These Bo katas use a traditional martial arts weapon known as the Bo (or Bo staff). Weapon katas or kubodu katas are used by many styles of Karate (such as Shorin-Ryu or Chito-Ryu). However, be aware that Bo katas with the same name can use different formats based on the style of Karate performing the kata. Given these potential differences, we have tried to list the Bo kata by the name of the Karate sub-style as well as the individual kata name.
Bo katas practice offensive and defensive staff techniques in a specified pattern of steps and movements. These Bo katas are often training tools for higher level Karate students. Beyond Bo katas, kubudo katas include Sai katas, Nunchaku katas, etc.
For non-weapon katas (i.e. unarmed Shotokan kata), please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Katas & Forms section.
List of Bo Katas
- Chatan Yara No Kon Sho
- Chito-Ryu Kata – Sakugawa No Kon
- Isshin-Ryu Kata – Shishi No Kun
- Isshin-Ryu Kata – Tokumine No Kun
- Isshin-Ryu Kata – Urashi No Kun
- Matayoshi – Choun No Kon
- Matayoshi – Sakugawa No Kon
- Matayoshi – Shishi No Kon
- Matayoshi – Shushi No Kon or Suishi No Kon
- Matayoshi – Tsuken No Kon
- Ryu Kon Kai – Choun No Kun (Bo kata)
- Ryu Kon Kai – Fukyu Bo (Bo kata)
- Ryu Kon Kai – Sakugawa No Kon (Bo kata)
- Ryu Kon Kai – Shushi No Kun (Bo kata)
- Shorin-Ryu Kata – Sakugawa No Kon
- Shorin-Ryu Kata – Shirataro No Kon
- Shorin-Ryu Kata – Shiromatsu No Kon
- Shorin-Ryu Kata – Shusi No Kon
- Shotokan Kata – Kanazawa No Bo Dai
- Shotokan Kata – Kanazawa No Bo Sho
- Shotokan Kata – Shushi No Kon Dai
- Shotokan Kata – Shushi No Kon Sho
- Shudokan Kata – Seitei No Kun Bo Kata
- Shuri-Ryu Kata – Tsue Sho
- World Oyama Karate Kata – Bo Kihon Sono Ichi
- World Oyama Karate Kata – Bo Kihon Sono Ni
- World Oyama Karate Kata – Soki
- Yamanni-Ryu Kata – Donyukon Ichi (Bo kata)
- Yamanni-Ryu Kata – Donyukon Ni (Bo kata)
Reasons for Kata
Many martial arts schools use kata in order to help students practice certain moves (i.e. kicking techniques, self-defense techniques and various strikes). In addition, kata is used to improve a student’s physical conditioning, muscle memory, focus/concentration, balance, etc.
References
- World Matsubayashi-ryu Karate-Do Federation, The Kobudo of Matsubayashi-ryu, http://www.matsubayashi-ryu.com/content/kobudo-matsubayashi-ryu
- Isshin-Ryu World Karate Association, Kata, http://www.isshinryukarate.com/
- Boulder Kobudo, Matayoshi Kobudo, http://boulderkodokan.com/matayoshi-kobudo/
- World Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, Weapons (Kobudo) of the World Shorin-Ryu Karate-Do Federation, http://www.shorin-ryu.net/basics-weapons.php?m=basics