KANKU DAI
Having 65 movements, Kanku Dai is the longest of the Sentei kata, as well as one of the longest kata in the Shotokan syllabus. Kanku translates as “Looking at the Sky” or “Viewing the Sky,” referring to the kata’s opening sequence. The word Dai (big) is used to describe the kata’s larger movements as compared to the kata’s smaller version, Kanku Sho. Kanku is one of three Shotokan kata that have two versions, Dai (big) and Sho (small). Originally, the kata was called Kushanku, named after a Chinese diplomat and kung fu expert. It is uncertain if this diplomat actually created the kata (or if he even existed), but many credit the kata to one of his alleged students, Santunuku Sakugawa.
Kanku Dai is basically an amalgamation of the Heian and Tekki kata. When practicing this kata, one will find many pieces of H2-H5, and even some T1. It is a very energetic kata involving jumping, dropping, and spinning techniques. It is said that this was Gichin Funakoshi’s favorite kata. Although the kata tends to favor the use of shuto-uchi, Kanku Dai offers two unique combinations, ura-zuki & ude-tate-fuse and gedan-uke/furiage. The very difficult jumping nidan-geri is also first practiced in this kata. Kanku Dai has many high and low techniques, requiring a certain amount of flexibility. It is a highly dynamic kata that must be performed with grace in motion.
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Technique
Translation
Stance
Target
Notes
1
ryote-hitae-mae-ue
both hands in front and above forehead
hachiji-dachi
jodan
slow speed
2
ryote-kafukubu-mae
both hands in front of abdomen
hachiji-dachi
—
slow speed
3
haiwan-uke
back of arm block
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
4
haiwan-uke
back of arm block
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
5
tate-shuto-uke
vertical knife-hand block
hachiji-dachi
chudan
slow speed
6
tsuki (choku-zuki)
punch (straight punch)
hachiji-dachi
chudan
7
uchi-uke
inside block
hizakutsu
chudan
8
tsuki (choku-zuki)
punch (straight punch)
hachiji-dachi
chudan
9
uchi-uke
inside block
hizakutsu
chudan
10
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
—
11
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan
12
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
13
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
14
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
15*
osae-uke /
shihon-nukite (tate-nukite)
pressing block /
four finger spear-hand (vertical spear-hand)
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
chudan
16
shuto-gedan-barai &
jodan-uke /
shuto-soto-mawashi-uchi
low knife-hand sweep &
face block /
outside sword-hand strike
ashi-zenkutsu
gedan
jodan
jodan
gyaku-hanmi
17
mae-geri
front kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
18
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan
19
nagashi-uke /
shuto-uchikomi
flowing block /
knife-hand thrusting strike
ashi-zenkutsu
jodan
gedan
20
gedan-barai
down block
renoji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
21
shuto-gedan-barai &
jodan-uke /
shuto-soto-mawashi-uchi
low knife-hand sweep &
face block /
outside sword-hand strike
ashi-zenkutsu
gedan
jodan
jodan
gyaku-hanmi
22
mae-geri
front kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
23
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan
24
nagashi-uke /
shuto-uchikomi
flowing block /
knife-hand thrusting strike
ashi-zenkutsu
jodan
gedan
25
gedan-barai
down block
renoji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
26
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
—
27
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan
28
mae-empi-uchi
front elbow strike
zenkutsu-dachi
—
29
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
—
30
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan
31
mae-empi-uchi
front elbow strike
zenkutsu-dachi
—
32
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
33
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
34
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
35
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
36
shuto-gedan-barai &
jodan-uke /
shuto-soto-mawashi-uchi
low knife-hand sweep &
face block /
outside sword-hand strike
ashi-zenkutsu
gedan
jodan
jodan
gyaku-hanmi
37
mae-geri
front kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
38
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi
vertical back-fist strike
kosa-dachi
jodan
39
uchi-uke
inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
40
gyaku-zuki
reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
41
tsuki
punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
42
soete-ura-zuki /
hiza-zuchi
added hand inverted punch /
knee strike
ashi-dachi
jodan
—
43
ude-tate-fuse
arms vertically prone
ashi-zenkutsu
—
44
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
gedan
45
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
46
uchi-uke
inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
47
gyaku-zuki
reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
48
uchi-uke
inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
49
gyaku-zuki
reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
50
tsuki
punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
51
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
—
52
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan
53
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
54
osae-uke /
shihon-nukite (tate-nukite)
pressing block /
four finger spear-hand (vertical spear-hand)
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
chudan
55
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi
vertical back-fist strike
kiba-dachi
jodan
56
kentsui-uchi-mawashi-uchi
inside hammer-fist strike
kiba-dachi
chudan
yori-ashi
57
sokumen-mae-empi-uchi
front elbow strike to side
kiba-dachi
—
58
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture
kiba-dachi
—
59
gedan-barai
down block
kiba-dachi
gedan
60
zenwan-gedan-uke /
furiage
forearm down block /
rising swing
kiba-dachi
gedan
jodan
fumikomi variation
61
otoshi-zuki
falling punch
kiba-dachi
gedan
62
kaisho-kosa-uke
(ryosho-juji-uke)
both palms crossing block
(X-block)
hachiji-dachi
jodan
63
ashi-jiku-mawari
foot pivot rotation
zenkutsu-dachi
—
natural speed
64
ryoken-mune-mae-kosa
both fists crossed in front of chest
zenkutsu-dachi
—
slow speed
65*
nidan-geri
&
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi
two level kick
&
vertical back-fist strike
—
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
jodan
jodan
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