Ten no Kata

‘Ten no Kata’ translates as ‘Kata (form) of the universe’. How e-soteric. How e-thereal. Howww eh..., what does that mean? According to Karate-dō Kyōhan, considered the ‘bible’ of modern Shotokan Karate, Ten no Kata was developed in the mid-1940s for use as matching (kumite) forms. Consisting of two parts, forward (omote) is used for individual training and backward movement (ura) is used with a partner for kumite. The book details ten omote forms and six ura forms. Many students believe these are the only variations of Ten no Kata and must be performed in sequential order as listed in the book. They fail to recognize that these are just some examples of Ten no Kata; many other variations are possible.

‘Universal’ can also be the simple, earthly idea of fitting all situations, as in tools, like an adjustable wrench or a universal joint. With Dō Gakuin, as well as my sensei’s dojo, we practice two other variations of Ten no Kata, 5-count and 4-count. Any basic can be dropped into these patterns for practice. The 5-count form begins with a ¼ left turn, then a ½ right turn to the other side, then a ¼ left turn to the front, then a ½ right turn to the rear, finally a ½ left turn to the front. It teaches the student turns/pivoting in a simple pattern while giving them a sense of 360 degrees of protection. The idea of left turn/front stance/down block is good preparation for Taikyoku Shodan (or Heian Shodan for those Shotokan branches that don't practice Taikyoku). Any basic (kihon) can be practiced in any stance with either 5-count or 4-count Ten no Kata.

There are times a student might have difficulties with a particular move in a new kata. We’ll often isolate that move and use it as a Ten no Kata. This gives the student a chance to repeatedly practice the move without concentrating on the new kata pattern. For example, the right side of Heian Shodan’s top bar has a right down block (gedan barai), shift the right foot back to hourglass stance (sanchin dachi) with a right hammer fist (tettsui), and left step forward with a forward punch (oi zuki/zenkutsu dachi). If the student has difficulty with the idea of a replacement step we might work it as a Ten no Kata: left down block/shift back hammer fist/right step punch, mirror it on the right side, follow through to the front (left block series), back (right block series), and front (left block series). Another example can be seen in Heian Nidan. If a student has difficulty with the complicated top bar of the kata we might pull it out and practice it as a Ten no Kata, doing the left side, shifting and doing the right side, stepping ¼ turn to the front and doing the left side, shifting and doing the right side to the rear, and finally shifting to the front practicing the left side.

4-count Ten no Kata is simply a combination of omote and ura. We step forward with the right basic, return to yoi, step forward with the left basic, return to yoi, step backward with the left foot for a right basic, return to yoi, and step backward with the right foot for a left basic, return to yame (finish). As with 5-count, the actual basics alternate - right, left, right, left.

Kihon (basics) is the most important physical part of Karate training. Kata (form) is nothing more than basics arranged in a specific pattern. Kumite (sparring) is applying your basics against an opponent. Ten no Kata usually takes no more than three or four square feet in area, making it perfect to practice most basics at home, the office, or almost any restricted space.