gekisai Dai fig. 40
fig. 40

Move forward into left zenkutsu dachi and punch morote tsuki (fig. 41) (right fist jodan, left fist chudan).

Gekisai Dai fig. 41
fig. 41

Move back into right zenkutsu dachi and punch morote tsuki (fig. 42) (right fist chudan, left fist jodan).

Gekisai Dai fig. 42
fig. 42

The kata is completed by moving the right foot back into musubi dachi (fig. 43) and the mokuso position is retained (fig. 44) until the command “Naore” when the fudo dachi position is taken (fig. 45).

Gekisai Dai fig. 43
fig. 43
Gekisai Dai fig. 44
fig. 44
Gekisai Dai fig. 45
fig. 45

Ready to Start Training?

Train with us in Wimbledon and start working towards your first grading.

Join Our Classes