Learn the best katas for Karate training, self-defense and competition. This tier list by Jesse Enkamp ("The Karate Nerd") ranks all traditional WKF styles including Shotokan, Shito Ryu, Goju Ryu, Wado Ryu and Okinawan schools. The ranking is based on a combination of solo performance benefits and bunkai - the practical applications of kata with a partner.
☯️ BIO: Jesse Enkamp a.k.a The Karate Nerd™ is a #1 Amazon Best-Selling Author, National Team Athlete, Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, Carrot Cake Lover & Founder of Seishin International - The World’s Leading Karate Lifestyle Brand.
🎥 WATCH ALL MY VIDEOS ⇩
/ karatebyjesse
🔔 SUBSCRIBE - so you don’t miss NEW videos ⇩
kzhead.info...
💥 Learn KOBUDO WEAPONS From Okinawa ➭ www.kobudomastery.com
💪 MY TRAINING PROGRAMS:
- Flexibility & Mobility ➭ gumroad.com/l/karate-flexibil...
- Strength Training ➭ gumroad.com/l/karate-strength
🥋 GET MY #KARATE GI ➭ www.seishin-international.com
✅ Wanna GROW Your Martial Arts School? ➭ www.martialarts.social
👍 CONNECT WITH ME:
- Facebook ➭ / karatebyjesse
- Instagram ➭ / karatebyjesse
- Twitter ➭ / karatebyjesse
- ✏️ Blog ➭ www.karatebyjesse.com/categor...
- FB Group ➭ / karatenerds
✍️ CONTACT ME ⇩
www.karatebyjesse.com/contact/
WARNING: The advice and movements shown in this video are for informational and educational purposes only. Consult a health professional before engaging in any exercise or martial arts program.
Music credit: Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0 - www.scottbucjkley.com.au
What kata do you wanna learn? 🥋
The kata which u like
Kanku Dai, Jion, Enpi
The first kata at this video , Hangetsu
All of the katas for the B column I would like to learn.
I'm been learning shotokan for 1 year now
I'm glad you included Sanchin, so many people write it off as a "beginners" kata, not realising the inner strength needed. When I learnt Suparumpei I found it easy to remember than any other kata as I found it seemed to include so many moves from other kata's.
It's def in my top 5. I'm also glad it was included
Sanchin is easy until your sensei starts hitting on you restricting your movements and constantly checking your balanced with well placed kicks.
Yes your are right
same with Naihanchi. and hits come from the back so you have no clue when and where :D
Lost count of how many times I fell on the floor on that one, by my sensei's sneaky little kicks. Hard to master balance on that kata.
Sanchin is not supposed to be easy. It is a test of how well you can balance body, mind, and breath. It's a very relaxing kata when done well, no matter how much your muscle tension is checked by impact.
In Uechi, we were always taught that Sanchin should be the hardest part of any class, regardless of whether you were being tested or not. Half-hard, half-soft, creating your own resistance at all times. Fostering bodily awareness, and constantly going through the checklist to make sure everything is where it's supposed to be. It's extremely meditative, as much a mental acivity as a physical one. We were always told that if we weren't sweating profusely after the first sanchin of the night, we were probably not taking it seriously enough. It's an interesting topic. Sanchin would never win you a kata trophy at a tournament, and there was always a bit of a laugh when that came up. The reason is because my senseis always said that sanchin isn't even really a kata. It's more like learning to stand and breathe, before you can learn to walk. During gradings they weren't generally looking to see if they could break your stance or mess up your movements, they were checking to see how well/quickly you recovered using sanchin. The story I always heard was that traditionally, students used to practice nothing but sanchin for their first year of training. That's how essential is was to everything. "All is in sanchin".
Love your videos. I'm 72 years old and something of a karate nerd myself. I started when I was stationed on Okinawa, circa 1968. I studied Shorin Ryu under Shimabukuro Zenryo Sensei and Shimabukuro Zempo Sensei. Zempo wasn't much older than I was and I thought he was the toughest person I had ever met. I've seen recent videos of his kata and he is still amazingly powerful. Over the years, I've studied a number of styles, including Chito Ryu and Soo Bak Do. I still love and practice kata. About three weeks ago, I was rushed to the hospital with a serious bacterial infection. When I entered the hospital, I weighed 175 lbs. The day after I got back home two weeks later, I weighed 152. It's going to be a long road back, but I don't know how to give up. I have become interested in Uechi Ryu, thanks in no small part to your videos. I practice Sanshin and Seisan from Chito Ryu, but would love to see a full breakdown of these kata as practiced in Uechi Ryu, including bunkei. Thanks again for your videos. Respectfully, Dave
You put way more effort into making sure they’re in the right place than I ever have 😂 also, I love kusanku!
