First Basic kata is the first kata taught to Wado Ryu students. It was initally a Shotokan karate form created by Master Otsuka’s former Sensei, Shotokan founder Gichin Funakoshi. He named this kata “Taikyoku Shodan” which translates into “First Cause Number One”. The kata is now found in many karate styles that are based on Shotokan. The kata varies slightly between styles as each karate system has adapted it to their needs over the years. Interestingly, many Shotokan schools no longer teach this form.
1. From masuba dachi (attention stance), rei (bow), then open to hachiji dachi (ready stance).
2. Turn your body to the left 90 degrees, into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance), and throw a left gedan uke (left low block) as you set your left foot down.
3. Step forward into a right junzuki dachi and throw a right junzuki (right front punch).
4. Pull the front hand back across the chest. Pull the front foot back behind you twice the length of your previous stance, as you set it over to your left twice the width of your previous stance. Turn the body, to the right 180 degrees, without further movement of the feet (except to allow them to pivot around), into a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) while throwing a right gedan uke (right low block).
5. Step forward into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) with a left junzuki (left front punch).
6. Turn your body, to the left 90 degrees, as you set your left foot to the left into a left junzuki dachi (front stance), and throw a left gedan uke (low block).
7. Step forward to a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right jodan uke (right high block).
8. Step forward to a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) with a left jodan uke (left high block).
9. Step forward to a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right jodan uke (right high block).
10. Set your left (back) foot around behind you 90 degrees, and let your body follow (turning around to the left 270 degrees), into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) ending with a left gedan uke (left low block).
11. Step forward into a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right junzuki (right front punch).
12. Pull the front hand back across the chest. Pull the front foot back behind you twice the length of your previous stance, as you set it over to your left twice the width of your previous stance. Turn the body, to the right 180 degrees, without further movement of the feet (except to allow them to pivot around), into a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) throwing a right gedan uke (right low block).
13. Step forward into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) with a left junzuki (left front punch).
14. Turn your body, to the left 90 degrees, as you set your left foot to the left into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance), and throw a left gedan uke (low block).
15. Step forward to a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right junzuki (right front punch).
16. Step forward to a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) with a left junzuki (left front punch).
17. Step forward to a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right junzuki (right front punch).
18. Set your left (back) foot around behind you 90 degrees, and let your body follow (turning around to the left 270 degrees), into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) ending with a left gedan uke (left low block).
19. Step forward into a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) with a right junzuki (right front punch).
20. Pull the front hand back across the chest. Pull the front foot back behind you twice the length of your previous stance, as you set it over to your left twice the width of your previous stance. Turn the body, to the right 180 degrees, without further movement of the feet (except to allow them to pivot around), into a right junzuki dachi (right front stance) throwing a right gedan uke (right low block).
21. Step forward into a left junzuki dachi (left front stance) with a left junzuki (left front punch).
22. Pull the front foot back and let the arms relax to your sides, ending in hachiji dachi.
23. Close to masuba dachi (attention stance), then rei (bow).
