Gekisai Dai Ichi
The first kata taught in modern Goju Ryu. It was created to help popularise Karate. It is the only kata in Goju Ryu that ends with a step forward instead of a step backward.
Name Meaning
Gekisai Dai Ichi
When you interpret the kanji characters for 'Gekisai' individually, you get something more like "Attack & Destroy". Taken as a single word, Gekisai（撃砕）means "Pulverising". Dai Ichi（第一）means "Number One". So "Attack & Destory Number One" or "Pulverising Number One", the former is the more popular interpretation. The reason for the "number one" is because Gekisai Dai Ichi is from a pair of kata, the other being Gekisai Dai Ni（撃砕第二）.
Fukyu Gata Ni
Fukyu (普及) means "Popularisation", "Gata" is another way of saying "Kata" and 二 is "Two".
This name means "Popularisation Kata Two". For more info on this, see the history section.
Kata History
It was created to help popularise Karate in the 1940s by Chojun Miyagi with the help of a Shorin Ryu Sensei. It introduced Jodan Uke into the Goju Ryu syllabus.
How To
Important Points
- Head, hand and foot are all in sync when you perform the first chudan yoko uke of the two blocking sequences.
- After each mae geri there is a stomp.
- When performing the step-up-and-block between the two morote zuki, maintain the same height as your zenkutsu dachi stances.
Kata Techniques
- Jodan Uke
- Jodan Oi Zuki
- Gedan Barai
- Chudan Yoko Uke
- Gedan Mae Geri
- Fumikomi Geri
- Hiji Ate
- Ura Ken Uchi
- Gedan Gyaku Zuki
- Ashi Barai
- Jodan Shuto Uchi
- Morote Zuki
Kata Stances
Dan Grade Changes
- The Chudan Yoko Uke are muchimi.
- The Jodan Age Uke are more circular in their movements.
- The Chudan Yoko Uke used between the two Morote Zuki is changed to an Otoshi Uke.