Bassai (pronounced Patsai in Okinawan) is most often translated as “Penetrate the Fortress,” meaning that one must exhibit the power and spirit required to break through an enemy’s castle. This is particularly evident in the Kata’s first movement, when the Karateka launches forward with soete-uchi-uke.
The word Dai means “big,” describing the Kata’s larger movements, contrary to its counterpart Bassai Sho. Bassai, Kanku, and Gojushiho are the three Shotokan Kata that each have two versions, a Sho version (small) and a Dai version (big). Most translators agree that Bassai can more accurately be translated as “To Extract From a Fortress.”
Bassai Dai is believed to have been created by Sokon Matsumura. Much of the bunkai focus on breaking the opponent’s balance and defences against grabbing attacks. Like many Shotokan Kata, Bassai Dai is praticed in many styles of karate, having several variations. The JKA version has 42 movements.
Bassai Dai is usually the first Sentei kata to be learned and is the most popular choice as tokui Kata by 1st kyu examines for black belt. It is characterised by many switching arm blocking combinations, making effective use of the hanmi/gyaku-hanmi positions.
Performance of gyaku-hanmi in Bassai Dai is substantially more difficult than in H2 because in Bassai, the front stance should not be shortened to accommodate gyaku-hanmi.
Many techniques are seen for the first time in this Kata such as tate-shuto-uke, sukui-uke, and hasami-uchi. The ryosho-tsukami-uke & gedan-sokuto-kekomi combination is unique to Bassai kata (both versions), while the powerful yama-zuki can only be found in Bassai Dai and Wankan.
It is interesting to note that one of the most basic blocking techniques, chudan-soto-uke, is first used in this Kata, and then never seen again.
Greet slowly in the musubi-dachiposition.
Announce the kata: “Bassai-dai.”
Yoï: In heisoku-dachiposition, left hand wrapping the right fist, arms outstretched in front of you.
1 – Hidari morote-uke: Climb your right knee and leap forward, resting your right foot on the ground in a kosa-dachi position. At the same time, make a double lock inside-outside right(morote-uke), the left hand in reinforcement of the right forearm.
2 – Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: Turn your head to the left, extend your left leg back, crossing your left hand in front of you, under your right arm. Make an inner-outside left middle level(uchi-ude-uke)blockage by swivelling the pelvis to the left in the zenkutsu-dachi position, the right fist in hikity.
3 – Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, block the middle-level right arm(uchi-ude-uke),from the inside out, with a strong rotation of the hips. The right shoulder is brought forward and the hips are front, always in zenkutsu-dachi position, the left fist in hikity.
4 – Hidari chudan soto-uke: Pivot from 180 degrees by running an inside-outside left middle level(soto-uke)in zenkutsu-dachi position, the right fist in hikity.
5 – Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, block the middle-level right arm(uchi-ude-uke),from the inside out, with a strong rotation of the hips. The right shoulder is brought forward and the bust is 3/4, still in the zenkutsu-dachi position, the left fist in hikity.
6 – Migi gedan sukui-uke/Migi chudan soto-uke:
(6A) Group the right foot on the left foot by swivelling 90 degrees to the right, bending your knees. At the same time, run a spoon-down block(sukui-uke). (6B) Then raise your right fist to the right side of your head.
(6C) Make an inner-outside middle level right(soto-uke)block in zenkutsu-dachi position, the left fist in hikity.
7- Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, block the middle-level left arm(uchi-ude-uke),from the inside out, with a strong rotation of the hips. The left shoulder is brought forward and the bust is 3/4, still in the zenkutsu-dachi position, the right fist in hikity.
8 – Migi koshi-kamae/Hidari chudan tate-shuto-uke: Bring the left foot inward towards the right foot in the hachiji-dachiposition, while bringing the vertical left fist over the right fist in hikity to the right hip.
On the spot, slowly block the sword with your left hand in front of you, middle level, from the outside to the inside in an arc(tate-shuto-uke)with your right fist in hikity.
