Kata Bookset

Bookset might be my favorite kata. It's dramatic, doesn't require great kicks or dexterity and has alot of interesting moves and details. There are four videos here: one of an elegant third degree black belt...check out how amazing she is....then, there's an instructional performance by Mr Vince where he talks you through the steps slowly and explaining the details, then  one of me as a green belt (please note, that was a long time ago, I'm better now but people keep asking why there aren't any videos of me so I put that one up), ....And a final one in which Kathy performs. There's also a photo of a good horse stance.
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Jennifer M making it look elegant and easy!


Taisho -KataWhen you bow, you also bend the knees slightly.

Others - Kata, showing right fist by rotating it up in front of the chest (like its a weapon)
Taisho - Bookset
Others - Bookset, covering right fist with left open hand (as if we were covering the weapon), turning it forward and down, bowing, aheasa

Mr. Vince explaining each and every move!




the end of the bow, the two hands are pulled back to the right side with the right handle in chamber and the left hand resting on it. The hands are in the catstance position (but the legs are together slightly bent at the knees.




Look left, karate chop to the left, tia
Pull left hand back to your side putting the hand in a claw-like posture (kewsal? quesqu? - I'm looking for info on the name and significance of this hand position) and then with slow tension push it forward saying "ehhhhh" as you go.

Then, punch forward with right pulling left back into chamber, tia, look right, karate chop right, tia, then putting the hand into claw, pull it back to your side and push it forward saying "ehhhhh" as you go.



punch forward left, pulling right into chamber
punch forward right, pulling left into chamber
right backfist forward, aheasa

Pull your hands into chamber.
Work your feet from together to at least shoulder length apart by doing a toe,heal, toe

double hands down and cross (X block down - crossing hands in front of groin with hands like karate chops) - tia
Xblock up - tia
bring hands down to chest level keeping them close to the body, then double chop spreading arms wide - tia
with slow tension pull then in, then forward, pull right hand down into chamber.

Heres three punches forward as follows:
look forward up, punch forward and up with right
look forward, punch forward with left,
look forward down, punch down with right, aheasa

Here's two odd slow tension hand movements forward with steps and punches as follows:
look forward, step forward with left leg into horsestance pull right hand back to chamber, put left hand into kewsal claw position placing it on the right side of your neck, swing your left hand forward to where its way in front of you, pull it back to chamber punching with your right, shifting into hard bow forward (back leg straight, front leg bent)

then, put your left hand in knife hand position reaching under your right arm pit. Step forward with the right foot with the right foot pointed out to the right while bringing your left knife hand forward and pulling your right into chamber. Step forward with left into horse stance, then shift to hardbow while punching again with the right and pulling left back into chamber.

step back with the right left foot into a sideways-facing horsestanc e while striking forward with the right elbow (hitting it onto your open left hand)

step up to feet together while still facing left with the body but looking forward and chopping forward with with the right.

side kick forward, left punch forward falling into left knee down, right knee up.

Step back into horsestance with the right foot back with a left downward block - tia
Then punch right.

Repeat other way: Step back into horsestance with the left foot back with a right downward block - tia
then punch left



catstance but with legs together and right hand ontop of left in chamber
rolling back fist to the right with the right
punch with left hand to right pulling left into chamber

small adjustment step back with the left foot as you chop forward with the left shifting to a hardbow right

punch forward right (hardbow to the left)
punch forward left (hardbow to the right)
kick with the left leg finishing in a dramatic hard bow to the left with the right punch forward. pause.

push off your bent left leg for a big circle set to the right

hand in fist, bow, double punch forward into position stepping leg into shoulder width apart.