GANKAKU

       Legend has it that Gankaku was created by Sokon Matsumura, who was inspired by the teachings of a shipwrecked Chinese sailor skilled in the art of kung fu. Formerly known as Chinto (Battle East), Gankaku is one of the most graceful Shotokan kata. The kata is usually translated as "Crane on a Rock," referring to the crane stance (tsuru-dachi), when one must sink on one-leg as if a crane perched, ready to strike. The crane stance in Gankaku is performed in manji-kamae and is always followed by an uraken/yoko-keage (followed by a punch) combo. Even though the kata has many fast and sharp attacks, it also exhibits several slow postures as well, lending a certain calmness to the kata, especially given the slow double-counts in tsuru-dachi. The embusen of this kata is a straight line (perpendicular to Tekki), characteristic of fighting in narrow passages or alleys (or even stairways).
       Gankaku has several challenging forward spinning turns, unlike most kata which have reverse turning motions. Simply put, forward turns begin with a stepping forward motion in order to change direction while reverse turns begin with a backward stepping motion to change direction. The only "normal" reverse turn of Gankaku occurs during the 3rd manji-uke (#17), and even that is performed linearly, making it more difficult to maintain one's balance. In addition to forward spinning and standing on one leg, the karateka must also be agile enough to execute a jumping double front kick. As can be seen, the practice of Gankaku helps to develop (and requires) excellent balance. The ability to pivot smoothly on one foot is also essential. Other aspects of the kata are fairly simple, consisting mostly of 3 repeated techniques: kosa-uke, kakiwake-uke, and manji-uke. The kata has a total count of 42.















#
Technique
Translation
Stance
Target
Notes
1
ryosho-awase-uke

both palms combined block
kokutsu-dachi
jodan

2
ryosho-juji-osae-uke

both palms X-pressing block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

3
tsuki (sokumen-zuki)

punch (side punch)
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

4
gyaku-zuki

reverse punch
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

5
gedan-barai

down block
kiba-dachi
gedan

6
kaisho-kosa-uke
(ryosho-juji-uke)
both palms cross-block
(both palms X-block)
zenkutsu-dachi
jodan

7
ryoken-mune-mae-kosa
both fists crossed in front of chest
zenkutsu-dachi
--
slow speed
8
nidan-geri
&
ryoken-kosa (juji)-uke
two-level kick
&
both fists cross (X) block
--

zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
jodan
gedan

9
ryoken-kosa (juji)-uke

both fists cross (X) block
zenkutsu-dachi
gedan

10
gedan-uke

down block
kokutsu-dachi
gedan

11
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
gedan

12
ryosho-kakiwake-uke

both palms wedge block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
slow speed
13
ryosho-kakiwake-uke

both palms wedge block
kiba-dachi
chudan
slow speed
14
ryoken-kakiwake-uke

both fists wedge block
hachiji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
15
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan

16
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan

17
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan

18
ryoken-kosa (juji)-uke

both fists cross (X) block
ashi-orishiki
(hiza-dachi)
gedan

19
ryoken-kakiwake-uke

both fists wedge block
kiba-dachi
chudan
slow speed
20
ryoken-kakiwake-uke

both fists wedge block
hachiji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
21
ryoken-ryokoshi-kamae

both fists on both hips posture
hachiji-dachi
--

22
furi-empi
(empi-uchi)
swinging elbow
(elbow strike)
hizakutsu
chudan

23
furi-empi
(empi-uchi)
swinging elbow
(elbow strike)
hizakutsu
chudan

24
ryoken-kakiwake-uke

both fists wedge block
kosa-dachi
chudan
slow speed
25
uchi-uke-kamae /
gedan-kamae (manji-kamae)
inside block / down block posture (swirling posture)
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
jodan
gedan
slow speed
26
ryoken-koshi-kamae

both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
--
slow speed
27
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways backfist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan

28*
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

29
uchi-uke-kamae /
gedan-kamae (manji-kamae)
inside block / down block posture (swirling posture)
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
jodan
gedan
slow speed
30
ryoken-koshi-kamae

both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
--
slow speed
31
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways backfist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan

32
sokumen-zuki
(gyaku-zuki)
reverse punch
(side punch)
kiba-dachi
chudan

33
uchi-uke-kamae /
gedan-kamae (manji-kamae)
inside block / down block posture (swirling posture)
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
jodan
gedan
slow speed
34
ryoken-koshi-kamae

both fists hip posture
ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
--
slow speed
35
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways backfist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan

36
sokumen-zuki
(gyaku-zuki)
reverse punch
(side punch)
kiba-dachi
chudan

37
shuto-uke
knife-hand block
ashi-zenkutsu
jodan
shuto-uchi variation
38
tate-empi-uchi

vertical elbow strike
ashi-zenkutsu
jodan

39
ryote-koshi-kamae

boths hands hip posture
ashi-zenkutsu
--

40
ryoken-koshi-kamae
both fists hip posture

ashi-dachi
(tsuru-dachi)
--
natural speed
41
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways backfist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi

jodan
chudan

42*
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan