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.
BASSAI DAI
Penetrate the Fortress - big
BASSAI DAI
Penetrate the Fortress - big
Kata performed by Kurihara Kazuaki
Some of the Key Moves:
- Gyaku-hanmi (reverse hip position)
- Fumikomi (stomping step)
- Tate-shuto-uke (vertical knife hand block)
- Soete-uchi-uke (added hand inside block)
- Ryosho-tsukami-uke (both palms grasping block)
- Sukui-uke (scooping block)
- Morote-age-uke (double rising block)
- Soto-uke (outside block)
- Uchi-uke (inside block)
- Yama-zuki (mountain punch)
- Mikazuki-geri (crescent kick)
BASSAI DAI
the kata in practice
BASSAI DAI
the kata in practice
The Kata in practice
Greet slowly in musubi-dachi position.
Announce the kata: "Bassai-dai".
Yoi : In heisoku-dachi position, left hand wrapping the right fist, arms out stretched in front of you.
1 - Hidari morote-uke: raise the right knee and leap forward, resting the right foot on the ground in the kosa-dachi position. At the same time, perform a double inside-outside right block ( morote-uke ), the left hand reinforcement of the right forearm.
2 - Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: Turn the head to the left, extend the left leg back by crossing the left hand in front of you, under the right arm. Perform a mid-level left-to-outside block ( uchi-ude-uke ) by swiveling the pelvis to the left in zenkutsu-dachi position, the right fist in hikite.
3 - Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, make a blocking of the right arm level medium ( uchi-ude-uke ), from the inside towards the outside, with a strong rotation of the hips. The right shoulder is brought forward and the hips are in front, always in zenkutsu-dachi position, the left fist in hikite.
4 - Hidari chudan soto-uke: Pivot 180 ° by executing a medium-level left inside-outside block ( soto-uke ) in zenkutsu-dachi position, the right fist in hikite.
5 - Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, make a blocking of the middle right arm (uchi-ude-uke ), from inside to outside, with a strong rotation of the hips. The right shoulder is brought forward and the bust is 3/4, still in zenkutsu-dachi position , the left fist in hikite.
6 - Migi gedan sukui-uke / Migi chudan soto-uke:
( 6A ) Group the right foot on the left foot by rotating 90 ° to the right, bending the knees.At the same time, run a descending spoon block ( sukui-uke ).
( 6B ) Then raise the right fist on the right side of the head.
( 6C ) Perform a mid-level right - sided blocking ( soto-uke ) in the zenkutsu-dachi position ,the left fist in hikite.
7- Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, make a blocking of the middle left arm (uchi-ude-uke ), from the inside to the outside, with a strong rotation of the hips. The left shoulder is brought forward and the bust is 3/4, always in zenkutsu-dachi position , the right fist in hikite.
8 - Migi koshi-kamae / Hidari chudan tate-shuto-uke: Bring the left foot inward towards the right foot in the hachiji-dachi position, while bringing the left fist vertical on the right fist in hikite at the hip right.
On the spot, slowly make a blockage of the saber of the left hand in front of you, average level, from the outside towards the inside in a circle of circle ( tate-shuto-uke ) the right fist in hikite.
9- Migi chudan choku-zuki: On the spot, give a direct right punch to the middle level (choku-zuki ), in position hachiji-dachi, the left fist in hikite.
10 - Migi chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, always in position hachiji-dachi, execute a right blocking at the middle level, from the inside towards the outside ( uchi-ude-uke ), by pivoting powerfully the pelvis towards left. The right leg extends, and the left knee flexes slightly.
11- Hidari chudan choku-zuki: On the spot, give a direct left punch on the middle level (choku-zuki ), in position hachiji-dachi, the right fist in hikite.
12 - Hidari chudan uchi-ude-uke: On the spot, always in position hachiji-dachi, execute a blocking left at the middle level, from the inside towards the outside ( uchi-ude-uke ), by pivoting powerfully the pelvis towards the right. The left leg extends, and the right knee bends slightly.
13 - Migi chudan shuto-uke: Advance the right foot in the starting axis of the kata, inkokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking of 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, inkokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking of 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, inkokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking of the saber of the right hand at the middle level ( shuto-uke ).
16 - Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Retreat the right foot in the starting axis of the kata, inkokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking of the sword of the left hand at the middle level ( shuto-uke ).
17 - Shift the right foot into a moto-dachi position. At the same time, extend the right hand forward, palm up, right elbow under the left hand (same position as for the previous block). Lower the right hand to the right, with a slow movement in an arc, pivoting it downwards, the left hand resting on the right hand, the 2 palms are directed downwards. The pelvis also rotates.
18 - Migi gedan-sokuto-fumikomi: Raise your right knee in the triangle formed by arms and chest. Powerfully lower the right foot to deliver a penetrating shot from the right foot saber to the lower level ( sokuto-fumikomi ). At the same time, close your fists by pulling them towards you above the right hip (grasping / pulling both hands). The bust is in profile.
KIAÏ !!!
19 - Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Retract the leg that just hit, rotate the bust 180 degrees in the other direction, and rest the foot on the ground in the direction of the kick inkokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blockage of the saber from the left hand to the middle level ( shuto-uke ).
