Gojushiho Dai Kata: A generic outline

Practicing in a confined space after dojo training: one of my methods to specifically "review".

 Here is a general outline of my tokui-gata, Gojushiho Dai (五十四歩大). As you will know, Gojushiho Dai literally translates as `54 steps major’. The number 54 comes from Buddhism as it has special relevance, just as Suparinpei (Hyakuhachiho / Hyakuhappo) `108 steps’ does. With this in mind, there are two main reasons why Shotokan-ryu has two forms of `Gojushiho’ (Gojushihodai and Gojushihosho); these are: (a) to form ‘108’ pertaining to the aforementioned point; and (b) “…to physically balance training on the legs”—Gojushiho Dai loads the left leg (with migi ashi mae neko-ashi dachi) and Gojushihosho the loads right leg (with migi kokutsu-dachi). Lastly, but not least, I hope this outline of Gojushiho Dai helps you with your practice of it. As the longest kata amongst the 25 “official” JKA formal exercises, it is an extreme challenge—irrespective of one’s technical level. For more information on Gojushiho Dai please check out my recent article on it: http://andrebertel.blogspot.jp/2014/06/gojushiho-dai.html. I'd like to conclude that I am not a Buddhist, however, we must consider the historical/sociological contexts, which have influenced the development of karate-do. Best wishes, André Bertel. 

Karatedo Kata (Vol.4): This four book series is the current "BIBLE" of Shotokan Karate-Do Kata.

 A GENERIC OUTLINE OF GOJUSHIHO DAI KATA

REI: (Musubi dachi).

YOI: (Hachiji-dachi).

1.      Migi uraken Jodan tatemawashi uchi doji ni hidari zenwan munemae suihei kamae (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

 

2.      Ryo ken chudan morote uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

3.      Ryo ken chudan morote uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

4.      Hidari tateshuto chudan uke (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

5.      Migi chudan gyaku zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

6.      Hidari chudan maete zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

7.      Migi chudan mae keage (Hidari ashi dachi).

8.      Migi chudan gyaku zuki (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

9.      Migi tateshuto chudan uke (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

10.  Hidari chudan gyaku zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

11.  Migi chudan maete zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

12.  Hidari chudan mae keage (Migi ashi dachi).

13.  Hidari chudan gyaku zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

14.  Migi jodan tate enpi uchi (Migi zenkutsu dachi),

15.  Sasho gedan sukui uke doji ni usho koko gedan osae (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

16.  Migi keito chudan uke doji ni hidari teko migi hiji shita (Migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi).

17.  Hidari shuto gedan uke doji ni migi keito kamae (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

18.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Yori ashi: migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

19.  Hidari chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho hidari hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

20.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

21.  Migi keito chudan uke doji ni hidari teko migi hiji shita (Migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi).

22.  Hidari shuto gedan uke doji ni migi keito kamae (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

23.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Yori ashi: migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

24.  Hidari chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho hidari hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

 

25.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

26.  Hidari haito hidari sokumen gedan uke doji ni migi shuto suigetsumae kamae (Kiba dachi).

27.  (Migi ashi mae kosa).

28.  Ryo sho migi sokumen jodan bo tsukami uke (Kiba dachi).

29.  Migi haito migi sokumen gedan uke doji ni hidari shuto suigetsumae kamae (Kiba dachi).

30.  (Hidari ashi mae kosa).

31.  Ryo sho hidari sokumen jodan bo tsukami uke (Kiba dachi).

32.  Migi keito chudan uke doji ni hidari teko migi hiji shita (Migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi).

 33.  Hidari shuto gedan uke doji ni migi keito kamae (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

34.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Yori ashi: migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

35.  Hidari chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho hidari hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

36.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

37.  Migi gedan shihon yoko nukite (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).

38.  Migi uraken tatemawashi uchi (Migi zenkutsu-dachi).

39.  Hidari gedan shihon yoko nukite (Migi zenkutsu dachi)

40.  Hidari uraken tatemawashi uchi (Hidari zenkutsu-dachi).

41.  Migi gedan washide gedan otoshi uchi (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

42.  Migi jodan washide tsukiage (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

43.  Hidari jodan mae keage (Migi ashi dachi).

44.  Saken chudan zuki doji ni uken hidarikata maeue (Migi ashi dachi).

45.  Hidari Jodan yoko enpi doji ni uken koho gedan uke (Hidari hizakutsu).

46.  Migi keito chudan uke doji ni hidari teko migi hiji shita (Migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi).

47.  Hidari shuto gedan uke doji ni migi keito kamae (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

48.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Yori ashi: migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

49.  Hidari chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho hidari hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

50.  Migi chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki doji ni sasho migi hiji uchigawa (Migi mae ashi neko ashi dachi).

51.  Hidari haito hidari sokumen gedan uke doji ni migi shuto suigetsumae kamae (Kiba dachi).

52.  (Migi ashi mae kosa).

53.  Hidari tateshuto chudan uke kara migi chudan tateshihon nukite doji ni hidari hiji yokohari saken hidari koshi (Migi ashi dachi kara kiba dachi).

54.  Migi haito migi sokumen gedan uke doji ni hidari shuto suigetsumae kamae (Kiba dachi).

55.  (Hidari ashi mae kosa).

56.  Hidari tateshuto chudan uke kara migi chudan tateshihon nukite doji ni hidari hiji yokohari saken hidari koshi (Migi ashi dachi kara kiba dachi).

 57.  Migi uraken Jodan tatemawashi uchi doji ni hidari zenwan munemae suihei kamae (Migi zenkutsu dachi).

58.  Hidari kentsui chudan uchimawashi uchi (Kiba dachi).

59.  Migi chudan jun zuki (Migi zenkutsu dachi). – Kiai

60.  Ryo hiji suihei ryoken ryochichi shita (Hachiji dachi).

61.  Ryo kentsui koho chudan hasami uchi (Hachiji dachi).

62.  Ryo hiji suihei ryoken ryochichi shita (Hachiji dachi).

63.  (Hidari zenkutsu dachi).

64.  Ryote ryogawa gedan kakiwake (Migi ashi mae nekoashi dachi).

65.  Ryo keito haneage uke (Migi ashi mae nekoashi dachi).

66.  Morote chudan ippon nukite otoshi zuki (Yori ashi: migi ashi mae nekoashi dachi).

67.  Migi keito chudan uke doji ni hidari teko migi hiji shita (Migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi).

© André Bertel. Aso-shi, Kumamoto-ken. Japan (2014).