Taikyoku Nidan

Quick Facts

About the kata

Taikyoku Nidan is the second kata of the Taikyoku series. According to the English Wikipedia, it differs from Taikyoku Shodan in one respect: strikes at the middle level, chudan, are replaced by strikes at the upper level, jodan. The path keeps its I shape, with the low block gedan barai and the oi-zuki strike in a forward step. Shotokan-karatedo.org counts 20 steps with seven turns, all in the front stance zenkutsu dachi. Sources disagree on exactly where the strikes go. Shotokan-karatedo.org, for the version demonstrated by Johan Oldenkamp, keeps the sideways strikes at the middle level and sends only the forward and backward strikes to the upper level. Jaap Kooman, on the Kyokushin Taikyoku Sono Ni, states instead that all strikes go to the upper level, and the Wikipedia entry for Shotokan says the same. According to Jaap Kooman, Taikyoku Sono Ni is tested for 9th kyu in Kyokushin. The New Zealand Wellington Karate Academy, whose grading follows Shotokan, requires Taikyoku Shodan and Nidan together for 9th kyu. Shotokan-karatedo.org places the kata among the preparatory forms meant to simplify the principles of the Heian katas.

The kata in different styles

Meaning of the name

According to shotokan-karatedo.org, Nidan (二段) means "second level"; the same site translates Taikyoku (太極) as "supreme peak", referring to the Chinese concept of taiji. Katastepbystep.com renders the whole name as "Grand Ultimate – Second Level".

Differences between styles

Kyokushin practises the kata as Taikyoku Sono Ni; the English Wikipedia calls it essentially identical to the Shotokan version. Go-Kan-Ryu, as Taigyoku Nidan, practises a different form: on movements 2, 4, 10, 12, 18 and 20 it uses gyaku-zuki on the spot with a forward mae-geri keage kick, and in the middle triples (6-8 and 14-16) a mae-geri keage kick landing into an oi-zuki at the middle level. In the Ten Chi Kenpo version, age uke is held up throughout and the strike always goes to the upper level (jodan seiken zuki); the stepping pattern stays the same as in Taikyoku Shodan.

Rhythm and dynamics

Jaap Kooman places the kiai on the third, last strike of each group of three. Mark Loftus's Shotokan breakdown (katastepbystep.com) places it on movements 8 and 16, at the end of both straight sections of the path.

Technique Sequence — Shotokan

Breakdown source: katastepbystep.com

1. #1
   Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(L)
2. #2
   Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
3. #3
   Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(R)
4. #4
   Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(L)
5. #5
   Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(L)
6. #6
   Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
7. #7
   Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(L)
8. #8
   Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
   kiai
9. #9
   Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(L)
10. #10
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
11. #11
    Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(R)
12. #12
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(L)
13. #13
    Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(L)
14. #14
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
15. #15
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(L)
16. #16
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
    kiai
17. #17
    Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(L)
18. #18
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(R)
19. #19
    Zenkutsu DachiGedan Barai(R)
20. #20
    Zenkutsu DachiOi Zuki(L)