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 favourite Kata. Although the Kata tends to favour 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.
KANKU DAI
Looking at the Sky - big
KANKU DAI
Looking at the Sky - big
Kata performed by Kurihara Kazuaki
Some of the Key Moves:
- yoko-geri keage (side snap kick)
- tobi-geri (two level kick)
- shuto-uke (knife hand block)
- uchi uke (inside block)
- gedan-uke /furiage (forearm down block /rising swing)
- shuto-soto-uchi (outside sword hand strike)
- mae-empi-uchi (front elbow strike)
- kokutsu dachi (back stance)
KANKU DAI
the kata in practice
KANKU DAI
the kata in practice
Greet in musubi-dachi position .
Advertise the " Kanku-dai " kata .
Yoi : In position hachiji-dachi . Arms stretched out in front of you.The tip of the middle finger and the index finger of the right hand rest on the index finger and middle finger of the left hand. The tip of the right thumb rests on the left thumb nail .
1. Raise your hands slowly and smoothly to the height of your forehead, following them with your eyes, without bending your arms, so as to look into the triangle formed by them.
2. Kaishin : Spread your arms sharply, lowering your chin so that your elbows are at shoulder height, your forearms perpendicular to the floor. Describe slowly and gracefully a large circle of great amplitude ( kaishin = open mind), so as to strike the left palm in the center with the sharpness of the right hand with force.
3. Hidari jodan haiwan-uke : Turn the head to the left, send the left foot to the left in kokutsu-dachi position and shift your hands slightly to the right. Execute a jodan- level (haiwan-uke )left-hand-backhand lock , while pulling the right hand to the solar plexus in kamae.
4. Migi jodan haiwan-uke : Turn the head to the right, swing the pelvis to the left leg in the kokutsu-dachi position and execute a jodan level ( haiwan-uke )level right hand hand lock while pulling the left hand at solar plexus in kamae.
5. Hidari chudan tate shuto-uke : Swivel the head to the left, in the axis of the kata, and bring the left foot to the right foot in the hachiji-dachi position , at the same time as you extend your right arm in front of you, left hand under the right arm. Send the left hand to execute a vertical groove of the edge of the hand ( tate shuto-uke ), the right fist in hikité.
6. Chudan-zuki Migi : On the spot, carry a right middle level straight punch ( chudan-zuki).
7. Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke : Swivel the pelvis sharply to the left and execute a right inner-outer right block ( uchi-ude-uke ) middle level in front of you. While rotating the pelvis, rotate the right foot inward by extending the right leg and bending the left knee.
8. Hidari chudan-zuki : Return to the natural position of hachiji-dachi while carrying a direct left punch middle level ( chudan-zuki ).
9. Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke : Swivel the pelvis sharply to the right and execute a middle-left blocking ( uchi-ude-uke ) middle level in front of you. While rotating the pelvis, rotate the left foot inward, extending the left leg and bending the right knee.
10. Migi Yoko-geri-keage / Migi jodan uraken-uchi : Swivel your head to the right to look behind you, bring the sole of the right foot to the level of the inner side of the left knee while bringing the right vertical fist on the left fist at the left hip ( koshi-kamae ). Take a side kicking kick ( yoko-geri keage ) to the right, at the same time as you make a circular move with the right hand in the same direction ( uraken-uchi ).
11. Hidari chudan shuto-uke : Turn the head to the left to look in the opposite direction, retracting the right leg and arming the left hand to the right ear. Rest the right foot behind you in kokutsu-dach position, performing a blocking of the cutting edge of the left hand level middle level in front of you ( shuto-uke ).
12. Migi chudan shuto-uke : Advance the right foot while arming the right hand to the left ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position, performing a cut of the right-hand level of the right hand in front of you ( shuto-uke ).
13. Hidari chudan shuto-uke : Advance the left foot while arming the left hand to the right ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position, executing a blocking of the cutting edge of the left-hand middle level in front of you ( shuto-uke ).
14. Hidari osae-uke / Chudan-nukite Migi : Advance the right foot in zenkutsu-dachi position, lower the left hand following a circular trajectory in a left leaning block ( osae-uke). At the same time, wear a spike attack with the right hand ( nukite ), the right elbow resting on the back of the open left hand.
KIAÏ !!!
15. Migi jodan shuto-uchi / Hidari jodan age-shuto-uke : Turn the head to the left, slide the left foot to the left to get to the zenkutsu-dachi position . Perform a descending block from the cutting edge of the left hand to the left leg, the right hand protecting the head, right side. Immediately, carry a sharp slice of the right hand ( shuto-uchi ), palm to the sky high level by pivoting powerfully the pelvis to the left. At the same time, raise the left hand in front of the front, palm forward, in protection ( age-shuto-uke ).
16. Migi jodan mae-geri : While keeping the position of the upper half of the body, wear a frontal kick whipped right in front of you, high level ( mae-geri ).
17. Manji-uke : Turn the head to the left, bring the right foot to the left knee, arm the right hand to the left ear, right arm extended to forward. Rest the right foot in thekokutsu-dachi position, and double-lock up / down: uchi-ude-uke ( uchi-ude-uke ) and down left in front of you ( gedan-barai ).
18. Hidari nagashi-uke / Migi gedan-nukite : Slide left foot to the left to arrive inzenkutsu-dachi position . Lower your right hand obliquely in front of you to strike a pike with your hand ( nukite ), palm upward, while bringing the left hand over the right shoulder to perform a swept blocking ( nagashi-uke ) .
19. Hidari gedan-barai : Bring the left foot to the right foot in the renoji-dachi position, pulling the right fist to the right hip in hikeness, and lowering the left arm in front of the body in a descending block ( gedan-barai ).
20. Migi jodan shuto-uchi / Hidari jodan age-shuto-uke : Slide left foot to the left to arrive in zenkutsu-dachi position . Perform a descending block from the cutting edge of the left hand to the left leg, the right hand protecting the head, right side. Shoot with the right hand ( shuto-uchi ), palm up to the sky, pivoting the pelvis sharply to the left. At the same time, raise the left hand in front of the front, palm forward, in protection ( age-shuto-uke ).
21. Migi jodan mae-geri : While keeping the position of the upper half of the body, wear a front kick whipped right in front of you, high level ( mae-geri ).
22. Manji-uke : Turn the head to the left, bring the right foot to the left knee, arm the right hand to the left ear forward. Rest the right foot in the kokutsu-dachi position, and double-lock up / down: uchi-ude-uke ( uchi-ude-uke ) and down left in front of you ( gedan-barai ).
23. Hidari nagashi-uke / Migi gedan-nukite : Slide left foot to the left to arrive inzenkutsu-dachi position. Lower your right hand obliquely in front of you to strike a pike with your hand ( nukite ), palm upward, while bringing the left hand over the right shoulder to perform a swept blocking ( nagashi-uke ) .
24. Hidari gedan-barai : Bring the left foot to the right foot in the renoji-dachi position, pulling the right fist to the right hip in hikeness, and lowering the left arm in front of the body in a descending block ( gedan-barai ).
25. Hidari yoko-geri-keage / Hidari jodan-uraken : Swivel the head to the left, turn the pelvis 45 ° in the same direction and bring the left fist vertically on the right fist to the right hip ( koshi-kamae ) . Bring the sole of the left foot to the level of the inner side of the right knee. Take a side whip kick ( yoko-geri keage ) to the left, at the same time you make a circular shot with the back of your left hand in the same direction ( uraken-uchi ).
26. Migi chudan mae empi-uchi : Rest the left foot on the ground in the direction of the kick in the zenkutsu-dachi position. At the same time, bring a frontal blow of the right elbow against the palm of the left hand ( mae-empi-uchi ).
27. Migi yoko-geri-kea ge / Migi jodan-uraken : Without moving the left foot, bring the sole of the right foot to the level of the inner side of the left knee while bringing the right fist vertical on the left fist to the hip left ( koshi-kamae ). Take a right side whipped kick (yoko-geri kea ge ) to the right, at the same time as you make a circular shot with the right hand in the same direction ( uraken-uchi ).
28. Hidari chudan mae empi-uchi : Rest the right foot on the ground in the direction of the kick in the zenkutsu-dachi position . At the same time, bring a frontal blow of the left elbow against the palm of the right hand ( mae-empi-uchi ).
29. Hidari chudan shuto-uke : Turn the head to the left to look in the opposite direction, rotate 180 ° to the left to turn around in the kokutsu-dachi position, while performing acut- off of the edge of the left hand average level. ( shuto-uke )
30. Migi chudan shuto-uke : Move the right foot 45 degrees to the right while arming the right hand to the left ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position , performing a mid-level right hand cutting block. ( shuto-uke )
31. Migi chudan shuto-uke : Bring back the right foot and move it 135 degrees to the right while arming the right hand to the left ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position, performing a mid-level right hand cutting block. ( shuto-uke )
32. Hidari chudan shuto-uke : Move the left foot 45 degrees to the left while arming the left hand to the right ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position , performing a mid-level left hand cutting block. ( shuto-uke )
33. Migi jodan shuto-uchi / Hidari jodan age-shuto-uke : Turn the head to the left, slide the left foot to the left to get to the zenkutsu-dachi position . Perform a descending block from the cutting edge of the left hand to the left leg, the right hand protecting the head, right side. Shoot with the right hand ( shuto-uchi ), palm up to the sky, pivoting the pelvis sharply to the left. At the same time, raise the left hand in front of the front, palm forward, in protection ( age-shuto-uke ).
34. Migi jodan mae-geri : While keeping the position of the upper half of the body, wear a frontal kick whipped right in front of you, high level ( mae-geri ).
35. Migi chudan uraken-uchi : Rest the right foot on the ground, bring the left foot just behind him, in the kosa-dachi position . At the same time, lower your right fist in front of you to execute a blow of the middle fist ( uraken-uchi ).
36. Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke : Back off the left foot to find yourself in zenkutsu-dachi position , and simultaneously, execute a middle-outer right-middle blocking ( uchi-ude-uke ).
37. Hidari chudan gyaku-zuki / chudan-zuki Migi : On the spot, always in zenkutsu-dachi position , execute a left inverted left-hand punch (gyaku-zuki) followed by a direct straight right-hand punch ( chudan). -zuki ).
38. Migi ura-zuki : While pressing on the left foot, rotate 180 ° and bring the 2 fists in hikité on both sides of the pelvis. Raise your right knee in front of you and execute a close right ( ura-zuki ) punch , supported by the left hand, against the inside of the right forearm, below the wrist level.
39 . Rest the right foot in front of you in a very low zenkutsu-dachi position, and drop your bust forward to rest on your hands. These are arranged on the floor, shoulder width, fingers inward.
40. Morote gedan shuto-baraii : Without moving the feet, immediately straighten the bust by turning 180 ° to the left to turn around and find yourself in the low kokutsu-dachi position. At the same time, perform a simultaneous blocking of the sharp edges of the two low level hands ( gedan shuto-barai ).
41. Migi chudan shuto-uke : Advance the right foot while arming the right hand to the left ear. Arrive in kokutsu-dachi position , executing a cut of the right side of the right hand ( shuto-uke ).
42. Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke : Swivel the pelvis 270 ° to the left to arrive in the zenkutsu-dachi position and execute a mid-level left-outside ( uchi-ude-uke )block.
43. Migi chudan gyaku-zuki : On the spot, always in zenkutsu-dachi position , execute a right-hand inverted right-hand punch ( gyaku-zuki ).
44. Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke : Rotate the head to the right, rotate 180 ° to reach zenkutsu-dachi , while performing a mid-level right inner-outer block ( uchi-ude-uke ).
45. Hidari chudan gyaku-zuki / chudan-zuki Migi : On the spot, send a left inverted left fist medium ( gyaku-zuki ) followed by a direct straight right punch ( chudan-zuki ).
46. Migi yoko-geri-keage / Migi yoko jodan-uraken : Bring the left foot halfway back, bring the sole of the right foot to the level of the inner side of the left knee while bringing the right fist vertical on the left fist at the left hip ( koshi-kamae ). Carry a right side whipped kick ( yoko-geri keage ) to the right, at the same time as you perform a circular shot with the right hand in the same direction ( uraken-uchi ).
47. Hidari chudan shuto-uke : Turn your head to the left to look in the opposite direction, bring your right foot back and put it in the zenkutsu-dachi position behind you. At the same time, performs a blocking of the cutting edge of the left hand middle level ( shuto-uke ).
48. Hidari osae-uke / Chudan-nukite Migi : Advance the right foot in zenkutsu-dachi position, lower the left hand following a circular trajectory in a left leaning block ( osae-uke). At the same time, wear a spike attack with the right hand ( nukite ), the right elbow resting on the back of the open left hand.
49. Hidari jodan uraken-uchi : On an opposing seizure of the right wrist, turn the right hand on itself in a clockwise direction and raise the forearm straight in front of you, palm straight in front of the face. The left hand is placed under the upper part of the right arm.Rotate to the left 180 degrees to arrive in the kiba-dachi position, the right hand passing behind the head, the left hand rising, the left fist closing at face height, and you come to perform a blow from the back of the fist left middle level ( uraken-uchi ), the right fist coming in hikité.
50. Hidari chudan tettsui-uchi : Without moving the right fist, bring the left fist in front of you to the right flank. Push on the right foot and slide the left foot to the left, followed immediately by the right foot. Still in the kiba-dachi position, then send the left fist to the left to strike a medium-level hammer ( tettsui-uchi ).
51. Migi chudan empi-uchi : On the spot, take a right elbow to the left and hit the left palm ( empi-uchi ), still in the kiba-dachi position.
52. Migi gedan-barai: On the spot, always in kiba-dachi position, turn the head to the right and bring the right vertical fist on the left fist to the left hip ( koshi-kamae ) before performing a right descending block right side ( gedan-barai ).
53. Hidari fumikomi-geri / Ryo-ude mawashi-uke : When pressing on the right foot, rotate 180 ° to the right by raising the left foot sharply in front of you. At the same time, also raise the left fist above the head, the right arm remaining stretched down, in front of the bust. Rest your left foot on the ground for a crushing kick ( fumikomi-geri ) and find yourself in kiba-dachi position. In doing so, launch the left arm in a circular path to the descending left and the right arm in an upward circular path in the opposite direction. You then execute a double circular block ( ryo-ude mawashi-uke ).
54. Migi otoshi-zuki : Still in the kiba-dachi position , plunge your fist down, behind the left wrist, to perform a descending punch ( otoshi-zuki ).
55. Jodan haishu juji-uke : Bring your elbows against the chest, raising your forearms towards your chest so that your fists are pointing obliquely upwards. Push on the legs to straighten up and find yourself in the hachiji-dachi position . At the same time, raise your fists towards the sky by opening your hands, You thus execute a blocking of the high-level hand- ups ( haishu juji-uke ).
56. Juji-kamae: Pivot 270 ° on the right foot, the left foot making a circular trajectory to pivot to the right and arrive in moto-dachi position . Throughout the rotation, the hands remain crossed over the head. On arrival, bring your elbows against the bust while your fists close ( juji-kamae ).
57. Hidari tobi-geri / Migi tobi-geri: Without changing the position of the arms, jump left leg forward to carry a left jumped token ( tobi-geri ). Immediately chase a straight jump ( tobi-geri ) by raising the right fist above the head.
58. Migi chudan uraken-uchi : Go back to the ground in zenkutsu-dachi position , at the same time as you send the right fist to carry a medium-level punch ( uraken-uchi ).
KIAÏ !!!
Yame : Without modifying the position of the arms, turn the right foot forward with the left foot and rotate 180 ° to the right leaning slightly forward until the 2 feet are on the same line in position kiba-dachi wide.
Extend the left arm down under the right arm as soon as the left foot reaches its destination.
Extend the arms on either side of the body by drawing a large circle with your fists.Simultaneously, straighten the bust and bring the left foot and the right foot closer to the hachiji-dachi position .
Continue to raise your arms and pass them over the head, then cross them in front of you, right arm on the left arm ( heishin = close mind).
Join the feet in musubi-dachi position and salute.
