This page will help you to learn the Wado-Ryu kata - Kushanku. Videos and written step-by-step instructions for Kushanku are provided below. However, if you have any questions about a particular kata movement, please check with your instructor because kata instructions can vary by school and organization.
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YouTube Video for Kushanku - Wado-Ryu Kata
Instructional Video for Wado-Ryu Kata - Kushanku
YouTube Video for Kushanku - Wado-Ryu Kata
Written Instructions for Wado-Ryu Kata - Kushanku
From masuba dachi, rei, then open to hachiji dachi but leave the hands open. Keeping the arms and hands relaxed bring the hands to the center, with the left overlapping the right, so that the fingertips are even (the end of each index finger is even with the end of each little finger), palms facing inward.
Slowly, keeping your arms and hands relaxed, raise the hands slowly until they are slightly above your eyes. This is done while maintaining hachiji dachi.
Slowly let the hands separate, keeping the arms and hands relaxed, and move in a semi-circle out to your sides and down, keeping the palms facing forward, until the hands meet back at the center, side-by-side with little fingers touching each other and the ring fingers touching each other (hands are still facing forward) This is done while maintaining hachiji dachi.
Drop your body, setting your left foot to your left, into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi, 90 degrees to your left, while doing a haishu (backhand) to your left with your left hand, and let your right hand come up so that the upper arm is hanging down, pulling forward from the shoulder just enough to allow the lower arm to be parallel across the front of your body. The lower arm is angled up slightly, crossing over the solar plexus, with the wrist remaining straight and the finger tips extending past the edge of the body.
Staying low, pull your left foot back to it’s original position then set your right foot to your right into a right mahamni neko ashi dachi, 90 degrees to your right, while doing a haishu (backhand) to your right with your right hand, and let your left hand come up so that the upper arm is hanging down, pulling forward from the shoulder just enough to allow the lower arm to be parallel across the front of your body. The lower arm is angled up slightly, crossing over the solar plexus, with the wrist remaining straight and the finger tips extending past the edge of the body.
Pull your right foot back to it’s original position in a hachiji dachi, and pull your arms to a right tae uke.
Throw a left gedan uke. This is done while maintaining hachiji dachi.
Punch with your right hand, pulling the left hand into a hikite position. This is done while maintaining hachiji dachi.
Drop your body as you set your left foot to your left, to about two shoulder widths distance, and about a half of a foot length forward as you allow both feet to pivot to the left, ending parallel and 45 degrees to your left (your left knee should be bent so the knee is over the ankle, and the right leg should be relaxed straight) as you turn your shoulders 90 degrees to your left, and throw a right middle block to the front (original front line).
Shift back to your right into a hachiji dachi as you turn your body to the right 90 degrees and throw a left punch to the front as you pull your right hand into hikite.
Drop your body as you set your right foot to your right, to about two shoulder widths distance, and about a half of a foot length backward as you allow both feet to pivot to the right, ending parallel and 45 degrees to your right (your right knee should be bent so the knee is over the ankle, and the left leg should be relaxed straight) as you turn your shoulders 90 degrees to your right, and throw a left middle block to the front (original front line).
Set your left foot below your body (1) and throw a right middle block and a right front kick simultaneously (2), to your right (to the rear as related to your original front line), as the kick snaps back, set it down directly beside your left foot, and turned at a 115 degree angle to your original front line (3). Then drop your body, setting your left foot to your left, into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi toward your original front line and executing a left open hand block to the front (4).
Step forward into a right mahamni neko ashi dachi and execute a right shoto uke.
Step forward into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi and execute a left shoto uke.
Step forward into a right junzuki dachi and throw a right yohon nukite to the solar plexus.
Let your left hand open (thumb cocked) as you throw a left low block to your left and a right open hand agi uke to the front, as you turn your body to your left 270 degrees and set your left foot to your left 90 degrees to about two shoulder widths distance, and about a half of a foot length forward as you allow both feet to pivot to the left, ending parallel and 45 degrees to the left of your original back line (your left knee should be bent so the knee is over the ankle, and the right leg should be relaxed straight). As you turn throw a left open hand agi uke to your left as you execute a right hand sweep to the back line.
Throw a right front kick to the back line and set it forward (to your original back line) with the foot at 45 degrees to the left of the back line, then look to the front (your original front line) as you set over the right foot, keeping your body upright, allow the right heel to remain off the floor and drop the body until the point just before you totally drop as the quadriceps relax. Allow the left foot to pivot to 45 degrees off of the front line, and remain flat with the leg relaxed straight. As you drop into this position throw a block to your left with your left hand ending out over your left leg, and what Mr. Everett refers to as a bump block (agi uke — the arm will come up in front of your head rolling over, at the end, palm out across the top of your head with a slight upward angle toward the hand) with your right hand.
Pulling your left hand back across the front of your body (not touching your body), with the hand in front of your right shoulder (palm up), while your right hand does a low scoop block across your body.