20 - Migi chudan shuto-uke: Advance the right foot in kokutsu-dachi position, while doing a saber blocking of the right hand at the middle level ( shuto-uke ).
21 - Jodan morote-age-uke: Group the right foot against the left foot in heisoku-dachiposition, knees slightly bent, elbows to the hips. Hands are open, touching each other, palms facing the sky. Raise your arms by extending your legs and bending your elbows out by wrapping your forearms. As you climb, close your fists and keep them close to each other ( morote-age-uke ).
22 - Chudan tettsui-hasami-uchi: Spread the forearms outward at the same time as you raise your right knee. Rest the right foot in front of you in zenkutsu-dachi position . At the same time, lower your fists in front of you, along 2 circular trajectories to perform a medium-level scissor hammer punch ( tettsui-hasami-uchi ).
23 - Migi chudan oï-zuki: Stay in zenkutsu-dachi positionand push on the left foot to propel you forward (yori-ashi) of about 1/2 step. At the same time, wear a straight, middle level ( oï-zuki )right elongated punch.
24 - Hidari nagashi-uke / Migi gedan nukite: Turn your head to the left to look behind you, at the same time as you do a descending block of the edge of the left hand low level, in your back. Complete the rotation by 180 ° to the left and move to the left zenkutsu-dachi position, while carrying a descending attack in right hand spike ( nukite ). Simultaneously, perform a high-level left-sweeping block ( nagashi-uke ).
25 - Manji-uke: Retreat the left foot to apply it against the right foot in heisoku-dachiposition, while turning the pelvis 90 ° to the right. Raise your right arm behind you and extend your left arm down to lock up / down ( manji-uke ).
26 - Migi yoko-fumikomi / Migi gedan-barai: Swivel 180 ° to the left on the left foot, raising powerfully the right knee. Get off in kiba-dachi positionwith a crushing kick to the side ( yoko-fumikomi ) and a downward blocking of the right arm ( gedan-barai ), left fist in hikite.
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 medium hand ( haishu-uke ) backhand stroke, while the right fist comes in hikité. This movement is slow and in deep inspiration.
28 - Migi chudan mikazuki-geri / Migi empi-uchi: As soon as the left hand is immobilized, chained with a crescent kick, from the flat of the right foot in the left hand remained open, by turning 180 ° on the left foot ( mikazuki-geri ). Rest the right foot in the direction of the kick in kiba-dachi position. At the same time, wear a straight fore- elbow against the left palm ( empi-uchi ).
29 - Migi gedan-barai / Hidari gedan-barai / Migi gedan-barai: On the spot, proceeddirectly by lowering the right fist ( gedan-barai ), the left fist in contact with the right elbow, always in kiba-dachi position .
Immediately afterwards, go straight by lowering the left fist ( gedan-barai ), the right fist in contact with the left elbow.
And finally, chained directly by lowering the right fist ( gedan-barai ), the left fist in contact with the right elbow.
30 - Hidari koshi-kamae / Yama-zuki: Turn the head to the right by slightly moving the right foot back to arrive in zenkutsu-dachi position. At the same time, pull the fists above the left hip, right fist standing above the left fist in hikite ( koshi-kamae ). Then hit 2 fists simultaneously ( yama-zuki ), the left fist on the face and the right fist on the middle level.At the arrival of the technique, the 2 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 the 2 fists above the right hip, left fist standing above the right fist in hikite( koshi-kamae ).
32 - Hidari fumikomi / Yama-zuki: Lift up the left knee and carry a crushed left kick (fumikomi ) by sweeping the space in front of you, rest the foot in zenkutsu-dachi position ,while simultaneously striking 2 fists ( yama-zuki ), the right fist at the level of the face and the left fist at the middle level. At the arrival of the technique, the 2 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 heisoku-dachi position, 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: Lift up the right knee and carry a right crushed kick (fumikomi ) by sweeping the space in front of you, rest the foot in zenkutsu-dachi position ,while simultaneously striking 2 fists ( yama-zuki ), the left fist at the level of the face and the right fist at the middle level. At the arrival of the technique, the 2 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 a 90 ° arc. Put the foot in zenkutsu-dachi position. The right fist describes a large circular movement from the left shoulder to achieve a blocking spoon ( sukui-uke ). The left fist is positioned in hikité.
36 - Hidari gedan sukui-uke: Pivot on both feet to the right. The left fist describes a large circular movement from the right shoulder to achieve a blocking spoon (sukui-uke). The right fist is positioned in hikité.
37 - Migi chudan shuto-uke: Turn the head 45 ° to the right, regroup the left foot against the right foot and advance the right foot at a 45 ° angle to the right in kokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking the cutting edge of the right hand at the middle level (shut-uke).
38 - Shuto-uke: Turn the head 90 ° to the left, slowly move the right foot 90 ° backwards always in kokutsu-dachi position, the upper body keeping the same position (shuto-uke) to this rear direction.
39 - Hidari chudan shuto-uke: Bring the right foot under your right shoulder, then advance the left foot in kokutsu-dachi position, while performing a blocking of the cutting edge of the left hand (shuto-uke).
KIAÏ !!!
Yame, in heisoku-dachi position (feet together), left hand wrapping your right fist, arms out stretched in front of you but slightly bent.
