What is Saifa Kata?
Saifa kata is comprised of two kanji ‘Sai’ and ‘Ha’, (note that the Okinawan pronunciation of Ha is Fa). The kanji ‘Sai’, as in kata Geki-sai, is to ‘smash’. The second kanji ‘Ha’/’Fa’ means to ‘tear’. This can be translated as, ‘Smash and Tear’. The reasoning behind this name came from its bunkai (application).
How many katas are in Goju Ryu?
12
Gōjū-ryū has 12 core kata in its standard curriculum. In some schools, practitioners are required to know all of these kata before reaching sandan (3rd degree black belt) or, more commonly, for godan (5th degree black belt). Morio Higaonna writes that “Karate begins and ends with kata.
Who is the founder of Goju karate?
Chojun Miyagi
Chojun Miyagi (1888-1953) is the founder of today’s Goju-Ryu Karate-Do; he was responsible for taking the Naha-te of his teacher and formulating it into his own martial arts system. Miyagi was Kanryo Higaonna’s most talented student and his chosen heir.
Who created Bassai Dai?
Sokon Matsumura
Bassai Dai is believed to have been created by Sokon Matsumura. Much of the bunkai focus on breaking the opponent’s balance and defences against grabbing attacks. Like many Shotokan Kata, Bassai Dai is praticed in many styles of karate, having several variations. The JKA version has 42 movements.
Is Goju-Ryu practical?
Goju-Ryu is considered to be highly effective and great art to start out with for general conditioning and all-around close-range skills. Another element of Goju-Ryu which makes it highly effective is its focus on body conditioning, somewhat like Kyokushin style karate (which was influenced by Goju-Ryu).
What is the 3rd kata name?
Heian Sandan is also known as Shotokan Kata 3. Heian Sandan is the third Shotokan kata (behind Heian Shodan and Heian Nidan).
What is the second karate kata?
The second kata of the series, Taikyoku Nidan, is similar to Taikyoku Shodan, except that the chudan punches are all replaced with upper-level (jodan) punches.
What is the original name of Bassai?
Originally called Passai, but was changed when Gichen Funakoshi took karate from Okinawa to Japan. The ‘Sai’ in Bas’Sai’ is the same character in ‘Sai’fa (meaning destroy or breach). The meaning of Bassai-dai is generally regarded as ‘To breach the fortress’ or ‘destroy the fortress’.
What does Bassai mean in Korean?
Passai (拔塞, katakana パッサイ), also Bassai (バッサイ), is the name of a group of kata practiced in different styles of martial arts, including karate and various Korean martial arts, including Taekwondo, Tang Soo Do, and Soo Bahk Do. Passai kata are usually classed as intermediate.
What is Saifa kata?
Saifa has just 20 counts and follows a simpler embusen (performance line). This made for Saifa to be a good stepping stone from the Taigyoku to the more difficult kata. Saifa is a world renown kata and hails from the Okinawan city of Naha.
How many strikes do you get in kata Saifa?
One strike (stomach level punch – chudan tsuki). One kick (front kick – mae geri). Having arrived at Orange belt you will be introduced to kata Saifa. This kata will take you through your next two grades (both Orange and Green belts).
What is the difference between Taigyoku and Saifa kata?
After studying the Taigyoku kata for their first two grades, Saifa was the logical choice to follow. Compared to the simpler patterns of the Taigyoku kata, many kata can be very complex and often have well over 30 movements. Saifa has just 20 counts and follows a simpler embusen (performance line).
Who first introduced Saifa to Okinawa?
Like all kata from Naha, it has a heavy influence from Southern China. There is much speculation over who first introduced Saifa to Okinawa. Many agree that it was introduced by Kanryo Higaonna who traveled to Southern China in 1867 to study martial arts.
