Gekisai

"To defeat by smashing"

Introduction

The Chinese character for "geki" means to defeat and the character "sai" means to smash or demolish.   Dai ichi and dai ni mean No. 1 and No 2 respectively.

The Gekisai kata contain powerful, basic movements that are quite easy to learn and interpret although many of the techniques have multiple applications as they were distilled from more advanced kata.

Note that these kata, as with all kata, begin with a defensive move - there is no first strike in Karate.

This kata was developed by Chojun Miyagi in 1940 when he and Shorin master Shoshin Nagamine were asked to develop basic kata for the popularisation of karate with school children.  Miyagis kata in particular  filled the need for relatively simple, easy to learn but aggressive kata with the destructive potential required for effective self defence.   Originally named Fukyugata ni (Nagamine's being Fukyugata ichi), Miyagi changed the name of his kata to Gekisai dai ichi when he developed a second version, Gekisai dai ni.

Gekisai dai ichi features techniques clearly taken from the more advanced Goju kata such as Shisochin and Suparinpei and reset into more basic form.

Gekisai dai ichi is required for White 3.

Gekisai dai ichi performed in 1994 (click to download)

Gekisai dai ni

Gekisai dai ni is a development of Gekisai dai ichi in as much as it contains more advanced techniques.  In particular, the kata replaces some of the chudan uke (chest blocks) with hike uke (hooking blocks), zenkutsu dachi (forward stances) with neko ashi dachi (cat stances) and chudan morote zuki (chest level augmented punches) with the advanced block mawashi uke (roundhouse block) and tora guchi (tiger mouth push).

Gekisai dai ni is required for White 4.

Gekisai tuide is a 2 person "lock flow" drill, containing locks and holds found in Geksai.

It can be practised standing or on the ground. (Click to download)

Gekisai tuide is required for White 4.

Gekisai ground tuide (click on photo to download a clip)

Gekisai dai ichi embu is a 2 person version of Geksai dai ichi that can also be performed as a single person form.  For a clip of Geksai dai ichi embu, click here.

Gekisai dai ichi embu is required for Green 2.

Gekisai ichi embu (click on the photo to download a clip)

Gekisai dai ni embu is a 2 person version of Geksai dai ni that can also be performed as a single person form.  For a clip of Geksai dai ni embu, click here.

Gekisai dai ni embu is required for Green 3.

Gekisai ni embu (click on the photo to download a clip)

Gekisai happo are 8 point turning basics drills based on the Gekisai kata.

Gekisai ni happo (members only)

Gekisai ichi happo (members only)