Tsuki no Kata - 突きの型

Tsuki no Kata by its very name is a ‘Kata of punches’ and is derived from the characters Tsuki - 突き ('thrust'), no - の ('of') and Kata - 型 ('Kata'). Tsuki also means ‘fortune and luck’. Good fortune and luck does not come by waiting. For every punch in this Kata, envision that a personal barrier is being broken down. Strong, persistent effort directed at problems will bring good fortune, simply persevere.


This Kata was created by Seigo Tada, founder of the Seigokan branch of Goju-Ryu. He was born in 1922 and studied the essence of Goju-Ryu with Chojun Miyagi. In his style he called it Kihon Tsuki no Kata. Historically, Seigo Tada did much to transform Karate into a competitive sport. He established the rules of competition Karate and was awarded several honors. Tsuki No Kata is one of two Kata he invented.


Kyokushin Sensei’s use this Kata to help students to generate striking power in multiple positions, heights and directions. Each time a student punches in this Kata, they should imagine that they are breaking down some barrier.


This very linear Kata seems to come from the Okinawa Shuri-te, itself native to combat techniques in northern China and therefore be considered a Northern Kyokushin Kata. There is an understanding of the different foot positions and the transition from one to the other with the search for stability and work of a movement without changing height. Other deeper concepts such as the work of the Hara and the unlocking of force from the hips are discussed.


In some Kyokushin circles, the Kata is attributed to Tadashi Nakamura because he claims to have it introduced into Kyokushin Karate. However, many speculated that he introduced it into Kyokushin after learning it from his Goju-Ryu background.


More likely is that the Kata has been adopted into Kyokushin by Mas Oyama himself. At the time, Seigo Tada and Mas Oyama were both Goju-Ryu students and knew each other very well.


Tsuki no Kata - 突きの型
video instructions

# Explanation step by step 3e Kyu
Begin the Kata in FUDO DACHI. Move into MUSUBI DACHI and MOKUSO on the command MOKUSO. On the next command Tsuki no kata, open eyes and wait until the command YOI. Then start perform a slow YOI DACHI with IBUKI that ends in HEIKO DACHI
1. On the command HAJIME/ICHI move the right leg back at 45° clockwise (MIGI USHIRO NANAME) into Kiba Dachi and block a left Seiken Gedan Barai then punch a right Seiken Chudan Gyaku Tsuki (these two actions are done in one movement).
2. Move forward with the right foot in a straight line into Kiba Dachi at 45° counterclockwise (Migi Mae Naname) and punch a left Seiken Chudan Gyaku Tsuki.
3. Move the left foot forward into a left Sanchin Dachi and punch a right Seiken Chudan Gyaku Tsuki.
4. Move the right foot forward into a right Sanchin Dachi and punch a left Seiken Chudan Gyaku Tsuki.
5. Move forward with the left foot into a left Zenkutsu Dachi and punch a right Seiken Gedan Gyaku Tsuki.
6. Move forward with the right foot into a right Zenkutsu Dachi and punch a left Seiken Gedan Gyaku Tsuki followed by a right Seiken Chudan Oi Tsuki (the punches must be done fast).
7. Bring the right foot across and turn the body 180° counterclockwise into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Seiken Uchi Uke and punch Seiken Chudan Oi Tsuki.
8. Step forward, keeping the right arm extended, into right Sanchin Dachi and slowly block Seiken Uchi Uke.
9. After the block immediately punch NIHON Seieken CHUDAN TSUKI (left/right).
10. Move forward into left Zenkutsu Dachi and punch a left Seiken Jodan Oi Tsuki.
11. Move forward into right Zenkutsu Dachi and punch a right Seiken Jodan Oi Tsuki.
12. Move the left foot across and turn 180° counterclockwise into left Zenkutsu Dachi and block left Seiken Gedan Barai.
13. Kick right Chudan Mae Geri and bring the kicking leg back into Tsuru Ashi Dachi, pivot the hips 90° clockwise to the right into a right semi ZENKUTSU DACHI and cover with the left hand in Shotei. Finish the movement by twisting back into Kiba Dachi (90° counterclockwise) and punch right Seiken Jun Tsuki and KIAI (both hands are closed).
14. Bring the left foot across and move into Kiba Dachi (turning the body 180° clockwise) and punch left Seiken Jun Tsuki (both hands are closed). Directly followed by turning the hips 90° clockwise to the right, covering with the left hand in SHOTEI, and finish the movement by twisting back into Kiba Dachi (90° counterclockwise to the left) and punch right Yonhon Nukite (both hands are open).
15. Bring the left foot across (turning the body 90° clockwise to the right), covering with the right hand in SHOTEI and finish the movement into Kiba Dachi (again turning the body 90° clockwise to the right) and punch left Yonhon Nukite (both hands are open).
16. Bring the left foot to the right foot and slide back into right Zenkutsu Dachi and simultaneously block with right Seiken Uchi Uke / Gedan Barai (these movements are executed slowly).
17. Slowly bring the right fist back into HIKITE.
18. Punch right Seiken Jodan Oi Tsuki with KIAI, followed by left Seiken Gedan Gyaku Tsuki and right Seiken Chudan Oi Tsuki.
19. Quickly bring the right foot back towards the left and then move the right foot into right Sanchin Dachi and block Shoto Mawashi Uke with Ibuki (the Ibuki is performed on the Shotei part of the block).
20. Move the right foot back into MUSUBI DACHI and retain the MOKUSO position.
The Kata is completed with the command NAORE and the FUDO DACHI position is taken.

At the command YASMEE relax and at ease.


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Video

Tsuki no Kata -突きの型
source Youtube


Documentation

Instructions Tsuki no Kata


Kihon Waza
Dachi Waza

Fudo Dachi
Mosubi Dachi
Joi Dachi
Heiko Dachi
Kiba Dachi
Sanchin Dachi
Zenkutsu Dachi


Te Waza

Seiken Chudan Gyaku Tsuki
Seiken Gedan Gyaku Tsuki
Seiken Jodan Oi Tsuki
Seiken Chudan Oi Tsuki
Nihon Seiken Chudan Tsuki
Seiken Jun Tsuki
Yoko Yonhon Nukite


Uke Waza

Seiken Gedan Barai
Seiken Uchi Uke Seiken Uchi Uke / Gedan Barai
Shuto Mae Mawashi Uke


Geri Waza

Chudan Mae Geri


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
Mokusō - 黙想, means meditation, part of the training of mushin; the call to meditate.Mokuso
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
Ibuki is karate’s hard breathing method. Ibuki breathing is a study of tension, which is necessary to truly understand relaxation. While ibuki breathing serves as a dynamic tension exercise, its true value is ki development, since it teaches the breathing control necessary for kiai. Ibuki breathing is performed in two ways, one long, and one short. Ibuki
Migi Mae Naname
Migi Ushiro Naname
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