9- Migi chudan choku-zuki: On the spot, give a direct right punch to the middle level(choku-zuki), in the hachiji-dachi position, the left fist in hikity.
10 – Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, still in the hachiji-dachi position, run a right block at the middle level, from the inside out(uchi-ude-uke),by powerfully pivoting the pelvis to the left. The right leg extends, and the left knee flexes slightly.
11- Hidari chudan choku-zuki: On the spot, give a direct left punch to the middle level(choku-zuki), in the hachiji-dachi position, the right fist in hikity.
12 – Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, still in the hachiji-dachi position, run a left block at the middle level, from the inside out(uchi-ude-uke),by powerfully pivoting the pelvis to the right. The left leg extends, and the right knee flexes slightly.
13 – Migi chudan shuto-uke: Advance the right foot in the starting axis of the kata, in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword of the right hand at the middle level(shuto-uke).
14 – Hidari chudan choku-zuki: Advance the left foot in the starting axis of the kata, in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword of the left hand at the middle level(shuto-uke).
15 – Migi chudan shuto-uke: Advance the right foot in the starting axis of the kata, in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword of the right hand at the middle level(shuto-uke).
16 – Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Step back the right foot in the starting axis of the kata, in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword of the left hand at the middle level(shuto-uke).
17 – Shift your right foot to the moto-dachiposition. At the same time, extend the right hand forward, palm up, elbow right under the left hand (same position as for the previous blockage).
Lower the right hand to the right, with a slow arcing motion, swivelling it downwards, with your left hand resting on your right hand: both palms are facing down. The pelvis also rotates.
18 – Migi gedan-sokuto-fumikomi: Raise your right knee in the triangle formed by the arms and chest.
Powerfully lower the right foot to administer a penetrating blow of the right foot sword to the lower level(sokuto-fumikomi). At the same time, close your fists by pulling them towards you above the right hip (grabbing/pulling both hands). The bust is in profile.
KIA !!!
19 – Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Retract the leg that has just hit, rotate the 180-degree bust in the other direction, and rest your foot on the ground in the direction of the kick in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword from the left hand to the middle level(shuto-uke).
20 – Migi chudan shuto-uke: Advance the right foot in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the sword of the right hand to the middle level(shuto-uke).
21 – Jodan morote-age-uke: Group the right foot against the left foot in the heisoku-dachiposition, knees in slight bending, elbows at the hips. The hands are open, touching, palms facing the sky.
Raise your arms by extending your legs and send elbows outwards by wrapping your forearms. As the ascent progresses, close your fists by keeping them close to each other(morote-age-uke).
22 – Chudan tettsui-hasami-uchi: Spread your forearms out at the same time as you raise your right knee.
Rest your right foot in front of you in the zenkutsu-dachiposition. At the same time, lower your fists in front of you, along 2 circular trajectories to execute a hammer punch in medium levelscissors (tettsui-hasami-uchi).
23 – Migi chudan oï-zuki: Stay in the zenkutsu-dachi position and push on the left foot to propel you forward (yori-ashi) by about 1/2 steps. Simultaneously, carry a right elongated punch, medium level(oï-zuki).
24 – Hidari nagashi-uke/Migi gedan nukite: Turn your head to the left to look behind you, at the same time as you make a downward blockage of the edge of the left hand level low, in your back.
Complete the 180-degree rotation to the left and move into the left zenkutsu-dachi position, while carrying a right-hand dive attack(nukite). Simultaneously, perform a deadlocked left high level(nagashi-uke).
25 – Manji-uke: Step back the left foot to apply it against the right foot in the heisoku-dachiposition, while swivelling the 90-degree pelvis to the right. Raise your right arm behind you and extend your left arm downwards to make a high/low blockage(manji-uke).
26 – Migi yoko-fumikomi/Migi gedan-barai: Swivel 180 degrees to the left on your left foot, raising your right knee powerfully. Descend into the kiba-dachi position by kicking a crushing kick to the side(yoko-fumikomi)and blocking descending from the right arm(gedan-barai),left fist in hikity.