Use the right leg to stand as you draw your left foot back to a hachiji dachi, and throw a left gedan uke to your left (toward the front line) and pull your right hand into hikite.
Let your left hand open (thumb cocked) as you throw a left low block to your left and a right open hand agi uke to your front, as you turn your body to your left 180 degrees and set your left foot to your left 90 degrees to about two shoulder widths distance, and about a half of a foot length forward as you allow both feet to pivot to the left, ending parallel and 45 degrees to the left of your original front line (your left knee should be bent so the knee is over the ankle, and the right leg should be relaxed straight). As you turn throw a left open hand agi uke to your left as you execute a right hand sweep to the front line.
Throw a right mae geri to the front line and set it forward (to your original front line) with the foot at 45 degrees to the left of the front line, then look to the back (your original back line) as you set over the right foot, keeping your body upright, allow the right heel to remain off the floor and drop the body until the point just before you totally drop as the quadriceps relax. Allow the left foot to pivot to 45 degrees off of the back line, and remain flat with the leg relaxed straight. As you drop into this position throw a block to your left with your left hand ending out over your left leg, and what I call a bump block (agi uke — the arm will come up in front of your head rolling over, at the end, palm out across the top of your head with a slight upward angle toward the hand) with your right hand.
Pulling your left hand back across the front of your body (not touching your body), with the hand in front of your right shoulder (palm up), while your right hand does a low scoop block across your body.
Use the right leg to stand as you draw your left foot back to a hachiji dachi, and throw a left gedan uke to your left (toward the back line) and pull your right hand into hikite.
Pull your left foot back to your right foot, as you pivot your right foot 90 degrees to the left, with your body facing the back line in heisoku dachi. As you turn your hands come to a right tae uke position and you turn your head and look to the left.
Keeping your body facing your original back line, simultaneously throw a left gedan uke and a left mae geri to your left (the bottom knuckles, at the face of the fist, should be touched by the kicking shin). After the kick snaps back, set it to your left, then turn your body to your left, into a left gyakazuki dachi as you throw a right empi, parallel to the floor and across your lower chest, into the palm of your left hand (thumb cocked). The right hand should end palm facing your body, with the left arm in line with the right, and the left fingertips even with the tip of your right elbow.
Turn back 90 degrees to your right, as you draw your right foot to your left foot in heisoku dachi, your hands pull to a left tae uke, and you turn your head to the right (from your original back line).
Keeping your body facing your original back line, simultaneously throw a right gedan uke and a right mae geri to your right (the bottom knuckles, at the face of the fist, should be touched by the kicking shin). After the kick snaps back, set it to your right, then turn your body to your right, into a right gyakazuki dachi as you throw a left empi, parallel to the floor and across your lower chest, into the palm of your right hand (thumb cocked). The left hand should end palm facing your body, with the right arm in line with the left, and the right fingertips even with the tip of your right elbow.
Allow your left (back) foot to move toward the original front line as you turn your body to the left 90 degrees into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi, ending with a left shoto uke (to your original right line).
Step forward and to your right 45 degrees into a mahamni neko ashi dachi executing a right shoto uke (45 degrees off of your original back line).
Turn 135 degrees to the right into a right mahamni neko ashi dachi and execute a right shoto uke (to your original left line).
Step forward and to your left 45 degrees into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi executing a left shoto uke (45 degrees off of your original back line).
Let your left hand open (thumb cocked) as you throw a left low block to your left and a right open hand agi uke to your front, as you turn your head to your left 45 degrees.Then set your left foot back and to your left, to about two shoulder widths distance, and about a half of a foot length forward as you allow both feet to pivot to the left, ending parallel and 45 degrees to the left of your original back line (your left knee should be bent so the knee is over the ankle and the right leg should be relaxed straight), as you turn your shoulders 202 1/2 degrees to your left, and throw a left open hand agi uke to your left (90 degrees left of your original back line) as you sweep with your right hand to the back line.
Throw a right mae gari to the back line and set it forward a slightly extended distance then draw your left foot to your right foot. The left foot remains back half a foots’ length, with the toes at the instep of the right foot, and the heel raised slightly, the right foot is flat. Both feet are straight, and the knees are pressed together and bent with the left knee just slightly more forward than the right. The weight is carried evenly by both feet, and the body is straight forward. As you move into the gyaka shomen neko ashi dachi, both hands close into fists, and the left hand reaches forward over the top of the right as the right hand comes back to your body. They continue a forward rolling motion with the forearms parallel to the forward (back line) facing body, and as the right hand moves over the top, it will reach out to throw a downward backfist to the bridge of the nose, while the left hand pulls back into a hikite position.
Reach back with your left foot to an extended distance then draw your right foot back into a right junzuki dachi as you throw a right soto uke.
Throw a left gyakazuki to the solar plexus followed by a right junzuki to the solar plexus.
