Taikyoku - Jaap Kooman

Taikyoku Kata (Ichi, Ni, San)

The name Taikyoku - 太極 refers to the Chinese philosophical concept of Taiji. Taikyoku is literally translated as ‘grand ultimate’. The word Taikyoku can also mean overview or the whole point – seeing the whole rather than focusing on the individual parts, and keeping an open mind or beginner’s mind. The beginner’s mind is what is strived for during training and in life. The beginner’s mind does not hold prejudice and does not cling to a narrow view. The beginner’s mind is open to endless possibilities. That’s why a practitioner should never think that as soon as it ascends in the latter or more complex kata the first and most basic ones loose importance, therefore, keep an open mind.

The Taikyoku Kata were developed by Yoshitaka Funakoshi and introduced in 1930 by Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan, as a way to simplify the principles of the already simplified Pinan series. Students of Karate systems that use the Taikyoku Kata series are often introduced to them first, as a preparation for the Pinan Kata.

Known as the Northern Kata within Kyokushin Karate, Taikyoku sono Ichi was adapted by Sosai Masutatsu Oyama from his background in the Shuri-Te tradition, as 4th than in Shotokan Karate, which he learned from sensei Gichin Funakoshi.

Taikyoku sono Ichi 太極一段

First Kata in this serie.
The Embusen - 演武線, or pathway of all the Taikyoku Kata, is an 'I'. On each turn, a block is executed, followed by a step and a strike. Up and back the middle, there are three punches. Taikyoku sono Ichi and Taikyoku sono Ni are identical in movement with the exception that all the punches in Taikyoku Sono Ichi are at middle level (Chudan) and in Taikyoku Sono Ni the punches are at upper level (Jodan).

#	Explanation step by step	9^e Kyu
	Begin the KATA from the base KAMAE position in FUDO DACHI. On the command TAIKYOKU SONO ICHI followed by the command YOI start perform a slow YOI DACHI that ends in HEIKO DACHI.
1.	On the command HAJIME/ICHI turn left 90° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI (pull the right hand back in HIKITE position).
2.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI (70% of the body weight is on the front leg; position of the gravity is 7-3 position) punching right CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
3.	Move the back foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into right ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
4.	Move forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch left CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
5.	Bring the left foot across 90° counterclockwise to the left into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and block left GEDAN BARAI.
6.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI (when stepping forward, don’t turn your front foot into 45°, this will happen when you punch and twist your hips an whole body) and punch right SEIKEN CHUDAN OI TSUKI (1).
7.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch left CHUDAN OI TSUKI (2).
8.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch right CHUDAN OI TSUKI with KIAI (3).
9.	Slide the left foot across and turn through 270° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI.
10.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
11.	Slide the right foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
12.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
13.	Bring the left foot across 90° counterclockwise to the left into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and block left GEDAN BARAI.
14.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right CHUDAN OI TSUKI (1).
15.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left CHUDAN OI TSUKI (2).
16.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right CHUDAN OI TSUKI with KIAI (3).
17.	Slide the left foot across and turn through 270° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI.
18.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
19.	Slide the right foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
20.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left CHUDAN OI TSUKI.
	On the NAORE command return 90° counterclockwise to the left into FUDO DACHI (pull left foot back to the base position, still looking right until the turn is completed). At the command YASUME relax and at ease. Back to Top

Video

Taikyoku sono Ichi
source Youtube

Documentation

Instructions Taikyoku sono Ichi

Kihon Waza

Dachi Waza

Fudo Dachi
Joi Dachi
Heiko Dachi
Zenkutsu Dachi

Te Waza

Chudan Oi Tsuki

Uke Waza

Gedan Barai

Geri Waza

Kihon Jutsugo

Kamae - 構え, means posture or base. Kamae is to be differentiated from the word Dachi - 立ち. Dachi refers to the position of the body from the waist down, Kamae refers to the posture of the entire body, as well as encompassing one's mental readiness.Kamae
Hajime - 始め, means begin.Hajime
Hikite - 引き手 means drawing hand: Hiku - 引き, to draw or pull, and Te - 手, the hand.Hikite
Naore - 直れ, is a command to go back into the beginning Kamae.Naore
Yasumi - 休み, is a command to rest or relax.Yasume

Taikyoku sono Ni 太極二段

Second Kata in this serie.
The Embusen - 演武線, or pathway of all the Taikyoku Kata, is an 'I'. On each turn, a block is executed, followed by a step and a strike. Up and back the middle, there are three punches. Taikyoku sono Ichi and Taikyoku sono Ni are identical in movement with the exception that all the punches in Taikyoku Sono Ni are at upper level (Jodan).

#	Explanation step by step	9^e Kyu
	Begin the KATA from the base KAMAE position in FUDO DACHI. On the command TAIKYOKU SONO NI followed by the command YOI start perform a slow YOI DACHI that ends in HEIKO DACHI.
1.	On the command HAJIME/ICHI turn left 90° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI (pull the right hand back in HIKITE position).
2.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI (70% of the body weight is on the front leg; position of the gravity is 7-3 position) punching right JODAN OI TSUKI.
3.	Move the back foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into right ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
4.	Move forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch left JODAN OI TSUKI.
5.	Bring the left foot across 90° counterclockwise to the left into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and block left GEDAN BARAI.
6.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI (when stepping forward, don’t turn your front foot into 45°, this will happen when you punch and twist your hips an whole body) and punch right SEIKEN JODAN OI TSUKI (1).
7.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch left JODAN OI TSUKI (2).
8.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI and punch right JODAN OI TSUKI with KIAI (3).
9.	Slide the left foot across and turn through 270° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI.
10.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right JODAN OI TSUKI.
11.	Slide the right foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
12.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left JODAN OI TSUKI.
13.	Bring the left foot across 90° counterclockwise to the left into left ZENKUTSU DACHI and block left GEDAN BARAI.
14.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right JODAN OI TSUKI (1).
15.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left JODAN OI TSUKI (2).
16.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right JODAN OI TSUKI with KIAI (3).
17.	Slide the left foot across and turn through 270° counterclockwise into left ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking left GEDAN BARAI.
18.	Step forward into right ZENKUTSU DACHI punching right JODAN OI TSUKI.
19.	Slide the right foot across and turn 180° clockwise to the right into ZENKUTSU DACHI blocking right GEDAN BARAI.
20.	Step forward into left ZENKUTSU DACHI punching left JODAN OI TSUKI.
	On the NAORE command return 90° counterclockwise to the left into FUDO DACHI (pull left foot back to the base position, still looking right until the turn is completed). At the command YASUME relax and at ease. Back to Top