27 – Hidari chudan haishu-uke: On the spot, turn your head to the left and extend your left hand open at shoulder height to perform a middle level backhand(haishu-uke),while the right fist comes in hikity. This movement is slow and in deep inspiration.
28 – Migi chudan mikazuki-geri/Migi empi-uchi: As soon as the left hand came to a stop, follow up with a crescent kick, the flat right foot in the left hand remained open, swivelling 180 degrees on the left foot(mikazuki-geri). Rest your right foot in the direction of the kick in the kiba-dachi position. At the same time, give a frontal right elbow against the left palm(empi-uchi).
29 – Migi gedan-barai/Hidari gedan-barai/Migi gedan-barai: On the spot, follow up directly by lowering the right fist(gedan-barai),the left fist in contact with the right elbow, still in the kiba-dachiposition. Immediately afterwards, follow directly by lowering the left fist(gedan-barai),the right fist on contact with the left elbow.
And finally, follow up directly by lowering the right fist(gedan-barai),the left fist in contact with the right elbow.
30 – Hidari koshi-kamae/Yama-zuki: Turn your head to the right by moving the right foot slightly back to arrive in the zenkutsu-dachi position. At the same time, pull the fists above the left hip, right fist standing above the left fist in hikity(koshi-kamae). Then strike two fists simultaneously(yama-zuki),the left fist at the face and the right fist at the middle level. At the arrival of the technique, the two fists are in the same vertical axis and the bust leaning forward.
31 – Migi koshi-kamae: Bring the right foot against the left foot in the heisoku-dachiposition, while bringing both fists above the right hip, left fist standing above the right fist in hikity(koshi-kamae).
32 – Hidari fumikomi/Yama-zuki: Raise high the left knee and carry a left crushed kick(fumikomi) by sweeping the space in front of you, rest your foot in the zenkutsu-dachi position, while hitting 2 fists simultaneously(yama-zuki), right fist at the face and left fist at the middle level. At the arrival of the technique, the two fists are in the same vertical axis and the bust leaning forward.
33 – Hidari koshi-kamae: Bring the left foot against the left foot in the heisoku-dachiposition, while bringing the 2 fists above the left hip, right fist standing above the right fist on the left(koshi-kamae).
34 – Migi fumikomi/Yama-zuki: Raise your right knee high and kick a crushed right kick(fumikomi)by sweeping the space in front of you, rest your foot in the zenkutsu-dachi position, while hitting 2 fists simultaneously(yama-zuki),the left fist at the face and the right fist at the middle level. At the arrival of the technique, the two fists are in the same vertical axis and the bust leaning forward.
35 – Migi gedan sukui-uke: Pivot on the right foot, the left leg performing an arc of 90 degrees anti-clockwise. Set foot in the zenkutsu-dachi position. The right fist describes a large circular motion from the left shoulder to achieve a spoon block(sukui-uke). The left fist is positioned in hikity.
36 – Hidari gedan sukui-uke: Swivel 2 feet to the right. The left fist describes a large circular motion from the right shoulder to achieve a spoon block(sukui-uke). The right fist is positioned in hikity.
37 – Migi chudan shuto-uke: Turn your head 45 degrees to the right, group the left foot against the right foot and then advance the right foot with a 45-degree angle to the right in the kokutsu-dachi position, while blocking the edge of the right hand at the middle level(shuto-uke).
38 – Shuto-uke: Turn your head 90 degrees to the left, slowly move the right foot 90 degrees backwards still in the kokutsu-dachiposition, with the upper body holding the same position(shuto-uke)towards that back direction.
39 – Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Bring the right foot back to the left foot, then advance the left foot in the kokutsu-dachiposition, while blocking the edge of the left hand(shuto-uke).
KIA !!!
Yame, in heisoku-dachi position (joined feet), left hand wrapping the right fist, arms outstretched in front of you.
Join your feet in the musubi-dachi position and salute.
