The last blog was on Kata Tekki Nidan. In this blog you will learn all about the Kata Kanku Dai. This is an advanced learner’s Kata, bringing into use some advanced techniques and swift movements. It holds the distinction of being one of the longest Katas. However, if you have learnt and practiced the basic Katas, then you won’t find this that difficult, as it mostly involves repetition of a lot of moves.

In this Kata, the Karateka uses the following movements:

• Forward stance
• Back stance
• Cat / short back stance
• Horse stance
• Cross hand blocks
• Open hand chops
• Side kicks
• Jumping front kick
• Wrist grabs
• Pulls and throws
• Blocks and breaks
• Hammer fist attacks

Let’s see how to execute this Kata. From the ready position, form a diamond shape using the fingers of both hands. Lift your hands slowly and look through the diamond-shaped gap as you continue to lift them. At the highest point, break and open your hands, bringing them down slowly, and stop when they’re above waist level.

Switch to a back stance with a side block. Shift your weight to the other side and perform another side block. Straighten your legs and breathe slowly with your left hand in front. Punch straight with the right hand, shift your weight, and perform an inner forearm block. Now repeat this on the other side. Punch straight, shift your weight, and perform a block.

Next come back up and execute a side kick along with a back fist, landing on the back stance. Move forward three steps with knife hand blocks. Now use the open palm to tap downwards and the other hand to thrust forward. Now turn back and perform a neck chop and a front kick, landing on a back stance with a hammer fist.

Now pull your hands back to the side, fists together near your waist, perform a side kick and an elbow strike. Repeat on the other side – pull back, side kick, back fist and elbow strike. Shift your leg to a back stance with a knife hand block, 45-degree knife hand block, straight-line knife hand block and a 45-degree knife hand block.

Switch to forward stance in a straight line, neck chop, front kick, jump, side block, left hand back on your waist, left leg back to forward stance, inner forearm block, and double punch. Shift your weight, left hand open, right hand outer forearm block, wrist grab, turn, break, knee down.

Now turn back, switch to a back stance, and perform a downward knife hand block or a downward chop. Step forward and execute another knife hand block. Make a 3/4th turn, switch to forward stance, perform an inner forearm block, and a double punch. Now do a back turn, forward stance, inner forearm block, and a double punch.

Next come to a side kick position, kick, knife hand block, tap and thrust with a shorter stance. Straighten your leg with a palm heel lift up, join your left leg and turn, perform a back fist downwards, and a jumping back fist sideways. Shift your front leg from horse stance to a forward stance, and perform an elbow strike.

Now shift your back leg to a forward stance, and perform a down block, join your leg, spread to a horse stance, punch downward with your left hand, lift your right hand and punch downward. Cross your hands with the fists and lift them up, come back up to a straight position, open your hands, pull your hands back, lift your left leg and turn back.

Next, perform a jumping front kick and a hammer fist, join your left leg, execute a short down block, come back to the starting position and bow. That marks the end of this Kata. It is quite a long sequence of movements and needs much practice to perfect. In the next blog, we will look at the Kata Tekki Sandan.