List of Shotokan Karate Katas with Instructions

This page provides instructions for Shotokan katas and will prepare you for your next Karate belt test. You will find detailed written and/or video instructions for a wide variety of Shotokan kata and kihon. However, if in doubt, check with your Sensei/Instructor regarding your required Karate kata movements as some Shotokan Karate schools use slightly different kata formats. In addition, after the first eight katas, many Shotokan Karate schools have their kata in different orders/sequences based on the preference of the school's Sensei. In addition, students should also know the meaning of Shotokan Karate kata as many Shotokan schools will make knowledge of these meanings part of some belt test.

If you are looking for the bunkai of these katas, please visit the main Shotokan Bunkai section. For the katas of other Karate styles (i.e. Wado-Ryu katas or Kyokushin katas), please visit the main Katas & Forms section. For more information on kata, please visit the wiki community discussions such as Is kata useful or useless?, etc.

Section supported by Shotokan Books.

Shotokan Karate Katas - Video and/or written step-by-step instructions.

"Kihon" Shotokan Katas - These introductory katas are used by some Shotokan schools.

• Shotokan - Taikyoku Shodan
• Shotokan - Taikyoku Nidan
• Shotokan - Taikyoku Sandan
• Shotokan - Taikyoku Yondan - Less frequently used
• Shotokan - Taikyoku Godan - Less frequently used
• Shotokan - Taikyoku Rokudan - Less frequently used

"Official" Shotokan Karate Katas

• Heian Shodan - Shotokan Karate Kata 1 - This is the first "official" kata used at many Shotokan schools.
• Heian Nidan - Shotokan Karate Kata 2
• Heian Sandan - Shotokan Karate Kata 3
• Heian Yondan - Shotokan Karate Kata 4
• Heian Godan - Shotokan Karate Kata 5
• Tekki Shodan
• Tekki Nidan
• Tekki Sandan
• Bassai Dai
• Bassai Sho
• Kanku Dai
• Kanku Sho
• Enpi or Empi
• Jion
• Gankaku
• Hangetsu
• Jitte
• Chinte
• Sochin
• Meikyo
• Jiin
• Gojushiho Dai
• Gojushiho Sho
• Nijushiho
• Wankan
• Unsu

Katas Used By Some Shotokan Organizations

• Asai Katas (i.e. Junro kata)
• Kato Katas