I’m an over-achiever for better or worse 😂
Just started Karate have got my first grading on Sunday, I can see ive got a longer way to go yet. So many Katas, its awesome!!
The journey never ends. Good luck!!!
Good luck 💙
Good luck! And remember, black belt is just a white belt who never gave up!
I'm a 1st Dan Blackbelt, but I still remember that 1st grading. Best advice I can give. Try to relax and try to remember what your sensei's have taught you. Good Luck. It gets far more interesting the higher you go. Listen to Jesse's streams. He knows what he's talking about
Good luck bro. After 30 years of Karate, I'd advise you to do some cross training ( judo or jujitsu) because then a lot more karate moves make sense. Also, you can't beat boxing for learning how to punch. I love Karate, but I'm also realistic about its limitations.
Picture of a younger Jesse shows that when you do Karate you won't age.
Hahah
He’s like Master Yoda, no matter how old he gets he still agile and looks the same
@@KARATEbyJesse Hey jesse I wanna ask that what do you think which side kick is more effective in street keage vs kekomi
I thought that too 👊
Sanchin is not one of the most "beautiful" kata, but, certainly, one of the most difficult. High level of muscle contraction and breathing is exhausting.
I am a kata collector. Love them all. 60 years later, I still adore them all.
The clapping and cheering in some tournaments drives me up the wall. Let them perform in peace, dammit!
Yeah but that "Bansai!" yell was astonishing
Yeah, it's pretty obnoxious
I was at the 1992 World Karate Championship in Granada, Spain (I'm old) and when Yuki Mimura performed Unsu it brought the house down and I couldn't help but clap and cheer with the rest of the audience.
I quite like the well-timed chirps of the car alarm. That's better than a kiai.
Yeah I hate it so much, no respect.
I have fallen down the Karate Nerd rabbit hole!! Loved seeing Rika in the videos. She is amazing to watch.
This brings me back. The nostalgia is overflowing. I've started practicing kata again and it just feels wonderful. Unsu still leaves my jaw on the floor especially with that jump.
Sensei Seth has shown Jesse San the way of the tier list
It's always funny to see people still dont know when they need to applaud when they watch kata x)
For me is very stressing
It’s not even when the kata is done
And when should we applaud...???
@@merckygan at the end
Если что-то впечатляющее, стоит аплодировать во время исполнения
Excellent video, as usual! Nifanchi Shodan and Nidan were the two taught by Motobu, who said that all one needed to know about fighting were contained in those two kata.
I've been waiting for this video for so long it's amazing to finally watch it
I don't know why, but my all time favourite Kata remains Heian Sandan. It's so beautiful threw its simple movements.
What i noticed about heians is that they tend too become very relevant too the beginner. Personally i felt heian yondan suited me the best. Goodluck training 🥋
That first girls kata is amazing. She is so good. So quick. So snappy.
My favourite one definitely is Kankusho, performed in Shotokan. This year, I made second place at the JSKA World Championship in Lübeck with it, and practice already starts for the next one in Japan.
Gankaku is my all-time favorite kata! So happy it made the list! 😁
Much respect for your dedication to katas and historical values. Those of us who can’t afford to travel to research benefits.
Given the top quality of your videos, your brilliant thoughts, deep knowledge, lovely presentation style and your love of details, background, history, etc. I would love to see you present and teach ALL OF THE 102 KATAS on the list, e.g in a special kata series format where you present one kata per video over the next 10 years, i. e. 1 per month/ 10 per year. With multiple cameras in a circle 360° like the scene in "The Matrix", zoom able, etc. All with detail shots, bunkai and downloadable embusen. Would be the world's best kata library of all times, a world heritage preserving the old knowledge forever and making it accessible to the entire humanity. You would live forever :-)
I have a tendency to watch any talking based video at 1.25 or 1.5 speed. (Especially long ones) So when Rika Usami came on with her already lightning fast movements and I had forgotten the increased tempo of the video, I was completely blown away by it for a moment.
I've never seen or heard if a few of these kata you presented. All awesome. Papuren looks friggin amazing! Thanks for sharing Jesse.
The energy I felt through the screen of my phone just now when the clip of all the students performing Sanchin was INSANE. The ibuki was insane!!
I'm currently learning Jitte, Jiin, and Jion for my brown belts in Shito Ryu
Hope you are doing well
Ooooh.....Jiin or Jion could be fun ones for Jesse Sensei to cover! The lesser known of the 3 J's
I heard Jiin is considered obsolete now.
@@matthewbaumann630 What was it lacking?
@@kedabro1957 I don't know. It's just not recognized for Karate tournaments or Olympic Karate. Same with Wankan.
I practice Wing Chun and recognize a whole lot of movements from your katas.
Sensei Enkamp, I thoroughly enjoyed this video! As a lover of kata, and karate practitioner for over 30 years, I supported every kata you chose for every reason you did. It must have been so hard to do, as there are so many reasons to love so many kata! I consider you a world karate expert and PHD in karate. There is no other person I know of that should deserve a title of PHD or world karate expert other than you.
Thanks for the awesome video Jesse-san. Ive been having a hard time figuring out which kata to focus on since there are so many but this list definitely helped me narrow it down to the ones that would be most beneficial. Some I know and some I'll have to learn but theyre all getting included in my training. Thanks again senpai.
Papuren stood out most to me because it had the same opening move as my art, tiger crane fist (hung ga). So interesting to see the same moves pass down to different styles!
That Chatanyara Kushanku performance brings tears to my eyes, it's so great! And the audience response... Amazing! As close to perfection as one could come. But I heard from one of the judges that, at the same World Championship in 2012, Rika Usami's performance of Bassai Dai was even better, it was perfect!
Wait, she performed a bassai dai at a world championship?
@@laracoraman222 Yes, in 2012 in Paris. It was one of the first couple of rounds. Bassai Dai is a nice kata, I like it, I have competed with it since 1998, but I still haven't mastered it. 😄
Love your videos man. Keep up the good work.💪😎😤
Your content just keeps getting better and better.
Chinto was one of my favorite kata to break down into bukai.
Bonus most important kata: your favourite kata.
Thank you for putting together a coherent tier list style video. I've recently watched one from a martial artists who only had a superficial knowledge of what he was ranking and it just seemed like an attempt to produce weekly content. No disrespect to the content creator, but long time karateka can see the difference between substance and volume for ratings. As always, thanks for producing some truly "nerdy" stuff! 😊
Jesse you did a very professional job of presenting your top 10 and explaining a bit of history behind them. Perhaps one day you may even examine some more of the katas in more detail. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Jesse, I’m in no condition, both in age, and weight to even remotely try to get back into Karate. I studied in my teens ( very long time ago). I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy watching your videos, and let you know that I’ve learned quite a bit from them. The history, styles, all of it, has brought a wealth of knowledge to me. Thank you!
It is no matter the fisical condition to return to karate . I 49 years old. Starting again then 18 years without practice. Dont give up!!! Oss
@@juanfranciscocarbone4063 I also was away for a long time and have started training again at 60, I was able to move from Green to Brown belt in a short time period. It's never too late.
Wow, this is amazing. I am 14 years old and i started practicing the Wado-ryu karate style around 10 years ago. I am amazed there are so many Kata's that i never knew of. I kinda regret that i stopped practicing Kata's and focused on Kumite. This video makes me wanna practice Kata's again.
Being someone who does karate, i always loved saifa, as it flows so well and is so fun to learn, but i respect your choices
I was waiting the whole video for Unsu, I was even starting to question if you put it in! It was my personal favorite tournament kata when I used to do karate. Great video!
I’m a beginner and I just learned Kunku Dai and it’s applications. Nice to see its roots. So many Kata’s, so many chances to grow
one of my favourite ones too
Beginner and kanku dai?guess its 2nd deg BB one
A great list Jesse ! I would like to see a bit more on Tekki Shodan and the "brutal applications" mentioned. It is interesting that this Kata beat out Bassai Dai as the only non-black belt kata in the listing.
Amazing video man!! Great content as always
Thanks for your video. I'm so happy to see italian team in one of my favorite kata.
After 6 leg surgeries on my right leg, from a bike racing accident, Gankaku totally helped me regain strength and balance in my leg. It’s still a difficult kata.
Jesse is not one sided. He's really into kata, and he's really into bunkai also.
Yes you are right there is so much to learn, my head is busting right now but I will breathe in and take it in one step at a time. 😅
I love watching kata, so soothing!
If you put out a tutorial series on kata that would be my dream! I’d be happy to learn any kata you want to teach. Thanks for all the inspiration from all your various video.
How'd it go?
In this list it would be nice to see a breakdown on Papuren. Else, I would like a breakdown on Ohan.
