The curriculum

Kata and Ryukyu Kobudo

The forms at the centre of the art: the basic forms every student learns first, the kata of Shorin Ryu, and the weapons forms of Ryukyu Kobudo, taught as they were passed down.

Classes run Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with Kobudo on Saturday afternoons. See the class times.

  • foundation

    Ten basic forms, from Kihon Dai Ichi to Hukyūgata Go

  • sports_martial_arts

    The Okinawa Shorin Ryu Karate Shinkokai kata

  • swords

    Ryukyu Kobudo: nine weapons, with their own forms

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Kata

What Kata Are

Many traditional martial arts are based largely on the practice of forms. In Karate these forms are called kata: series of movements containing the techniques of the art. They are practised regularly, with the goal of perfecting the movements, absorbing the techniques into muscle memory and facilitating transmission from teacher to student. Each style of Karate has different kata, though they often share the same names.

  • Although learned and practiced in class, kata training outside the dojo on your own time is very beneficial.
  • The same kata are studied for years, refined rather than replaced
  • Passed from teacher to student, in an unbroken Okinawan line
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See it performed

Watch the Kata Performed

Kata are passed on by watching and repeating, so the forms are best understood seen in motion. Here is Kyoshi James Rault performing Kushanku Dai at the Tokyo demonstration in 2025.

The dojo's channel carries more, including Passai Dai from the 2026 demonstration and the Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan filmed in mirror image so students can practise along at home.

Watch Kushanku Dai on YouTube
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All kata videos
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Martial artists demonstrate on a traditional wooden stage beneath a plaque reading “能楽”.
Where everyone starts

The Basic Forms

Karate begins with the basic forms. The five kihon and the five Hukyūgata introduce the stances, blocks, strikes and kicks that every later kata is built from.

The Kihon (Basics)

Kihon Dai Ichi, Kihon Dai Ni, Kihon Dai San, Kihon Dai Yon, Kihon Dai Go.

The Hukyūgata (Advanced Basics)

Hukyūgata Ichi, Hukyūgata Ni, Hukyūgata San, Hukyūgata Yon, Hukyūgata Go.

Shorin Ryu

The Kata of Shorin Ryu

The full Shorin Ryu kata syllabus as taught here, grouped as they are learned: the five Pinan, the three Naihanchi, the Sho and Dai pairs of Passai and Kushanku, and the kata that complete the syllabus.

The Five Pinan

Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yodan, Pinan Godan.

The Three Naihanchi

Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan.

Passai and Kushanku

Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Kushanku Sho, Kushanku Dai. Each of these kata has a smaller (sho) and a larger (dai) form.

The Kata That Complete the Syllabus

Chinto, Wansu, Jion, Rohai, Ananko, Gojushiho.

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Weapons

Ryukyu Kobudo

Kobudo is the Okinawan art of the traditional weapons, taught alongside the Karate at this dojo, with the adult Kobudo class on Saturday afternoons from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Each weapon carries its own forms: these are the ones in the syllabus.

Bo

Shushi no Kon Sho, Shushi no Kon Dai, Ugusuku no Bo, Sakugawa no Kon Sho, Sakugawa no Kon Dai.

Nunchaku

Maezato no Nunchaku.

Tunfa

Nakazato no Tunfa, Hamahiga no Tunfa.

Sai

Tsukenshitahaku no Sai, Chatanyara no Sai, Hamahiga no Sai, Kojo no Sai.

Tekko

Maezato no Tekko.

Kama

Naku no Kama, Hamahiga no Kama.

Timbe

Kanegawa no Timbe.

Tetchu

Ikehara no Tetchu Jutsu.

Eku

Tsuken Sunakake no Eku.

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Free trial week

Claim Your Free Trial Week

You are welcome to train for a week free of charge, with no obligation. Contact us by email or telephone anytime to arrange; we will tell you which class to come to and where in the syllabus you would begin.

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Call 250-744-7761