HONGETSU KATA

Command - “Kitski” (Attention)

Hands at sides along seam of pants, fingers together

Heels together, feet at 45 degree angle, knees slightly bend, shoulders relaxed (“Musubi dachi”)

Command - “Mukso” (Meditate)

Close your eyes, breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth

Visualize the Kata

Command - “Mukso Yame” (Stop Meditation)

Open your eyes

Command - “Yoi” (Ready)

Hands slide up your side to high chamber, palms facing upward, inhale deeply through nose

Feet remain heels together, toes facing out at 45 degrees

X block in front of body, fingers straight, palms facing outward

simultaneously, heels out, toes in

Hands strong back to high chamber fisted, palms facing up

feet remain heels out, toes in

Fists punch downward (dynamic tension), 1st two knuckles towards floor, palms facing each other shoulder width apart, exhale strongly throughout motion

Toes straighten so that you now should be standing with feet shoulder width apart

Command - “Hajime” (Begin)

Double fisted X block down, left arm over right while right leg slides back finishing in a long left zenkutsu dachi

Right fist draws slowly back to chamber with dynamic tension, slowly punch out as you exhale (as in Sanchin Kata)

Circle step into right side forward sanchin

Left fist draws slowly back to chamber with dynamic tension, slowly punch out as you exhale

Circle step into left side forward sanchin

Right fist draws slowly back to chamber with dynamic tension, slowly punch out as you exhale

Both fists draw slowly back to chamber with dynamic tension, punch out strong with kiai

Hands come back open to high chamber with palms up

Left leg comes up and stomps across; pivot 180 degrees (facing rear) into right sanchin stance

Hands come down, then finish out (like at the end of the mukso segment of sanchin kata)

Circle step to the left into left cat stance

Fan block with the left hand - palm up, hook palm downward as feet shift from cat stance to sanchin; right hand down at mid chest

Circle step to the right into right cat stance

Fan block with the right hand - palm up, hook palm downward as feet shift from cat stance to sanchin; left hand up at mid chest

Circle step to the left into left cat stance

Fan block with the left hand - palm up, hook palm downward as feet shift from cat stance to sanchin; right hand up at mid chest

Step left into long left zenkutsu dachi, left middle block

Right reverse punch

Left reverse punch; leave punch out

Right mae geri; bring kick back to the rear

As kick is coming back, right reverse punch

Pivot 180 degrees (facing right)

Long right zenkutsu dachi, right middle block

Left reverse punch

Right reverse punch; leave punch out

Left mae geri; bring kick back to the rear

As kick is coming back, left reverse punch

Pivot 90 degrees (facing back)

Long left zenkutsu dachi, left middle block

Right reverse punch

Left reverse punch; leave punch out

Right mae geri; bring kick back to the rear

As kick is coming back, right reverse punch

Pivot 180 degrees (facing front)

Feet come together into musubi dachi

Left fist to chamber

Right comes over top like a dynamic tension hammer fist; stop when elbow reaches body

Right rising noka ken

Left crescent kick

Right front kick, land in right zenkutsu dachi

Right low block; left reverse punch; right high block

Pivot 180 degrees (facing rear)

Feet come together into musubi dachi

Right fist to chamber

Left comes over top like a dynamic tension hammer fist; stop when elbow reaches body

Left rising noka ken

Right crescent kick

Left front kick, land in left zenkutsu dachi

Left low block, right reverse punch; left block

Pivot 180 degrees (facing front)

Feet come together into musubi dachi

Left fist to chamber

Right comes over top like a dynamic tension hammer fist; stop when elbow reaches body

Right rising noka ken

Left crescent kick

Right front kick, land in right zenkutsu dachi

Right low block; left reverse punch; right high block

Stepping back into kiba dachi, strike with back of right hand to the rear; left hand to right breast (like in Gisakusho)

Reverse the hand movement by striking forward with back of left hand; right hand to left breast

Crescent kick to the extended left hand; kick comes back to the rear

Right reverse punch with kiai as you slide back into left side forward cat stance. Left hand open comes to right bicep.

Left hand shuto out as right pulls back to chamber

Right elbow comes over left hand (but does not trap)

Circle block to finish

Command - “Kata Yame”

Left hand opens

Right fist goes to right ear

Left leg slides back to meet right in musubi dachi position

Right fist strikes open left hand

Hands turn over, right fist opens

Hands spread, slap the side of your body

Left leg comes forward to meet right in musubi dachi position

Arms cross at wrists, hands open in front of body, palms outward, fingers together

As hands spread apart, fists close (same fisted, knuckles-down position as at beginning (“Yoi”))

Simultaneously, left leg steps out , shoulder distance apart

Feet come back to musubi dachi position, hands come back to the sides, bow

Stances Used in Hongetsu Kata:

Formal Attention Stance or “Harmony” Stance (Musubi Dachi) - Hands at sides along seam of pants, fingers together, heels together, feet at 45 degree angle, knees slightly bend, shoulders relaxed

Hourglass Stance (Sanchin Dachi) - feet shoulder width apart, toes pointed slightly inward, toe of rear foot should be even with heel of front foot.

Long Stance (Zenkutsu Dachi) - front knee is bent so that if you were to look down, you would not see your foot, rear leg is locked straight with heel of foot pressed into floor, stance is slightly wider than shoulder with apart, back is straight.

Cat Stance (Neko Ashi Dachi) - Rear supporting leg is slightly bent and holds 99% of your weight with the foot turned out at a 45 degree angle to your center. Ball of front foot is just touching floor with both the heel and toes off the ground. Toes and heel of lead foot are facing directly in front of you towards center with knee bent. Back is straight.