Pivot on the balls of both feet to your left 180 degrees. As you pivot let your arms extend out to your sides and parallel to the floor. Your arms are relaxed, left hand open (thumb cocked) and palm facing forward, and the right hand closed palm facing upward. As you finish your pivot draw your right knee up and to the center just below your solar plexus, at the same time you are moving to the front (as a result of the drawing of the knee) and bringing your arms around to the center so the hands meet (right tetsui to left palm) and barely grazing the right leg just above the knee. Then as you fall forward (holding the leg and arms in position), catch yourself on the ball of your right foot (the body is over the right foot, leaning forward and almost parallel to the right thigh, the left leg is stretched out behind you and also on the ball of the foot, the hips are low and the head is up), and as the hands go to the floor, they are both relaxed open, fingertips turned inward toward each other (the hands are barely touching the floor).
Use the right leg to stand as you set your left foot over into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi and execute a left shoto uke to your original back line.
Step forward into a right mahamni neko ashi dachi and execute a right shoto uke.
Shift your body over your right foot as you pivot on the right foot 270 degrees (body is turning 180 degrees) to your left, into a left shomen neko ashi dachi to your original left line as you throw a left soto uke followed by a right gyakazuki.
Turn and reach with your right foot 180 degrees to the right and pull onto the ball of the right foot, allowing the left foot to slip underneath you in a right shomen neko ashi dachi to your original right line as you throw a right soto uke followed by a left gyakazuki and then a right junzuki.
Throw a right soto uke and a right mae geri simultaneously (2), to your right (to the rear as related to your original front line), as the kick snaps back, set it down directly beside your left foot (3), and turned at a 115 degree angle to your original front line. Then set your left foot to your left, into a left mahamni neko ashi dachi toward your original front line and executing a left shoto uke to the front (4).
Pivot your body to the front as you drop your left arm down across your body (parallel to your original front line) and underneath your right hand, which has remained facing the frontline and changed to a yohon nukite position (thumb tucked). Step forward into a right junzuki dachi (leaving the left arm unmoved) and throw a right yohon nukite.
Lean your upper body forward as you pull your right hand (lower arm from the elbow) back beside your right ear. As you lean, shift your body over your right foot, and pivot 270 degrees to your left on your right foot into a shiko dachi, ending with a left gedan uke to your left (your body is facing your original right line and the block is to your original front line).
Reach to your left (toward your original front line) with your left foot then draw your right foot into shiko dachii as you throw a uriken to your original front line at the height of the bridge of the nose (during your move forward, you allow the right foot to come around a little letting the body turn about 45 degrees to your left).
Reach to the front line with your left foot then draw your right foot into a left gyakazuki dachi, facing the front line, as you throw a right empi, parallel to the floor and across your lower chest, into the palm of your left hand (thumb cocked). The right hand should end palm facing your body, with the left arm in line with the right, and the left fingertips even with the tip of your right elbow.
Pull your right hip back (the right foot will move so that you end in hachiji dachi), turning the body 90 degrees to your right and looking straight ahead. As you turn, throw a left soto uke to your left side, and a right gedan to your right side.
Shift to your right, allowing your left foot to step in front of your right foot and turn your body 180 degrees to your right into a shiko dachi. As you finish your turn throw a left low sukui uke across your body, and a right soto uke to your right side.
Throw a right low sukui uke across your body, going underneath your left block (the arms are crossed at the mid forearm).
Remaining low in your shiko dachi, throw a jodan juji uke (your arms will be reversed from their usual position, right arm will be in front).
Step your left foot to your right 180 degrees into a right junzuki dachi facing the back line. After a short pause drop your hands straight down (close them as they come down) as a double crossed tetsui uke (don’t pull the hands back to the body as they drop).
Raise the left knee as if to kick as you do a small jump off of the right foot, and kick to chin height with your right foot, landing the left foot then the right foot in a right junzuki dachi. Then throw a right downward uriken to the bridge of the nose, while the left hand pulls back into a hikite position.
Shift to your right, allowing your left foot to step in front of your right foot and turn your body 180 degrees to your right into a shiko dachi. As you turn, let the right arm to relax, allowing the body to turn into the arm (it will drop some, ending up across the body with the hand below the belt level, and turned palm up). As you finish the turn, shoot the left hand underneath the arm ending up across the body with the hand below the belt level, and turned palm up (the arms are crossed at the mid forearm). Then extend your legs (keep a small relaxed bend in the knees) raising your body (which should have remained upright through the entire move), and as you rise, separate your arms across your body until they are at your sides (about 45 degrees off the front line), then bring your arms up (similar to uppercuts) as you continue moving them straight out to your sides.
Open your hands as you drop your arms, bringing your hands to the center, with the left overlapping the right, so that the fingertips are even (the end of each index finger is even with the end of each little finger), as you draw the right foot to the left into hachiji dachi.
