| First kata | Next kata | |
|---|---|---|
| Shotokan | Taikyoku Shodan | Heian Shodan to Godan, then Tekki Shodan |
| Shito-ryu and Wado-ryu | Pinan Nidan or Pinan Shodan (clubs differ) | The rest of the five Pinan kata |
| Goju-ryu | Gekisai Dai Ichi | Gekisai Dai Ni, Saifa, Sanchin |
| Kyokushin | Taikyoku Sono Ichi | Taikyoku Ni and San, then Pinan |
On this page
Kata are the set routines at the heart of karate: a fixed sequence of blocks, punches, kicks and stances performed alone, as if against imaginary opponents. Children learn their first kata within weeks of starting and add a new one every belt or two. Which kata they learn first depends on the karate style their school teaches. Our guide to karate styles explains the differences between the styles themselves.
What kata teach
A kata trains balance, coordination, memory and focus all at once. Children learn to move between stances smoothly, turn in the right direction, put power into a technique and then relax. Kata are also a big part of every belt test, and many children enjoy performing them in front of the class or at tournaments. Our guide to karate belts and kata shows how kata fit into the belt system.
Shotokan
Shotokan is the most widely taught karate style in the US. Many schools start beginners with Taikyoku Shodan, a simple pattern of down blocks and lunge punches that traces an I-shape on the floor. Then come the five Heian kata, Heian Shodan to Heian Godan, usually spread across the colored belts, followed by Tekki Shodan, performed sideways in a horse stance. Bassai Dai is a common kata around brown belt or black belt.
Shito-ryu and Wado-ryu
Shito-ryu and Wado-ryu use the same five forms that Shotokan calls Heian, under their original Okinawan name, Pinan. One quirk confuses parents: when the forms were renamed for Shotokan, the first two were swapped. So the form Shotokan calls Heian Shodan is Pinan Nidan in other styles, and Heian Nidan is Pinan Shodan. Many clubs teach Pinan Nidan first because it is the simpler of the two, while others follow the numbers.
Goju-ryu
Goju-ryu beginners usually start with Gekisai Dai Ichi and Gekisai Dai Ni, two short, strong forms created for teaching students. Saifa often follows. Sanchin, a slow breathing kata with tense muscles, is central to Goju-ryu and is introduced early in many schools, though mastering it takes years.
Kyokushin
Kyokushin schools often start with the Taikyoku series, Taikyoku Sono Ichi, Ni and San, then move to the Pinan kata, with Kyokushin’s own versions of the techniques. Kata are important in Kyokushin, though the style is best known for its full-contact sparring.
Sport karate and independent schools
Many American schools teach a blend of styles or their own beginner forms, and sport karate schools may teach creative or musical forms for competition. If your child’s kata names are not listed here, simply ask the instructor which series the school follows.
Helping at home
Ask your child to show you their kata and count the moves with them. Five or ten minutes a few times a week makes a big difference before a test. Encourage them to look where they are turning, hold their stances low and finish where they started. Our guide to karate home practice has more ideas.
Questions parents and students ask
What is the first kata in karate?
It depends on the style. Many Shotokan schools start with Taikyoku Shodan, Goju-ryu with Gekisai Dai Ichi, Shito-ryu and Wado-ryu with Pinan Nidan or Pinan Shodan and Kyokushin with Taikyoku Sono Ichi. Your child's school may also use its own beginner forms.
Why are Heian Shodan and Pinan Nidan the same?
When Gichin Funakoshi brought the Pinan kata to Japan and renamed them Heian for Shotokan, he also swapped the order of the first two. So Shotokan's Heian Shodan is the form other styles call Pinan Nidan, and the reverse.
How long does it take to learn a kata?
A child can usually learn the sequence of a beginner kata in a few weeks, but performing it well, with good stances, timing and power, takes months. Instructors expect steady improvement, not perfection, at the first test.
