Kata History / The Moves / Back to Kata Main Page
Kanku Dai was a favourite Kata of Master Funakoshi. The Kata was used by Master Itosu (one of Master Funakoshi's teachers) to create the five Heian Kata.
The word Kanku means 'Look to (or view) the sky', and comes from the opening sequence where the Karate-ka raises both hands, with finger and thumb of each hand touching to provide a triangular-shaped opening. As both hands are raised, the Karate-ka follows the movement with their eyes (keeping the head still) untill the hands are aloft and the sky (or ceiling!) can be clearly seen. By the time this slow movement is complete, the student should achieve a state of inner calm and readiness, in preparation for the rest of the Kata.
The Kata exercises the following moves and stances, in sequence, and takes around 90 seconds to complete at high speed:
Count |
Move |
Stance |
|---|---|---|
| Rei | Musubi Dachi | |
| Yoi | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
| 1 | Awase Kaisho Age Uke | Shizentai |
| 2 | Gedan Shuto Uke | Shizentai |
| 3 | Hidari Kaisho Haiwan Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
| 4 | Migi Kaisho Haiwan Uke | Kokutsu Dachi |
| 5 | Migi Nukite | Shizentai |
| 6 | Hidari Chudan Tate Shuto Uke | Shizentai |
| 7 | Migi Chudan Zuki | Shizentai |
| 8 | Migi Chudan Uchi Uke | Shizentai (Hanmi) |
| 9 | Hidari Chudan Zuki | Shizentai |
| 10 | Hidari Chudan Uchi Uke | Shizentai (Hanmi) |
| 11 | Uraken Uchi + Yoko Geri Keage | (Facing to back of Dojo) |
| 12 | Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi (to front) |
| 13 | Migi Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi (stepping forward) |
| 14 | Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi (stepping forward) |
| 15 | Te Osae Uke | (Stepping forward) |
| 16 | Migi Chudan Nukite (KIAI) | Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 17 | Turn, into Migi Jodan Shuto Uke | Zenkutsu Dachi(Facing to back of Dojo) |
| 18 | Migi Jodan Mae Geri | |
| 19 | Turn, into Manji Gamae | Kokutsu Dachi (Facing front of Dojo) |
| 20 | Hidari Nagashi Uke Migi Gedan Shuto Uke |
Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 21 | Hidari Gedan Barai Migi Hikitae |
Pulling back into Renoji Dachi |
| 22 | Migi Jodan Shuto Uke Hidari Kaisho Age Uke |
Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 23 | Migi Jodan Mae Geri | |
| 24 | Turn,into Manji Gamae | Kokutsu Dachi (Facing back of Dojo) |
| 24 | Hidari Nagashi Uke Migi Gedan Shuto Uchi |
Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 25 | Hidari Gedan Barai Migi Hikitae |
Renoji Dachi |
| 26 | (To the left) Hidari Uraken Hidari Yoko Geri Keage |
|
| 27 | Mae Empi | Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 28 | (To the right) Migi Uraken Migi Yoko Geri Keage |
|
| 29 | Mae Empi | Migi Zenkutse Dachi |
| 30 | (To the left) Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke |
Kokutsu Dachi |
| 31 | (45 degrees to back of Dojo) Migi Chudan Shuto Uke |
Kokutsu Dachi |
| 32 | (To the right) Migi Chudan Shuto Uke |
Kokutsu Dachi |
| 33 | (45 degrees to back of Dojo) Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke |
Kokutsu Dachi |
| 34 | Migi Jodan Shuto Uchi Hidari Kaisho Age Uke |
Zenkutsu Dachi (Facing back of Dojo) |
| 35 | Migi Jodan Mae Geri | |
| 36 | Hidari Ossae Uke Migi Chudan Uraken Uchi |
Kosa Dachi |
| 37 | Migi Chudan Uchi Uke | (Sliding back) Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 38 | Hidari Chudan Gyaku Zuki | (Stay in) Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 39 | Migi Chudan Zuki | (Stay in) Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 40 | (Turning to front) Hiza Gamae Migi Morote Ura Zuki |
|
| 41 | (Palms of both hands on floor) | (Long & Low) Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 42 | (Turn to rear) Awase Gedan Shuto Uke |
Kokutso Dachi (Facing back of Dojo) |
| 43 | Migi Chudan Shuto Uke | (Step forward into) Kokutsu Dachi |
| 44 | (To the right) Hidari Chudan Uchi Uke |
Hidari Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 45 | Migi Chudan Gyaku Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 46 | (To the left) Migi Chudan Uchi Uke |
Migi Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 47 | Hidari Gyaku Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 48 | Migi Chudan Zuki | Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 49 | Hikitae Gamae (Facing back of Dojo) | Pull back foot half pace forward |
| 50 | Uraken Uchi Yoko Geri Keage |
(To back of Dojo) |
| 51 | (Turn into) Hidari Chudan Shuto Uke | Kokutsu Dachi (Facing front of Dojo) |
| 52 | Osae Uke, step into Migi Chudan Nukite |
Zenkutsu Dachi |
| 53 | Hidari Jodan Uraken Uchi (to front) | (180 degree spin into) Kiba Dachi (facing front of Dojo) |
| 54 | Hidari Chudan Tettsui Uchi (to front) | (Stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 55 | Hidari Sokumen Empi Uchi | (Stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 56 | Hidari Hikitae Gamae | (Turn head to back of Dojo, but stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 57 | Migi Gedan Barai | (Stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 58 | (Turn into) Hidari Fumikomi Geri Hidari Tetsui Uchiu |
(Land in) Kiba Dachi (facing right) |
| 59 | Ryo Ude Mashi Uke | (Stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 60 | Migi Otoshi Zuki | (Stay in) Kiba Dachi |
| 61 | Jodan Kaisho Juji Uke | Shizentai |
| 62 | Pull hands down, changing to fists | (Slow turn into) Zenkutsu Dachi (Facing back of Dojo) |
| 63 | Hidari Chudan Tobi Geri, and Migi Jodan Tobi Geri |
|
| 64 | (Land into) Migi Chudan Uraken Uchi | (Zenkutsu Dachi (Facing back of Dojo) |
| 65 | (Low turn) Sekui Uki | (Into) Kiba Dachi (Facing front of Dojo) |
| 66 | Awase Sekui Uki | (Into) Shizentai |
| Yame | Uchi Hachiji Dachi | |
| Rei | Musubi Dachi |