Ten no Kata

                 Over the years I have been exposed to various different kinds of training in karate from different masters, instructors and peers in Karate. I have been drilled the normal canon of Karate Kata, Kumite and Kihon. I have done different kinds of drills and exercises, impact training and other training. The one thing that is consistent is that anything outside the cannon of training that my instructor taught me…the items or ideas seem to ebb and flow in and out of popularity.

                Recently we have seen the introduction of the Takyoku kata into the Karate syllabus as well as some new ideas into our training. However, it also opened the door for a new/old idea that we used years ago for a short period of time….the Ten no Kata.  Now most of my readers probably know what this is, but some may not. The Ten No Kata or “Sky form” is a sequence of movements that was developed by Gigo Funakoshi in the 1930’s to help create a Kumite like Kata sequence. The sequence is done solo (Omote) and with a partner (Ura). 

                The Ten-no-Kata was even published in the Karate-Do Kyohan and his older works of Ryukyu Kempo Karate and Rentan Goshin Karate Jitsu. And later mentioned in Karate do Nyumon. All this shows is that Ten No Kata was seen as rather important. However, over the years it has become very fringy in its use.  However, I have to say…upon using it as a training tool recently I can see why its important.  Not only does it provide a flexible use of many different waza, it also is flexible in its use as well. For instance, Kase Sensei used this “Drill” with Fudodachi while others use the drill doing both Zenkutsu and Kokutsu dachi. Some include different techniques as well, like scoping blocks, grabbing blocks, hammer fists ext. This drill also focuses on using a “one punch, one kill” style in its application.

                Juniors will get a good mix of the waza and will benefit from learning the form of the movements and the seniors will be able to hone in on the details of each movement and make sure you are pushing your skills to develop stronger, faster, more explosive movements.

 

Movements

1.       Step in Chudan right/left

2.       Step in Jodan Right left

3.       Step in Gyaku zuki Chudan right left

4.       Step in gyakuzuki Jodan right left

5.       Step back fudo dachi Gedan barai -  Gyaku zuki right left

6.       Step back fudo dachi uchi uke – gyaku zuki right left

7.       Step back Kokutsu dachi Shuto – Zenkutsu dachi nukite gyaku  right left

8.       Step back fudo dachi age uke -gyakuzuki right left

9.       Step back fudo dachi Shuto-barai (?) – gyaku zuki right left

10.    Step back fudo dachi soto uke – gyuaku zuki right left.

* you can use Zenkutsu for each of the Fudo dachi stances. This was taken from a Fudokan (Kase style) Video.