Tekki Sandan Kata

What is Kata?

In Karate, kata is a sequence of moves organized into a pre-arranged fight against imaginary opponents. The kata consists of kicks, punches, sweeps, strikes, blocks, and throws. Body movement in various kata includes stepping, twisting, turning, dropping to the ground, and jumping. Kata is not a performance or a demonstration, but is for individual karateka to practice full techniques– with every technique potentially a killing blow (ikken hisatsu), while paying particular attention to form and timing (rhythm).

The standard kata in (Shotokan) Karate are:

Tekki Sandan Kata

Tekki Sandan, the most advanced in the Tekki Series, is the most complex and difficult to master. However, once the fundamental elements have been perfected in the previous kata such as maintaining correct posture, and the development of a strong and rooted dachi, attention can be paid to the complicated hand and arm movements.

This is in common regard, the most popular of the Tekki Series, because of its sharp and effective hand movements. Although very difficult to learn, great power can be generated. These kata are also very important in developing alternative methods of using the hips.

With many kata, such as Heian Shodan, and Heian Nidan, power is generated through both big technique and through big hip movements. As a beginner, this is an excellent way to develop power. As the karateka advances however, he aims to make this big power with as minimal movement as possible. This is where the Tekki kata help develop the karateka. Because of the dominance of kiba-dachi, and because of the lateral embusen, there is little opportunity to generate huge levels of power via the hips through big hip action. Therefore, the karateka is challenged to generate power through alternative means.

Many Instructors place huge emphasis on hip vibration in these kata, and this is one concept that is both vital and effective to the Shotokan karateka, and through the study of these kata, the karateka will improve greatly.