KANKU SHO

       Kanku Sho is a smaller and more advanced version of Kanku Dai. In Shotokan, there exist three kata that have two versions: Kanku, Bassai, and Gojushiho. Each has a Sho (small) version and a Dai (big) version, the Dai form usually being the one with the larger frame and greater number of movements.  Yasutsune Itosu is believed to have been responsible for these second editions. He used Kanku as a model for the newer Kanku Sho, thereby creating two forms of the kata, each having similar embusen and pattern of movements. When practicing Kanku Sho, one can see that it does indeed have a smaller frame than Kanku Dai and it also has fewer movements. At one time having a count of 47 (Best Karate #9), the JKA has officially changed the count to 48, still less than Kanku Dai's 65. Although the shorter kata, Kanku Sho is quite exhaustive, requiring a greater level of fitness, especially if it must be performed repeatedly. It is one of the more acrobatic kata found in Shotokan, complete with, not one, but two jumping techniques, which are very difficult for the average karate student first learning them. The first jump is similar to the jump found in Empi (kaiten-tobi), except the jump should be performed on the spot, rather than moving backwards. The second jump, similar to the one found in Unsu (albeit easier), is a jumping spinning crescent kick. Like most anything, these jumps get easier with practice, but then of course, become more difficult with age. As such, Kanku Sho is usually the preferred kata of younger and more athletic black belts.
       Although many of Kanku Sho's techniques can be found in other kata, it is the only kata demonstrating tsukami-uke with the other hand grasping one's own wrist (kaeshi-dori), providing an advanced wrist-locking application (kote-kudaki). As a final point regarding Kanku Sho, there has been some confusion over when to kiai. Kiai have been reported on moves #6,#28,#29, and #48 (#47). According to present day JKA standards, the kiai are on moves #6 and #48.


































#
Technique
Translation
Stance
Target
Notes
1
morote-uke

double-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
yori-ashi
2
morote-uke

double-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
yori-ashi
3
morote-uke

double-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
yori-ashi
4
oi-zuki &
zenwan-hineri
lunge-pumch &
forearm twist
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
--

5
oi-zuki &
zenwan-hineri
lunge-pumch &
forearm twist
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
--

6*
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

7
soete-tsukami-uke

added hand grasping block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
slow speed
gyaku-hanmi
8
mae-geri / ryote-hikiyose

front kick / both hands pulling
ashi-dachi
chudan

9
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi

vertical back-fist strike
kosa-dachi
jodan

10
uchi-uke

inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

11
gyaku-zuki

reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

12
tsuki

punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

13
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke
inside block /
down block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
gedan

14
furioroshi-uchi

downward swinging strike
renoji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
gedan-barai variation
15
soete-tsukami-uke

added hand grasping block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
slow speed
gyaku-hanmi
16
mae-geri / ryote-hikiyose

front kick / both hands pulling
ashi-dachi
chudan

17
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi

vertical back-fist strike
kosa-dachi
jodan

18
uchi-uke

inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

19
gyaku-zuki

reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

20
tsuki

punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

21
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke
inside block /
down block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
gedan

22
furioroshi-uchi

downward swinging strike
renoji-dachi
gedan
slow speed
gedan-barai variation
23
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan

24
sokumen-zuki /
gyaku-zuki (morote-zuki)
punch to side /
reverse punch
kiba-dachi
chudan
chudan
yori-ashi
25
uchi-uke /
gedan-uke (manji-uke)
inside block /
down block (swirling block)
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
gedan

26
sokumen-zuki /
gyaku-zuki (morote-zuki)
punch to side /
reverse punch
kiba-dachi
chudan
chudan
yori-ashi
27
ryosho-bo-uke

both palms stick block
kokutsu-dachi
jodan
slow speed
28
bo-oshikomi

stick pushing thrust
fudo-dachi
--
kokutsu variation
29
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan
kaiten-tobi
30
ryoken-koshi-kamae

both fists on hip posture
ashi-dachi
--

31
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan

32
mae-empi-uchi

front elbow strike
zenkutsu-dachi
--

33
ryoken-koshi-kamae

both fists on hip posture
ashi-dachi
--

34
uraken-yoko-mawashi-uchi /
yoko-geri-keage
sideways back-fist strike /
side snap kick
ashi-dachi
jodan
chudan

35
mae-empi-uchi

front elbow strike
zenkutsu-dachi
--

36
soete-tsukami-uke

added hand grasping block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan
slow speed
37
mae-geri / ryote-hikiyose

front kick / both hands pulling
ashi-dachi
chudan

38
uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi

vertical back-fist strike
kosa-dachi
jodan

39
uchi-uke

inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

40
gyaku-zuki

reverse punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

41
tsuki

punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

42
koho-kake-uke &
mikazuki-tobi-geri
hooking block &
jumping crescent kick
hizakutsu
--
chudan
chudan
kake slow speed
ude-tate-fuse
43
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
gedan

44
shuto-uke

knife-hand block
kokutsu-dachi
chudan

45
uchi-uke

inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

46
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

47
uchi-uke

inside block
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan

48*
oi-zuki

lunge punch
zenkutsu-dachi
chudan