14.19 Kanku Dai
Kanku: "View the heavens; gaze at the sky"
or "sunrise".
This Kata was originally called Kushanku, which is
said to be the title given to a Chinese military attachι to Okinawa. The
historical Kushanku (Guan Kui) who is credited with the introduction of the
Kanku Kata, came to Okinawa in 1756. He was an expert in hand to hand combat
and gave a demonstration of his abilities whilst in Okinawa and the Kanku Kata
is still said to contain many elements of Kushanku's original display. It was
the Kata chosen by Gichin Funakoshi for performance at the first public
demonstration of Karate-do in Japan in 1922.
Kanku is the supreme Kata of all traditional
Karate-do. As one's hands are brought together in the opening position, one
gazes to the heavens through the hands to reflect on the rising of the sun, and
the glory and infinity of the heavens. As long as heaven and earth remain in
their celestial sojourn, all will be well. The sun will rise again tomorrow and
with it comes new hope, regardless of how hard today seemed.
Kanku Dai is the representative Kata of Kyokushin
Karate.
Steps
Begin the Kata in Fudo Dachi.
Move into Musubi Dachi and Mokuso on the command
"Mokuso".
On the second command "Kanku Dai", open
eyes, move into the Yoi position with Ibuki.
On the command "Hajime" slowly place both
hands into the Kanku position (hands open, index finger and thumb of each hand
touching), in front of the groin. Slowly raise both arms into the Kanku position
above the head. Maintain this position for approximately 5 seconds and part
them strongly bringing both arms down in a circular action in front of the body
to strike right Shuto Hizo Uchi to the palm of the left hand.
Turn at 90° to the left into left Kokutsu Dachi and
block Shuto Mawashi Uke.
Move the left leg and turn 180° into right Kokutsu
Dachi and block Shuto Mawashi Uke.
Pivot 90° to the left into left Sanchin Dachi and
block Chudan Uchi Uke immediately punch Chudan Gyaku Tsuki quickly follow with
right Gyaku Chudan Uchi Uke and immediately punch Chudan Oi Tsuki.
Move forward with the left foot into left Kokutsu
Dachi and block Shuto Mawashi Uke.
Move forward into right Kokutsu Dachi and block Shuto
Mawashi Uke.
Move forward into left Kokutsu Dachi and block Shuto
Mawashi Uke.
Retaining the same stance block down with left Shuto
Uke and with the left hand in the same position move forward into right Zenkutsu Dachi and strike
right Yonhon Nukite (the left hand remains open under the right elbow).
Move left foot across to the right simultaneously
raise the left hand behind into a Jodan Shuto cover with the arm straight and
at the same time the right hand is placed behind the head in preparation for
the Shuto strike (the head should turn to the left as the foot moves across).
Complete the turn by pivoting the hips into left
Zenkutsu Dachi and execute a right Shuto Yoko Ganmen Uchi, simultaneously the
left hand is pulled back in front of the forehead with palm facing outwards to
cover.
Leaving the hands in this position kick right Chudan
Mae Geri.
As you land into right Zenkutsu Dachi pull the left
hand back to the ready punch position and punch left Chudan Gyaku Tsuki and
right Chudan Oi Tsuki.
Move the right foot back, covering with the right
hand, turning 180° into right Zenkutsu Dachi and strike left Shuto Yoko Ganmen
Uchi with the right hand in the cover position.
Leaving the hands in this position kick left Chudan
Mae Geri and land into left Zenkutsu Dachi and punch right Chudan Gyaku Tsuki
and left Chudan Oi Tsuki.
Slowly pull the left foot back into Musubi Dachi and
simultaneously pull both hands, closed, to the left ready punch position with
the right fist in the Tetsui position on top of the left fist.
With both hands in this position kick right Chudan Mae
Geri bring the leg back into Tsuru Ashi Dachi and look to the right. Without placing the foot down
kick right Jodan Yoko Geri to the side, and simultaneously strike right Uraken
Uchi.
Open the fist of the extended right arm and land in
right Zenkutsu Dachi (i.e. 90° from original position) and strike left Jodan Hiji Ate into the open right
hand (a slight pull back of the right hand should be performed before the elbow
strike).
Slowly pull the left foot back into Musubi Dachi and
simultaneously pull both hands, closed, to the right ready punch position. Kick left Chudan Mae Geri,
return the leg to the Tsuru Ashi Dachi position and look to the left and kick
left Jodan Yoko Geri to the side and simultaneously strike left Uraken Uchi.
Open the fist of the extended left arm and land in
left Zenkutsu Dachi (i.e. 90° from original position) and strike right Jodan Hiji Ate into the open left
hand ensuring that you pull back slightly with the left arm prior to the
strike.
Move the right foot forward at 45° into right Sanchin
Dachi and block right Jodan Uke then immediately strike with right Uraken
Ganmen Uchi and right Jodan Hiji Ate, cover with the left arm and strike right
Oroshi Hiji Ate and KIAI (the body drops as low as possible into a crouching
narrow Kiba Dachi when you strike Oroshi Hiji Ate).
As you regain the standing position move the left leg
90° to the right into left Sanchin Dachi at 45° and block left
Jodan Uke, immediately strike left Uraken Ganmen Uchi and left Jodan Hiji Ate
cover with the right arm and strike left Oroshi Hiji Ate as previously
described and KIAI.
As you regain the standing position move 45° to the
left, open both hands and bring them in front of the face simultaneously kick
right Age Ushiro Kakato Geri.
With both hands in this position move forward into
right Moro Ashi Dachi and simultaneously block Morote Shuto Gedan Barai.
Raise both hands to cover the face and simultaneously
kick right Age Ushiro Kakato Geri and move forward into right Moro Ashi Dachi
and simultaneously block Morote Shuto Gedan Barai.
Pull both hands to the right ready punch position with
the left open hand placed over the right closed fist. Simultaneously kick right
Age Ushiro Kakato Geri.
Move forward into right Moro Ashi Dachi and punch
right Chudan Oi Tsuki with the left open hand placed on the right forearm.
Pivot on the right foot and turn anti-clockwise 180°
and kick left Age Ushiro Kakato Geri and simultaneously cover with both hands
open in front of the face.
With both hands in this position move forward into
left Moro Ashi Dachi and simultaneously block Morote Shuto Gedan Barai.
Raise both hands to cover the face and simultaneously
kick left Age Ushiro Kakato Geri.
Move forward into left Moro Ashi Dachi and
simultaneously block Morote Shuto Gedan Barai.
Pull both hands to the left ready punch position with
the right open hand placed over the left closed fist simultaneously kick left
Age Ushiro Kakato Geri.
Move forward into left Moro Ashi Dachi and punch left
Chudan Oi Tsuki with the right open hand placed on the left forearm.
Pull the right hand back closed to the ready punch
position and move forward with the right leg (i.e. turning 90°) into Kiba Dachi
and punch right Chudan jun Tsuki.
Slowly pull the right foot back into Musubi Dachi with
both fists closed in the left ready punch position (i.e. right fist on left).
Kick right Chudan Mae Geri return the leg to Tsuru
Ashi Dachi position and look to the right and kick right Jodan Yoko Geri to the
side and simultaneously strike right Uraken Uchi.
Open the fist of the extended right arm and land into
right Zenkutsu Dachi (i.e. 90° from original position) and strike left Jodan
Hiji Ate into the right open hand.
Slowly pull the left foot back into Musubi Dachi; with
both fist closed in the right ready punch position (i.e. left fist on right).
Kick left Chudan Mae Geri return the leg to the Tsuru
Ashi Dachi position and look to the left and kick left Jodan Yoko Geri and
simultaneously strike left Uraken Uchi.
Open the fist of the extended left arm and land into
left Zenkutsu Dachi (i.e. 90° from original position) and strike right Jodan
Hiji Ate into the left open hand.
Turn your head 90° to the right and move the right
foot to the left into a semi neko ashi Dachi, simultaneously pull both hands
back to their respective ready punch positions.
Step 90° to the right into left Kake Dachi and punch
Morote Tsuki (right Jodan, left Chudan).
From this position move the left foot forward into
Kiba Dachi and quickly cover with a right Shotei to the left and position the
left arm ready for a strike with the palm parallel to the ground.
Slowly execute a left haishu uchi (at shoulder height)
and move the right hand, fist closed, to the ready punch position.
