The Taikyoku series is a series of kata in use in several types of karate. The name Taikyoku refers to the Chinese philosophical concept of Taiji. The Taikyoku kata were introduced by Gichin Funakoshi as a way to simplify the principles of the already simplified Pinan/Heian series. The embusen, or pattern of the kata's movements, are the same as in Heian shodan. Students of karate systems that use the Taikyoku kata series are often introduced to them first, as a preparation for the Pinan/Heian kata. Gōjū Kai developed five of its own Taikyoku kata, based on the Shotokan kata and retaining the I-shaped embusen.
Like the Kihon kata series the three Taikyoku kata are designed to build strong fundamentals and an appreciation for basic techniques. These three basic kata represent Isoshi Kaikan Karate-do in its simplest and purest form.
Taikyoku Shodan (Taikyoku first level)
Emphasis on basic low blocks/strikes, stepping middle punch (Oi-Zuki), moving through the center and building strong and low front stances (Zenkutsu Dachi), proper basic breathing and application of kiai and hip rotation.
Emphasis on basic low blocks/strikes, stepping middle punch (Oi-Zuki), moving through the center and building strong and low front stances (Zenkutsu Dachi), proper basic breathing and application of kiai and hip rotation.
Taikyoku Nidan (Taikyoku second level)
Emphasis on basic High blocks/strikes and stepping head level punch, moving through the center and building strong and low front stances, proper basic breathing and application of kiai and hip rotation.
Emphasis on basic High blocks/strikes and stepping head level punch, moving through the center and building strong and low front stances, proper basic breathing and application of kiai and hip rotation.
Taikyoku Sandan (Taikyoku third level)
Emphasis on basic low blocks/strikes and stepping punch, back stance and inside out middle blocks, side punches, moving through the center and building strong and low front stances and horseback stances, proper basic breathing and application of kia and hip rotation.
Emphasis on basic low blocks/strikes and stepping punch, back stance and inside out middle blocks, side punches, moving through the center and building strong and low front stances and horseback stances, proper basic breathing and application of kia and hip rotation.
"The sequence of Taikyoku Nidan is identical to that of Shodan except that in Nidan, all punches are upper level instead of middle level attacks. In Taikyoku Sandan, the down blocks along Lines 1 and 3 of Taikyoku Shodan are all replaced with inside out middle blocks (ude uke) executed in back (kokutsu dachi) stance, and the threefold sets of middle level front attacks along line 2 become sets of high blocks, the remaining movements being identical to Taikyoku Shodan."
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