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Signature MovesThroughout the descriptions of the katas on this site, a signature move is often referred to - this is simply a set of moves that identify the kata. In the "basic" katas these signature moves may only be done once but in the "advanced" katas these are often done several times which is thought to be done to highlight their importance.
ESKA KatasThere are disagreements between the number of Shotokan katas that should be practised and most books omit at least one of the 26 mainstream katas. Kihon kata is not commonly known outside of ESKA as it is called Taikyoku Shodan (meaning First Cause) which is part of the taikyoku set of katas usually done before the Heians if done at all. ESKA practise all 27 listed below with different katas being regarded as suitable for different level gradings. The advanced katas are broken down into categories according to the JKA's grading requirements - although these are not hard and fast rules for ESKA, it is a useful way of breaking them down into groups. Most students do Jion and Bassai Dai for a shodan grading, but Kanku Dai is an occasionally used as an alternative to Jion.There are several different versions of kata in existence today all practised by senior Shotokan instructors, which makes the huge array books and videos available only partially useful. It is not recommended to try to learning kata from either of these methods as you may find that your own instructor does not do the kata that way and un-learning something and learning a new way is more difficult that learning something from scratch. The books and videos are a useful way of reminding yourself about the kata once you already know it and are aware of any differences.
Shorin and ShoreiThere are two types of technique in kata, some people describe whole katas in these terms but this is in my opinion incorrect as most kata have elements of both, shorin (soft, fast flowing) and shorei (hard, slow and dynamic). A kata such as Gankaku (Crane on a Rock) is seen by many as a shorin kata as it has fast yoko geri keagi (side snap kick) and mae tobi geri / nidan geri (front jump kick) techniques and is usually performed by students who are agile and adept at kicking. In fact the kata contains several techniques where dynamic tension is required and the body is under compression, this is against the whole idea of a shorin kata but is required to make Gankaku work correctly, the kata is more shorin than shorei but is not totally shorin. Kata Sochin is often seen to be a shorei kata with slow powerful dynamic moves such as the first move and the tate-shuto moves but contains moves such as the yoko geri keagi techniques and the double mae geri move at the first kiai which are more shorin and flowing. This kata does tend to be more shorei but is not totally shorei.Moves from kata can be performed in single-person routines (kihon) and are also practised in pair work as bunkai (kumite) which then gives you the feeling of how the kata works and how it should be performed.. This leads to an understanding the kata and an appreciation that it is not a dance - but a way of practising highly effective techniques in a way that is both memorable and physically demanding. Most of the moves that are performed in "kihon" are taken from or derived from kata with few not appearing in any kata, these are the moves that are developed in the 5 levels of kumite and eventually become second nature and reflex actions for dedicated practitioners.
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