Taikyoku literally means first course. It means also, according to a translator of the Karate do Kyohan: "... a philosophical term for the macrocosmos, for it's differentiation in heaven and earth (energy and matter): so, it's the chaos of emptiness." Gichin Funakoshi, the founder of the Shotokan Karate do style, created the original Taikyoku katas. The Goju-Ryu versions have been adapted to certain aspects of the Goju style, like Shiko and Sanchin Dachi. They all follow the basic "H"-pattern. Below the first versions of the Taikyoku Kata are listed (ichi), the second versions (ni) are slightly more advanced.

Jodan

Step forward with the RIGHT foot and shift 90 degrees to the LEFT. Into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT upper block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT straight punch.

Stepping back with the right foot, turn 180 degrees to the right. Into a right Sanchin Dachi and execute a right upper block, followed by a step into a left Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a left straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing where you started, and perform a left upper block followed by a right Zenkutsu straight punch then 2 more successive punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT upper block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing opposite where you started, and perform a left upper block followed by a right Zenkutsu straight punch then 2 more successive punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT upper block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT straight punch.

Step with the RIGHT foot and turn 90 degrees to the right (slowly) into a RIGHT Sanchin Dachi and perform a RIGHT Upper Block (Slowly).

And by bringing palm-side up RIGHT hand in LEFT and twist to lower, then bring hands to side and bow to instructor.

Chudan

Step forward with the RIGHT foot and shift 90 degrees to the LEFT. Into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT chudan block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT chudan straight punch.

Stepping back with the right foot, turn 180 degrees to the right. Into a right Sanchin Dachi and execute a right chudan block, followed by a step into a left Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a left chudan straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing where you started, and perform a left chudan block followed by a right Zenkutsu chudan straight punch then 2 more successive chudan punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT chudan block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT chudan straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing opposite where you started, and perform a left chudan block followed by a right Zenkutsu chudan straight punch then 2 more successive chudan punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Step with the RIGHT foot and turn 90 degrees to the right (slowly) into a RIGHT Sanchin Dachi and perform a RIGHT Chudan Block (Slowly).

And by bringing palm-side up RIGHT hand in LEFT and twist to lower, then bring hands to side and bow to instructor.

Gedan

Step forward with the RIGHT foot and shift 90 degrees to the LEFT. Into a LEFT Shiko Dachi and execute a LEFT gedan block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT gedan straight punch.

Stepping back with the right foot, turn 180 degrees to the right. Into a right Shiko Dachi and execute a right gedan block, followed by a step into a left Shiko Dachi and perform a left gedan straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Shiko Dachi, facing where you started, and perform a left gedan block followed by a right Shiko gedan straight punch then 2 more successive gedan punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Shiko Dachi and execute a LEFT gedan block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT gedan straight punch.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Shiko Dachi, facing opposite where you started, and perform a left gedan block followed by a right Shiko gedan straight punch then 2 more successive gedan punches with a Kiai on the last punch.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Shiko Dachi and execute a LEFT gedan block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT straight punch.

Step with the RIGHT foot and turn 90 degrees to the right (slowly) into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT Gedan Block (Slowly).

And by bringing palm-side up left hand in right and twist to lower, then bring hands to side and bow to instructor.

Kake Uke

Step forward with the RIGHT foot and shift 90 degrees to the LEFT. Into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT Kake Uke block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT mae geri and elbow strike.

Stepping back with the right foot, turn 180 degrees to the right. Into a right Sanchin Dachi and execute a right Kake Uke block, followed by a step into a left Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a left mae geri and elbow strike.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing where you started, and perform a left Kake Uke block followed by a right Zenkutsu mae geri and elbow strike then 2 more successive mae geri and elbow strikes with a Kiai on the last strike.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT Kake Uke block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Zenkutsu Dachi and perform a RIGHT mae geri and elbow strike.

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing opposite where you started, and perform a left Kake Uke block followed by a right Zenkutsu mae geri and elbow strike then 2 more successive mae geri and elbow strikes with a Kiai on the last strike.

Step with the RIGHT foot and turn 90 degrees to the right (slowly) into a RIGHT Sanchin Dachi and perform a RIGHT Kake Uke Block (Slowly).

And by bringing palm-side up left hand in right and twist to lower, then bring hands to side and bow to instructor.

Mawashi Uke

Step forward with the RIGHT foot and shift 90 degrees to the LEFT. Into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT Mawashi Uke block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch).

Stepping back with the right foot, turn 180 degrees to the right. Into a right Sanchin Dachi and execute a right Mawashi Uke block, followed by a step into a left Shiko Dachi and perform a left (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch).

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing where you started, and perform a left Mawashi Uke block followed by a right Shiko (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch) then 2 more successive (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch)'s with a Kiai on the last strike.

Stepping with the LEFT foot, turn 270 degrees to the LEFT, into a LEFT Sanchin Dachi and execute a LEFT Mawashi Uke block, followed by a step into a RIGHT Shiko Dachi and perform a RIGHT (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch).

Stepping with the left foot, turn 90 degrees to the left into a left Sanchin Dachi, facing opposite where you started, and perform a left Mawashi Uke block followed by a right Shiko (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch) then 2 more successive (Elbow, Ura Uchi, Gedan Block, reverse punch)'s with a Kiai on the last strike.

Step with the RIGHT foot and turn 90 degrees to the right (slowly) into a RIGHT Sanchin Dachi and perform a RIGHT Mawashi Uke Block (Slowly).

And by bringing palm-side up RIGHT hand in LEFT and twist to lower, then bring hands to side and bow to instructor.

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