Gojushiho Sho

GOJUSHIHO SHO
Gojushiho sho, or “Fifty-Four Steps Small,” is the longer and more complex of the two Gojushiho kata. At 67 counts, it is the lengthiest of Shotokan kata, beating Gojushiho Dai(and Kanku Dai) by two moves. Its surplus of movements over its twin can basically be accounted for by the inclusion of two techniques in Gojushiho Sho that are not present in Gojushiho Dai: koko-sukui-uke/tsukidashi and washide. Washide, or “eagle-hand,” is a precise attack using all five fingertips pressed together in the shape of a bird’s beak to strike an opponent’s pressure points. Outside of this kata, washide does not exist in Shotokan. Gojushiho Sho has a smaller frame than its twin, mostly due to its “trademark set” of kitsutsuki-no-kamae, keito-nagashi-uke, and otoshi-ippon-nukite. Essentially, the larger frame of the ryuun (flowing cloud) set of Gojushiho Dai is replaced by the smaller kitsutsuki (woodpecker) set of Gojushiho Sho. The grand style of ryuun-no-uke is replaced by the smaller curving keito-uke; the long shihon-tate-nukite are exchanged for shorter otoshi-ippon-nukite; and the big zenkutsu-dachi and kokutsu-dachi are traded for the much smaller neko-ashi-dachi. Gojushiho Sho has more techniques executed in neko-ashi-dachi than any other Shotokan kata. Along with Unsu, it is one of only two Shotokan kata that have no kokutsu-dachi at all (excluding Tekki, of course). This can prove difficult for Shotokan karateka who generally practice kokutsu-dachi to a much greater extent, often neglecting the practice of neko-ashi-dachi. One of the more difficult aspects of the kata occurs when changing direction from one neko-ashi-dachi to another; many students tend to have difficulty maintaining balance throughout.             At one time, Gichin Funakoshi tried to change the name of the kata to Hotaku, meaning “woodpecker,” due to the frequency of poking strikes found within the kata. Some consider the true woodpecker’s strike to be ryo-kentsui-koho-hasami-uchi (#61), viewing it primarily as a head butt attack. Regardless, for reasons unknown, the name Hotaku was never really accepted. Striking with the fingers is the norm for Gojushiho Dai so one must have an understanding of an opponent’s vital areas.

#	Technique	Translation	Stance	Target	Notes
1	mizu-nagare-uraken-kamae (uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi)	water flowing back-fist posture (vertical back-fist strike)	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan	slow speed
2	ryoken-morote-uke (morote-tate-uke-zuki)	both fists double-hand block (both hands block-punch)	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan	slow speed
3	ryoken-morote-uke (morote-tate-uke-zuki)	both fists double-hand block (both hands block-punch)	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan	slow speed
4	tate-shuto-uke	vertical knife-hand block	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan	slow speed
5	gyaku-zuki	reverse punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
6	tsuki	punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
7	mae-geri	front kick	ashi-dachi	chudan
8	gyaku-zuki	reverse punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
9	tate-shuto-uke	vertical knife-hand block	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan	slow speed
10	gyaku-zuki	reverse punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
11	tsuki (oi-zuki)	punch (lunge punch)	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
12	mae-geri	front kick	ashi-dachi	chudan
13	gyaku-zuki	reverse punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
14	tate-empi-uchi	vertical elbow strike	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan
15	koko-sukui-uke / koko-osae (tsukidashi)	tiger-mouth scooping block / tiger-mouth press (thrust)	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan gedan
16	keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae)	chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture)	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
17	keito-kamae / gedan-uke	chicken-head posture / down block	neko-ashi-dachi	jodan gedan	slow speed
18	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	yori-ashi
19	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
20	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
21	keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae)	chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture)	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
22	keito-kamae / gedan-uke	chicken-head posture / down block	neko-ashi-dachi	jodan gedan	slow speed
23	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
24	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
25	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
26	haito-uke	ridge-hand block	kiba-dachi	gedan
27	jotai-sonomama	upper body as is	—	—	kosa-ashi slow speed
28	ryosho-bo-tsukami-uke	both palms grasping stick block	ashi-dachi kiba-dachi	jodan gedan
29	haito-uke	ridge-hand block	kiba-dachi	gedan
30	jotai-sonomama	upper body as is	—	—	kosa-ashi slow speed
31	ryosho-bo-tsukami-uke	both palms grasping stick block	ashi-dachi kiba-dachi	jodan gedan
32	keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae)	chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture)	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
33	keito-kamae / gedan-uke	chicken-head posture / down block	neko-ashi-dachi	jodan gedan	slow speed
34	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
35	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
36	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
37	shihon-nukite (yoko-nukite)	4-finger spear-hand (sideways spear-hand)	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan	shuto variation
38	uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi	vertical back-fist strike	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan	slow speed
39	shihon-nukite (yoko-nukite)	4-finger spear-hand (sideways spear-hand)	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan	shuto variation
40	uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi	vertical back-fist strike	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan	slow speed
41	washide-otoshi-uchi	eagle-hand dropping strike	zenkutsu-dachi	gedan
42	washide-tsuki-age	eagle-hand rising thrust	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan
43	mae-geri	front kick	ashi-dachi	jodan
44	ken-kata-ue / tsuki	fist above shoulder / punch	ashi-dachi	— chudan
45	koho-gedan-uke / yoko-empi-uchi	rear down block / sideways elbow strike	hizakutsu	gedan jodan
46	keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae)	chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture)	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
47	keito-kamae / gedan-uke	chicken-head posture / down block	neko-ashi-dachi	jodan gedan	slow speed
48	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
49	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
50	otoshi-ippon-nukite	dropping one-finger spear-hand	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan
51	haito-uke	ridge-hand block	kiba-dachi	gedan
52	jotai-sonomama	upper body as is	—	—	kosa-ashi slow speed
53	tate-shuto-uke & shihon-tate-nukite / hari-empi-koshi-kamae	vertical knife-hand block & 4-finger vertical spear-hand / elbow guard hip posture	ashi-dachi kiba-dachi	chudan chudan —
54	haito-uke	ridge-hand block	kiba-dachi	gedan
55	jotai-sonomama	upper body as is	—	—	kosa-ashi slow speed
56	tate-shuto-uke & shihon-tate-nukite / hari-empi-koshi-kamae	vertical knife-hand block & 4-finger vertical spear-hand / elbow guard hip posture	ashi-dachi kiba-dachi	chudan chudan —
57	mizu-nagare-uraken-kamae (uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi)	water flowing back-fist posture (vertical back-fist strike)	zenkutsu-dachi	jodan	slow speed
58	kentsui-uchi-mawashi-uchi	inside hammer-fist strike	kiba-dachi	chudan
59*	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
60	ryo-hiji-suhei-kamae	horizontal elbows posture	hachiji-dachi	—	slow speed fast variation
61	ryo-kentsui-koho- hasami-uchi	both hammer-fists rear scissors strike	hachiji-dachi	chudan
62	ryo-hiji-suhei-kamae	horizontal elbows posture	hachiji-dachi	—
63	ryoken-sonomama	both fists as is	zenkutsu-dachi	—
64	ryosho-kakiwake-uke	both palms wedge block	neko-ashi-dachi	gedan	slow speed
65	ryo-keito-hane-age-uke	both hands chicken-head rising block	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
66*	ryo-otoshi-ippon-nukite	both dropping one-finger spear-hands	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	yori-ashi
67	keito-uke (kitsutsuki-no-kamae)	chicken-head wrist block (woodpecker posture)	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed