Shotokan Karate Kata

Bassai Dai
Bassai Dai , literally translates "To Storm a Castle, major" or "To Penetrate a Fortress, major" is a
kata practiced in Shotokan karate and is one of many variations of the Passai kata. There are two
Bassai kata, the other one being Bassai sho, and although the "Sho" translates to "minor", it is
taught after Bassai Dai.

Bassai Dai is characterised by repeated changing of the blocking

arms to represent the feeling of shifting from a disadvantageous
position to an advantageous one and repeated attacks such as the
three consecutive yama zuki represent penetrating a strong
defence. Bassai Dai is usually classed as an intermediate kata and
is generally first taught to karateka at 3rd kyu (brown belt) and in
some Shotokan federations is allowed to be performed as a grading
kata as far as 1st dan (black belt).

Master Gichin Funakoshi studied the Passai (original name for

Bassai) kata under Master Anko Itosu (pictured). Master
Funakoshi then made some changes, mainly lengthening the
stances and took the new Bassai kata to mainland Japan.

The ultimate aim of the art of Karate lies not

in victory or defeat, but in the perfection of
the characters of its participants.
Master Gichin Funakoshi

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 Heisoku-dachi rei
Lift the right knee up and
forward, at the same time,
pull both arms to the left
side of the body, keeping
the hand positions, with the
right thumb facing up.
Left leg steps across in
preparation for a left arm
uchi uke(inside forearm block) sideon) position.
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Yoi
For this demonstration we
are landing then striking,
when practicing the kata
at full speed, try and land
the strike with the step.
left arm uchi uke(inside
forearm block). Hanmi (
Left hand wraps around
the right fist.Left thumb
placed in the top of the right
fist, next to the right thumb.
Moroto uchi uke (augmented
forearm block) in kosa dachi
(crossed leg stance) knees locked.
There are several applications
for this move, uppercut, backfist,
palm heal, double knee atttack, etc
To practice kata is not to
memorize an order. You
must find the kata that
work for you,
understand them, digest
them and stick with them
for life.
Master Gichin Funakoshi
Right arm comes across the Perform gyaku uchi uke Right leg steps across, lift the
stomach, the left arm can stay (reverse inside forearm left arm high and extend the
bent or extend straight. block), with the right arm. right arm forward.

Perform gyaku soto uke Right arm comes across the Perform right arm uchi uke
(reverse outside forearm stomach, the left arm can stay (inside forearm block), taking
block) with the left arm. bent or extend straight. the body from shomen (square),
to hanmi (side on).

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
Aristotle

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Pull the right leg back. Initially As the feet come together
keep the right arm in the uchi bend the knees and hook
uke (inside forearm block) the right arm down and to
position. the right. Imagine you are
catching someone's front kick.
Perform right arm soto uke Left arm comes across the
just using the right arm, the stomach, the left arm can stay
left arm remains at the side. bent or extend straight.
I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.
Confucius
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The finished position is feet
together, left arm hikite and
right arm bent at 90 degrees,
elbow directly out from the
Shoulder, palm of the right
fist, facing outwards.
Perform gyaku uchi uke
(reverse inside forearm
block) with the left arm.
Bring the left leg up into
shizentai (natural stance),
keep the right fist at the side
and bring the left fist on top
of the right, with the bottom
of the fist facing down.
Start to extend the left arm
into tate shuto (vertical knife
hand block). Timing the shuto
with straightening the legs.
Finish the tate shuto (vertical
knife hand block). Shoulders
down and relaxed. This is a
slow movement and zanshin
(remaining awareness), should
be applied.

Chokuzuki (straight punch) Keep the body still, bend the Pivot on both feet, 90 degrees
with the right arm. arm, so the fist stops on the to the left, rotate the hips, body
left side of the chest, with the and feet strongly. Perform uchi
back of the right hand facing up uke as the rotation completes.

Everything is based on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you

speak and act with a polluted mind, suffering will follow you, as the
wheels of the oxcart follow the footsteps of the ox. Everything is based
on mind, is led by mind, is fashioned by mind. If you speak and act with
a pure mind, happiness will follow you, as a shadow clings to a form.
Buddha

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 Chokuzuki (straight punch) Keep the body still, bend the Pivot on both feet, 90 degrees
with the left arm. As you arm, so the fist stops on the to the left, rotate the hips, body
punch, push the crown of right side of the chest, with the and feet strongly. Perform uchi
the head up, pull the chin back of the left hand facing up. uke as the rotation completes.
in and push the stomach
down.

Stretch the left arm forward
and take the right arm to the
left shoulder, drive the left
knee forward and start to
step with the right leg.
Land with a right side shuto Simultaneously, drive the
uke (knife hand block) in right knee and right arm
kokutsudachi (back stance). forward, pull the left palm
to the right shoulder. Keep
the same height throughout.

If you are patient in one moment

of anger, you will escape a
hundred days of sorrow.
Chinese Proverb.

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 Land with a left side shuto Simultaneously, drive the Land with a right side shuto
uke (knife hand block) in left knee and left arm uke (knife hand block) in
kokutsudachi (back stance). forward, pull the right kokutsudachi (back stance).
palm to the leftt shoulder.

Although the next move involves Land with a left side shuto Keep the left arm, step across
a step backwards, still stretch uke (knife hand block) in with the left leg and drive the
the right arm forward with the kokutsudachi (back stance). right arm forward, palm up,
feeling that someone is pulling under the left hand.
you forward. Pull the right leg.

When we see men of a contrary

character, we should turn
inwards and examine ourselves.
Confucius.

