- This Traditional Taekwondo form is also used in Shotokan Karate. There may be differences between the Taekwondo version and the Karate version of this form.
The Rōhai kata are a family of kata practiced in some styles of karate. The name translates approximately to "vision of a Crane" or "vision of a heron". The kata originated from the Tomari-te school of Okinawan martial arts. It was called Matsumora Rōhai, after Kosaku Matsumora, who was presumably its inventor. Ankō Itosu later took this kata and developed three kata from it: Rōhai shodan, Rōhai nidan, and Rōhai sandan. In Shorin-ryū/ Matsubayashi-ryū this kata introduces Gedan Shotei Ate (Lower/Downward Palm Heel Smash) and Ippon Ashi Dachi. (One Leg Stance) It contains a sequence of Tomoe Zuki (Circular Punch) exactly the same as the one in Bassai, although the ending of the sequence chains into Hangetsu Geri/Uke (Half Moon Kick/Block)
In modern Karate, some styles teach all three kata (such as Shito ryu). However, other styles employ only one of them as a kata (such as Wadō-ryū, which teaches Rōhai shodan as Rōhai). Gichin Funakoshi, founder of Shotokan, redeveloped and renamed Rōhai as Meikyo (明鏡), literally "bright mirror", often translated as "mirror of the soul." Meikyo is a combination of all three different Rōhai kata, containing elements of each. In Tang Soo Do and Soo Bahk Do, practitioners have added a board (or brick) breaking element to the form, which can be performed using either a downward punch or palm strike.
Video[]
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Diagram[]
This diagram is copyright John B. Correljé and is used with permission. Terms and conditions are available at http://sites.google.com/site/tangsoodochonkyong
Written Instructions[]
See: http://www.trinityshotokan.com/documents/meikyo.html
See Also[]
Many of the forms often used in Traditional Taekwondo are included in the following table. In developing his Moo Duk Kwan curriculum, Hwang Kee assigned symbols, listed below, to many of the forms.
Family / Origin | Forms |
---|---|
Basic beginner forms developed by Hwang Kee in 1947. | |
Later variants of the beginner forms, developed by the World Tang Soo Do Association; these emphasize earlier training in kicking. |
Sae Kye Hyeong Il Bu |
Pyung Ahn forms, also called Pinan and Heian forms. From Shotokan Karate, developed approx. 1870 as beginner forms. Symbol: The Tortoise |
Pyung Ahn Cho-Dan |
Naihanchi forms, from Shotokan Karate. Also called Chul-Gi, Keema, and Tekki. Symbol: The Horse | |
Bassai forms, Escaping the Fortress, also called Pal-Sek. Adapted into Shotokan Karate but originally from Kung Fu. Symbol: The Cobra |
Bassai Sho |
Adapted from Shotokan Karate. Symbol: The Crane |
Jin Do |
From the karate form Kūsankū. Symbol: The Eagle | Kong-Sang-Koon |
From the karate form Enpi. Symbol: The Bird | Wang Shu (also called Empi) |
From the karate form Seisan. Symbol: The Preying Mantis | Sei-Shan |
Ji-On forms, adapted from Shotokan Karate. |
Ji-On, Symbol: The Ram |
From the karate form Gojūshiho. Symbol: The Tiger |
O Sip Sa Bo (also called Gojūshiho) |
Adapted by Hwang Kee from Kung Fu and T'ai Chi. | |
Chil Sung, the Seven Stars developed by Hwang Kee in approx. 1952 |
Chil Sung Il Ro |
Yook Ro, the Six-Fold Path developed by Hwang Kee in approx. 1958, inspired by the Muye Dobo Tongji. |
Yook Ro Cho Dan - Du Mun |
See Taekwondo Forms for additional information.