Kanku Dai

The longest Shotokan kata and Funakoshi's favorite for demonstrations. Opens with the hands raised to 'look at the sky'; includes jumps and a drop to the floor.

Origin

From Kushanku (Kosokun), named after a Chinese envoy who taught in Okinawa in the 1700s; the Heian kata were derived from it.

JKA Katabook series ↗ — the official reference books and DVDs.