Learning Karate:
Pattern of movements for Kata Empi

By Clement Sequeira Published on: Mon Apr 11, 2022

This Kata has 37 movements, arranged in the shape of a ‘T’, and includes: Down block; Both fists hip posture; Water flowing posture; Rising punch; Fist above shoulder/Downward punch; Palm diagonally in front and above; Wrist strike; Vertical knife hand block; Punch; Straight punch; Knife hand block; Reverse punch; Palm heel pushing-rising/Palm heel pressing block; Downward posture; Both palms grasping block; Tiger mouth block.

Clement Sequeira

National-level medallist and authorised instructor, your sensei has over 25 years of experience in this martial art form. Clement is a 4th Dan Black belt and also holds distinguished positions as a national level judge with Karate Association of India, and a continental referee with the World Union of Karate-Do Federations.

In the last blog, we looked at Kata Kanku Sho. This blog is on Kata Empi. It has 37 movements, arranged in the shape of a ‘T’, typically taking around one minute to perform altogether. The sequence of moves are as follows:

  • Down block
  • Both fists hip posture
  • Down block
  • Water flowing posture
  • Down block
  • Rising punch
  • Fist above shoulder/Downward punch
  • Down block
  • Down block
  • Rising punch
  • Fist above shoulder/Downward punch
  • Down block
  • Down block
  • Palm diagonally in front and above
  • Wrist strike
  • Vertical knife hand block
  • Punch
  • Straight punch
  • Punch
  • Straight punch
  • Down block
  • Rising punch
  • Knife hand block
  • Knife hand block
  • Reverse punch
  • Knife hand block
  • Down block
  • Rising punch
  • Fist above shoulder/Downward punch
  • Down block
  • Down block
  • Palm heel pushing-rising block
  • Palm heel pushing-rising/Palm heel pressing block
  • Palm heel pushing-rising/Palm heel pressing block
  • Palm heel pushing-rising/Palm heel pressing block
  • Downward posture
  • Both palms grasping block
  • Tiger mouth block
  • Knife hand block
  • Knife hand block

As you can see, these are not easy to master unless you train a lot. With the techniques you have read about so far, it’s time to train and take your Karate skills to the next level. This is the last blog in this series and it wraps up your lessons in Karate with sensei Clement. If you’ve gone through all 43 posts, you would have a fair understanding of Karate by now. It’s up to you to practice and hone your skills.