Goju-Ryu Kata – Gekisai Dai Ichi

This page will help you to learn the Goju-Ryu kata – Gekisai Dai Ichi. This is the first kata for Goju-Ryu Karate. The meaning of Gekisai Dai Ichi is “Attack & Destroy One”. For details on other Goju-Ryu Karate katas, please visit Black Belt Wiki’s main Goju-Ryu Katas section.

Written instructions for this kata are provided below the kata videos. There are 12 official “core” katas for Goju-Ryu. However, the Sanchin kata is occasionally separated into two katas by some schools. Therefore, people are sometimes confused and think there are 13 Goju-Ryu katas. In addition, some Goju-Ryu schools and organizations borrow katas from other styles and they might use more than the official 12 katas. For the meaning of Goju-Ryu kata, please visit the section on Goju-Ryu kata meanings.

You should also read the Black Belt Wiki section on Is Kata Useful or Useless? as it discusses the pros & cons of kata. To learn other Karate katas (i.e. Shotokan), please visit the main Katas & Forms section.

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Demonstration of Gekisai Dai Ichi – Goju-Ryu Kata

Written Kata Instructions

  • Attention stance
  • Left foot steps out into Yoi (ready stance) shoulder width apart
    • Alternatively: Yoi with feet together at attention left hand over right several inches away from the groin
    • the left hand pushes down while the right hand pushes up creating (explosive) tension
  • From either Yoi right foot steps forward and you turn left 90 degrees into hourglass stance
    • High block with left hand
    • If feet are apart in Yoi when the right foot steps forward you pivot on the center (ball and heel) of the foot so that the stance is even
    • If feet are together in Yoi left foot pivots on the heel and the right on the ball so the stance is even
    • if hands and feet are together in Yoi the right arm explodes from underneath almost like a fanning block before turning
    • Then the framing and execution of the high block is completed
  • Step forward into hourglass stance with the right foot
    • High punch with the right hand
  • Step back into square/horse stance so that the body is facing the direction of the attention stance
    • Low block with the left
  • Turn the body 90 degrees and left foot slides behind the right into hourglass stance
    • High block with the right hand
  • Step forward into hourglass stance with the left leg
    • High punch with the left hand
  • Step back into square/horse stance so that the body is facing the direction of the attention stance
    • Low block with the right
  • Left leg steps in and then forward into hourglass stance
    • Middle block with the left
  • Step forward into hourglass stance with the right
    • Middle block with the right
  • Left front kick and land in a front stance
    • Left elbow strike as blocking right hand pulls back into chamber
    • Left downward back fist face level
    • Left hand transitions to low block
    • And right hand punches with a “Kiai”
  • Turn right 90 degrees into a ready stance (with head facing to right)
    • Right knife hand strike to the side of the temple
    • Alternatively: during this transition the back leg of the previous front stance lifts up as if avoiding a sweep
  • Turn right 90 degrees to right, step forward with the left into hourglass stance
    • Left hand middle block
  • Right front kick and land in a front stance
    • Right elbow strike as blocking left hand pulls back into chamber
    • Right downward back fist face level
    • Right hand transitions to low block
    • Left hand punches with a “Kiai”
  • Turn left 90 degrees into a ready stance (with head facing to left)
    • Left knife hand strike to the side of the temple
    • Alternatively: during this transition the back leg of the previous front stance lifts up as if avoiding a sweep
  • Turn left 90 degrees and left leg steps back into front stance
    • As stepping back left hand pulls back as if pulling the arm of an opponent
    • Left hand in chamber palm down, right in chamber palm up
    • Double punch with left hand to the lungs and right to the stomach
    • Alternatively: when stepping back the left hand turns in like an open handed fanning block
    • Right hand in chamber comes out and performs a middle block
    • Then both hands pull back to chamber with left palm down and right palm up
    • Then double punch
  • Step forward into ready stance
    • Reverse fist orientation
    • Alternatively: Step forward feet together, both knees bent
    • Right arm turns in as if for a fanning block
    • Left arm arcs around in front for a middle block
    • Then both hands are pulled back into chamber in the revers orientation they were before in the prior step
  • Step back with the right leg into front stance
    • Double punch, right hand to the heart and left to the liver
  • Step forward into attention stance
    • Alternatively: open left hand
    • Turn right fist to palm facing up and place it in the open hand
    • Open the right hand
    • Step forward to attention as the hands turn staying left over right and return to the beginning position
  • Bow

Alternative Steps: There are slight variations at different schools that do not compromise the integrity of the form and are based on personal preference. Check with your instructors for the steps required at your school.

References

  1. Goju Karate Australia, Kata, http://gojukarateaustralia.com.au/kata.html, Added – 08/29/14
  2. EGKA, The twelve Kata of Goju-Ryu Karate, http://www.egka.org.uk/kata.php, Added – 08/29/14

Related Pages – Goju-Ryu Katas