I used to practice Shotokan on later '90s but for life issues i had to stop practicing after I gruaduated to 7th Kyu and never came back to practice again. But i still remember that looking at my senpais performing Unshu impressed me so much (I was 13/14 years old) and looking at it today brought me a lot of memories. Thanks for that! Greetings from Argentina. Hai!💪🏻
Thank you...Great insight on Kata.
I practice Ving Tsun (Wong Shun Leung Style) but I really like to see these beautiful katas. In Ving tsun, the forms are similar to those in Karate. The first VT form is called Siu Nim Tao and is reminiscent of the Sanjin Kata. They are both the same ideas.
For me the Best is Tensho. Este Kata me permite conectarme con mi ser interno, en fin con el sentido profundo de las Artes marciales, ahora practico mas Tai Chi. Saludos desde Venezuela
Thank you Jesse san for your efforts. I learned a lot thanks to your work. Every Kata is interesting if it's well explained and well understood. Especially the Ura aspects. Greetings from Marrakesh Morocco. Keep going sensei.
This was so cool I hadn’t seen some of these before and watching all of them performed so well was neat especially with ones that I did know as it is just proves that you have never mastered your kata, there is always room to improve
Very lovely . Nice to see you everytime. Now I am like your biggest fan . Want to attain your seminar one day.
Thanks a lot! 🌟
@TANAY SUVAS GONAPA Me too
You meant "attend" not "attain".
@@kedabro1957 Ya. But it will be so precious for me that I can't just be present rather it's more like achivement for me to be with Jesse and learn from him.
Started Karate in August and is currently working on our first kata, Pinan Nidan. You really inspire me to do the best I possibly can. regards from Denmark!
Pinan nindan is a good kata for introduction. Work it hard and u will be a good karateka
The Pinan katas often appear underrated for people tend to see them as "beginner's stuff". Well... I disagree because keep working on the very base is far from being a mere beginner. Enjoy your practice ☺
@@jackmakmorn I agree, never underrated pinan kata.
@@jackmakmorn thanks. Attempting to graduate in november. I really feel like pinan nidan helps with basic understanding and proper stances for the more advanced stuff.
I did the Heian Shodan in shotokan But my kids do Shito Ryu and they learned the Pinan katas
Best freaking video yet !!! Please do more like these !!!
Your comment about secret katas becoming more open was very interesting. Isshinryu's version of Gojushiho is one of those secret katas that's not seen very often in public. Love your kata list! I find it interesting that Isshinryu's kata list is similar to your top 10! Love your videos, keep up the great work! OSSU!
I would like a tutorial on all of the Katas on this tier, starting the onse on the B tier list!
Three Men choreograph was spot on- Good job with the performance !!!
I've studied other martial arts, with no kata, for quite a long time, but after watching a ton of your videos, I've decided to join some of my friends who are karate nerds, and learn some kata! Ever since I watched your China series I've wanted to learn Seisan, so I'd love to see you break that one down.
Nombre: Rika Usami Estilo: Shito Ryu País: Japón Rika es integrante de la selección Japonesa de Karate bi campeona del mundo, y a mi juicio una excente karateca, quien seguramente tiene competidoras de igual calidad, pero ella ha demostrado la ejecución con algo mas que técnica. Lo hizo con pasión. Víctor Gómez desde Puerto Rico.
I love your channel and content so much! It's exactly what I am looking for atm =)
My sensei was teaching me and my buddy Chinto before the pandemic closed everything down. I like the list you made for the katas.
Seriously...any kata u teach...i think we would all be grateful... I do think learning an older one...one most of us never use...would be interesting...but trusting others...who have much higher belts than me to decide....I am a lowly gold/yellow belt...but I caught the karate fever...thanks sensei
I am currently learning Chatan Yara Kushanku 😁
Hope you have a good teacher! 👍
Thanks sensei - could you do a full close Okinawan style bunkai of seuinshin Kata from Go-ju ryu?
I could
@@KARATEbyJesse I remember that when I was a teen i learnt seienchin and in the begining part when you do this Tsuru ashi-dachi stance I was told: "This is a defense against someone hugging you". Years after that, sensei Yasunari Ishime taught me in a seminar that this stance is not meant to be in a stand-up position rather than a ground position. And it was according to him, a kind of (ufc style) arm bar. And I remember this was the time where a full new horizon for kata bunkai was opened to me. It realized that the aplication wasnt what I thought it was, but the real meaning was in fact there. Omote and Ura bunkai is something that still blow my mind nowadays.
@@alexxasc bunkai is for inquisitive people wanting to understand karate, competition kata is for people who want to show off. Like you have discovered, once you understand the bunkai you can practice the kata properly. Nothing saddens me more than seeing people demonstrate a kata they have no clue about. They have been prematurely taught moves by an unwise teacher.