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Start to rotate the hips and
pull the arms down, the left
middle finger is placed at the
the wrist, near the base of
the right thumb.
The arms should come to
rest as you finish the hip
rotation. Right arm is in the
uchi/soto uke position, with
the hand open and palm down
Keep the arms still and try to
lift the right knee high into the
gap between the arms.

Attack with fumikomi (low Recover the leg after the Step down with the right leg
stamping kick) and Kiai. Pull kick, by lifting the knee high, and land with a left side shuto
both fists back to the chest as before the next move. uke (knife hand block) in
you kick. kokutsudachi (back stance).

To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in
order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in
order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our
personal life; we must first set our hearts right.
Confucius.

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 Simultaneously, drive the
left arm, left knee and left
side of the body forward, at
the same time lift the right
arm left shoulder.
Land into a right side shuto- Slowly pull the right leg back
uke in kokutsudachi. to the left. Bring the right hand
back to the left hand, cupping the
hands at stomach height, fingers
straight and facing forwards.

Start to straighten the legs, at Continue to straighten the
the same time form fists, with legs and simultaneously, roll
the palms facing up. the arms, stopping the fists
just above the forehead, with
a small gap between the
knuckles.
Push the arms forward and up,
as you start to step with the
right leg.
Some shotokan groups lift the
knee, instead of a step.

There are two things a person should never be

angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot.
Plato.

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 Strike, rib height, with a Drive off the back leg into Step across with the left leg,
double Tettsui-uchi (hammer migi chudan oizuki zenkutsu perfom shuto (knife hand), with
fist), in han Zenkutsu-dachi dachi (right mid-level stepping the left hand and lift the right
(small front stance) punch, front stance) arm, in preparation for a strike.

Attack with simultaneous Keeping the back foot flat This is a slow move, try and get
nukite (spear hand) and taesho pull the left leg back, at the the feet and hands to finish at
barai (palm heel block) same time, perform manji the same time. Rotate the arms
gamae (gedanbarai/uchi uke) as the legs straighten.4 seconds.

You may train for a long time, but if you merely move your hands and feet
and jump up and down like a puppet, learning karate is not very different
from learning a dance. You will never have reached the heart of the
matter; you will have failed to grasp the quintessence of karate-do.
Master Gichin Funakoshi

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Pivot on the left foot and lift
the right knee high. Use the
right arm, which sharply
comes to the left shoulder, to
help with a fast turn.
Gedanbarai (downward Stretch the right arm to the
block), kibadachi (horse left and bring the open left
stance) hand, under the right arm, with
palm facing down.

Slowly extend the left arm While keeping the right hikite Land with mawashi enpi uchi
into haishu uke (back hand arm fixed, kick mikazuki geri (round elbow strike), kiba dachi
block). 3 to 4 seconds (crescent kick). (horse riding stance)

Tomorrow's battle is won during today's practice .

Samurai Maxim

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The left hand stays where it
is and simply makes a fist,
the right arm punches down,
with the left bottom fist,
touching the forearm, just
below the elbow joint.
Repeat the strike with the
left arm, pulling the right
fist back, so the bottom fist
is touching the forearm, just
below the elbow joint.
For the third time, repeat the
strike, this time with the right
arm. Try and use the hips on
all of these strikes, the power
should come from the legs and
Hips.

Step to the right with the right
pulling both arms to the left
side, left fist hikite and right
fist on top, with the bottom of
the fist facing down.
Drive from the left leg, with
yamazuki (U punch). The
left arm should come up
above the left shoulder, as
much as possible. One fist
directly above the other.
Keeping the heel of the left
leg flat, slowly pull the right
leg back. The right arm comes
back to the hikite position and
left hand comes down top of the
right fist, bottom of the fist
facing down.

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be,

and you help them to become what they are
capable of being.
Goethe

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Drive the left knee up and Land with yamazuki (U punch) Keeping the heel of the right
forward, keeping the arms right fist directly above the foot flat, slowly pull the left
at the side. left fist. Both arms extended leg back, feet together.
equally from the body.

Drive the right knee up and Yamazuki for the third time. As you rotate the body 270
forward, keeping the arms Left forearm parallel with degrees, step up with the left leg,
at the side. the floor, right arm slightly stretch the right arm high and
curved upwards. the left arm low. Look forward.

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by

reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation,
which is easiest; and third by experience, which is
the bitterest.
Confucius

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Sweep the right arm across Perform a hooking movement Now stretch the left arm high
the body with the back of the sharply bringing the right arm and right arm low, back of the
arm up. to the centre and the left arm hands facing up, on both arms.
hikite. As you complete this Keep facing forward.
move, rotate the right hip in
strongly. Feet in a straight line

Sweep the left arm across Perform a hooking movement
the body with the back of the sharply bringing the left arm
arm up. to the centre and the right arm
hikite. As you complete this
move, rotate the left hip in
strongly. Feet in a straight line
Looking 45 degrees to the right
stretch the left arm forward
and step up with the left leg,
pulling the right arm to the
left shoulder. All this is done at
the same time.

A leader is best when people barely know he

exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
they will say: we did it ourselves.
Lao Tzu

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Land into a right side shuto-
uke in kokutsudachi.
Looking 45 degrees to the left
keep the right side shutouke
in kokutsudachi and slowly
move the right leg 45 degrees
to the back.
Sharply step up with the right
leg, stretch the right arm forward
and lift the left arm. Keeping
the same height throughout.

Land into a left side shuto- Pull the left leg back into Heisoku-dachi rei
uke in kokutsudachi. the yoi position.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't

compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
Lao Tzu

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