This page will help you to learn Goju-Ryu Kata – Gekisai Dai Ni. This is the second kata for Goju-Ryu Karate. Gekisai Dai Ni is known as “Attack & Destroy Two”. 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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Instructional Video for Gekisai Dai Ni – Goju-Ryu Kata
Demonstration of Gekisai Dai Ni – 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
- Alternatively: open hand middle block with hook and grab
- Step forward into hourglass stance with the right
- Middle block with the right
- Alternatively: open hand middle block with hook and grab
- 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 open hand middle block with hook and grab
- Step forward with the right quickly into hourglass stance
- Right open hand middle block with hook and grab
- Step back with the right into hourglass stance
- Left open hand middle block with hook and grab
- 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
- Left leg steps backwards at a 45 degree and the right foot slides back a bit to cat stance
- As the left out stretched hand pulls in palm turns towards the practitioner
- The right hand crosses in front with palm facing outward
- And transitions to a open hand double arm block, with the right resembling a middle block and the left a low block
- They continue along their circular path until they are in chamber with the fingers of the left hand pointed up and the right down
- Then a double palm strike keeping the orientation of the hands
- Right leg steps backwards at a 45 degree and the left foot slides back a bit to cat stance
- As the right out stretched hand pulls in palm turns towards the practitioner
- The left hand crosses in front with palm facing outward
- And transitions to a open hand double arm block, with the left resembling a middle block and the right a low block
- They continue along their circular path until they are in chamber with the fingers of the right hand pointed up and the left down
- Then a double palm strike keeping the orientation of the hands
- The hands are pulled in slightly (keeping their orientation) as you turn the cat stance to center keeping the left foot in front
- Double palm strike, with left hand fingers up and right down
- Left leg steps back to attention
- Alternatively: step back as if pressing a button with the ball of the left foot
- Alternatively: both hands raise to shoulder level palms down then turn and come together right into left and turn as you step back into attention hands left over right
- Alternatively: lower left palm striking hand turns so that the palm is facing the right and the right hand arcs down striking the center of the hand like a knife hand strike, right slides into the left and turn as you step back into attention with left over right
- 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.
Related Pages – Goju-Ryu Katas