Leaving the left hand in this position kick right Soto
Mawashi Teisoku Keage.
Before you position the right foot on the ground pull
the left hand back, closed, to the ready punch position and jump forward into
right Kake Dachi and punch Morote Tsuki (right Jodan, left Chudan).
Jump up and slightly back landing in a low right
Zenkutsu Dachi simultaneously both hands are positioned to make a large circle and the finger tips
should touch the ground in front of the right foot. Look to the rear and
block Ushiro Morote Shuto Gedan Barai parallel to the
back leg.
Look to the front and pull the right foot back into
right Kokutsu Dachi and block right Shuto Mawashi Uke.
Turn the head 90° to the left and pivot into left
Sanchin Dachi blocking left Chudan Uchi Uke and right Mae Gedan Barai.
Repeat the block: right Chudan Uchi Uke and left Mae
Gedan Barai. Bring the right hand slowly down in a semi circular movement to
form a lower Kanku position (as previously described).
Slowly raise both arms into the Kanku position above
the head.
Maintain this Kanku position for approximately 5
seconds and part the hands strongly bringing both arms down in a circular
action in front of the body to strike right Shuto Hizo Uchi into the palm of
the left hand.
Pivot clockwise 180° (Ura) into a semi Zenkutsu Dachi
(left heel is raised off the ground) so that hips and head are turned to the right; cover with left
Shotei in front of the body with the right hand open in the ready punch
position. Pivot the hips into Kiba Dachi and strike right Yonhon Nukite Chudan.
Pivot the hips 90° into a left semi Zenkutsu Dachi and
cover right Shotei. Strike left Chudan Yonhon Nukite turning the hips back to
the original Kiba Dachi position.
In the same position turn your head 90° and look forward
and block right Chudan Kake Uke, strike left Chudan Yonhon Nukite and right
Chudan Yonhon Nukite (i.e. Nihon Nukite).
Turn anticlockwise 225° with the left leg into a left
semi Zenkutsu Dachi and right Shotei cover and turn the hips back 90° into Kiba
Dachi and strike left Yonhon Nukite Chudan.
Pivot 90° into a right semi Zenkutsu Dachi and left
Shotei cover strike right Chudan Yonhon Nukite turning the hips back to the
original Kiba Dachi position.
Turn your head 90° and look forward and block left Chudan
Kake Uke and strike right Chudan Yonhon Nukite and left Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Move the right foot to the right 180° and turn into a
right semi Zenkutsu Dachi and left Shotei cover and turn the hips back 90° and
strike right Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Pivot to the left 90° into a left semi Zenkutsu Dachi
and right Shotei cover and turn the hips back to the original Kiba Dachi
position and strike left Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Look to the front and block right Chudan Kake Uke and
strike left Chudan Yonhon Nukite and right Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Pivot to the left 90° into a left semi Zenkutsu Dachi
and right Shotei cover. Retaining the hand position move through in a straight
line into a right semi Zenkutsu Dachi.
Move through once again in a straight line into a left
semi Zenkutsu Dachi, strike left Chudan Yonhon Nukite turning the hips back to
the original Kiba Dachi position.
Pivot to the right into a right semi Zenkutsu Dachi
and left Shotei cover and turn the hips back to the original Kiba Dachi
position and strike right Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Look to the front and block right Chudan Kake Uke and
strike right Chudan Yonhon Nukite and left Chudan Yonhon Nukite.
Still in the same position with both hands open reach
up to the right, and moving into a stance similar to Zenkutsu Dachi
simultaneously execute a Tai Otoshi (throw) (the fists dosing during the
execution of the
throw).
Leaving the right hand in the original position raise
the left fist in preparation for a block and execute left Mae Gedan Barai and
punch right Gedan Gyaku Tsuki.
Retaining the same position reach up to the left with
the hands open and execute the Tai Otoshi as you turn 180° to the right into a stance
similar to right Zenkutsu Dachi.
Block right Mae Gedan Barai and punch left Gedan Gyaku
Tsuki and KIAI (when executing the Gyaku Tsuki the body should be positioned so
that the punching fist is slightly below the bent knee).
The Kata is completed by moving the right foot back
into Musubi Dachi and the Mokuso position is retained until the command
"Naore" when the Fudo Dachi position is taken.