One thing I love about these videos is the absolute silence there is at the championship. Uttermost respect for the athletes
I used to love doing Kata's or forms, as it encompasses the spirt of the style. When performed by an expert it is effortless and smooth.
I love Kata, and you made some fantastic choices. That being said, I am not a fan of the trendy "Freeze-Frame" style of tournament kata where you perform three moves then freeze for three seconds. It just seems a bit overly contrived.
Always had a soft spot for naihanchi kata that I learned in Isshinryu. Its short but has more to it then I think people give it credit for. Great video!
Five of the ten kata on this list are part of Isshin Ryu. Master Shimabuku knew when he was doing when he picked the katas to create his style.
I want to learn Sanchin! But you did already some stuff about that. So Seisan and Sanseru are very interesting, too. Especially the Bunkai. Thanks in advance. Keep doing your thing! 🙏🏼
The guy doing Papuren was amazing- he was was there on such a spiritual level
I would always like to watch your videos. Much love from India
I was hoping you were going to do empi. Empi and unshu are my favorites.
Epic! love the video very much! so inspiring.
I absolutely love your videos!
Bassai dai is my favorite
I am grading to yellow belt in a week,wish me luck
Hoping you succeed :)
All the best 👍👍 Oss 🥋
Ki
Same with me, good luck, friend!
You'll do great! May this be the first of many.
Very helpful video for new students thanks for sharing Jesse
It’s really wired what your brain keeps over the years and what it doesn’t . I used to do Shotokan karate at teenage age but stopped in my early 20ies at blue belt level when my Sensai passed away at a young age. About 8 months ago, I joined my daughters club, after a break of about 20 years. Different style but happy I decided to restart. Now, if you are asking me about the Heian and Tekki Katas, which I used to practise up and down, I am struggling. But I am able to do Bassai-Dai straight away. I feel that now, with a couple of decades more life experience, my way of performing karate and especially katas, does feel grown up as well. Thanks for the video.
The first girl snap movement AR spot-on
Kata are useful only to train your body to react without to much thinking time, helping ensure body movement is correct to get maximum speed and power into the technique trained in through repetition although I still believe that contact sparring as boxers train is a better way to achieve similar aims
Jesse i'm here again commenting on your video cus i just needed to find you. i realy needed. i was lost in my way to martial arts and your pation got me on my path again. so thank you very much
Thank you, Jessy! Very interesting video
Watching this makes me want to dust off my gi and practice again even though my knees are non-existent. :)
14:11 impressive power.
You have gone to the roots of karate. That selection of Katas is very successful.
very informative and good background. thank you for posting this. I learned Matsubyashi-Ryu (Shorin-ryu) about 50 years ago. I kind of expected to see Passai or Rohai, but you chose mostly katas that were longer than the ones I'm familiar with. thanks again.
YEAHHHHH UNITE FOR TIER LIST
Which kata do u want to lern? My answer: All
The one that takes you to the next level.
Love your videos! I haven't trained in Shotokan for a while, but I want to go back and re-learn Heian Godan and Heian Sandan.
Would love to see seisan and its bunkai. Great content as always, Jesse-san
Very heavy on the White Crane influence. Would have loved to see a Dragon style influenced kata like Sepai or kururunfa. Okinawa historians Kinjo and Tokashiki list them as dragon style, and after training dragon style in Fujian (I recommend for your next visit) the influences are apparent (the constant whipping and rotation).
We have White Crane kata in Shukokai. Obviously only the highest of students can learn/ practice this
@@davidrieger1483 which kata?
@@toanthony I'm not sure the Japanese name for it? But very nice kata. Look up Sensei Tani White Crane and you can see what it looks like.
@@davidrieger1483 we have the kata: saifa (for people who have trained around 6months). Which is white crane inspired. The next white crane kata however (empi, or Wansu) is not til brown belt.
I’m surprised that Gankaku made the list. My Grandmaster told me to learn a Shotokan kata years ago, and I chose that one. The version in this video is a little bit more complicated. I think I’ll have to search out one of the more advanced ones. It’s truly a pleasurable kata to perform IMO.
The style that I do is shotokan and it’s definitely one of the more stance and speed based styles. I’ve been doing shotokan for ten years and I’ve loved every minute of it. Gankaku is an amazing kata as well
@@emitaylor2772 Goju Karate has been very enjoyable for me also. Wish I had more time and energy to train honestly. Fighting experience would be good also.
Great video as always. 👍
The best channel on KZhead !!!