Previously, I wrote about Choun no Kon Dai, the general introduction of which applies here as well. This however is the Sho version as performed in the following video by Heiwa Karate Hawaii.
As previously, I have studied the kata and created the description of the kata you’ll find below, and here is also my copy cat performance. Again I used standard terminology since I am not initiated to the special terminology used in Yamanni-ryu.
Description of the Kata
I. Stand in Musubi-dachi facing to the front. Hold the bō in your right hand, with your right arm hanging down naturally, and the bō tilted downward to the front at about 30°.
II. Bow to the front. While bowing, the bō remains exactly in the previous position and doesn’t move.
III. Announce the name of the kata: “Chōun no Kon Dai!”
IV. Bring your right hand over toward your left hip, and with the bō held horizontally, grip the bō from below with your left hand. Your right hand is on top, and your left hand is below, thus crossing both hands.
V. Once you have gripped with both hands as described in number 4, step forward with your right foot, and immediately follow up with your left foot, to stand in Musubi-dachi again. While doing so, continue to rotate the bō clockwise, take your left arm up with the upper arm vertically at the left side of the head, the left elbow at a right angle, the left forearm horizontally in front of your forehead, and the left hand holding the bō at the side of the left temple. The right hand holds the bō at the right side of the body, with your right arm hanging down naturally. Let go the left hand and support the bō in the previous position, with your right hand and leaned against your right shoulder/armpit. Move the left hand in a large counterclockwise circular motion from the right side of your head up and over to the left side and down to the outer side of your left thigh.
VI. Yōi 1. Raise the right hand with the bō vertically up to a position between your right pelvis and right lower rib. At the same time, synchronously, raise your left open hand up in a large clockwise circular motion from the outer side of your right thigh up and over to the left side of your head to again reach the position with the left forearm horizontally in front of your forehead, and grab the bō at the right side of your head.
VII. Yōi 2. Step back with your right foot, assuming a left forward-bent stance (Zenkutsu-dachi). Hold the left tip of the bō to the front, slightly ascending a few degrees, and the rear of the bō placed at your right upper arm close to the elbow.
Front Lane 1
1. Burst forward with the right foot, with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
2. Burst forward with the left foot while simultaneously shuffling back your right foot, into a left Shiko-dachi, with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
3. Take a full step forward (without shuffle), with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi.
Side Lane 1
4. Turn 90° counterclockwise, to your left, pull your right foot towards your left foot and place the left foot forward in absolute direction left, in a left forward shiko-dachi. Simultaneously, change the grip on the bō and perform a vertical defense (tate-uke). Perform the following combination: Left front strike (shōmen-uchi), upward swing (furi-age-uchi), downward swing (furi-sage-uchi), front strike (shōmen-uchi), and finally assume kamae.
Side Lane 2
5. Turn 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction right, in a right forward shiko-dachi. Simultaneously, change the grip on the bō and perform a vertical defense (tate-uke). Perform the following combination: Right front strike (shōmen-uchi), upward swing (furi-age-uchi), downward swing (furi-sage-uchi), front strike (shōmen-uchi), and finally assume kamae.
Front Lane 2
6. With your right foot in place, turn 90° counterclockwise, to absolute direction front, and burst forward with your left foot, into a left Shiko-dachi, with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
7. Burst forward with the right foot while simultaneously shuffling back your left foot, into a right forward Shiko-dachi, with a right Shōmen-uchi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Rear Lane 1
8. With the right foot as the pivot, turn 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction rear, and place your left foot backward, in a right forward natural stance (hanmi shizen-dachi). Perform a knocking strike to the lower level (gedan tataki-uchi) and immediately burst forward with the right foot, in a right shiko-dachi with a right Shōmen-uchi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
9. Take your left hand to your left ear and your right hand in front of your right chest, so that the bō is positioned about 45° toward absolute direction left.
10. Pull back your right foot to your left foot, in Musubi-dachi, and assume the initial posture of the kata (as described at the end of number VI. Yōi 1).
11. Burst forward with the left foot, into a left Shiko-dachi, with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
12. Take a full right step forward (without shuffle), with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
13. Burst forward with the left foot while simultaneously shuffling back your right foot, into a left Shiko-dachi, with Gedan-uke, and immediately follow-through with a Gedan-nuki.
14. Take a full right step forward (without shuffle), with a Shōmen-uchi, into a right Shiko-dachi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Front Lane 3
15. With the right foot as the pivot, turn 180° clockwise, to your rear, in absolute direction front, and place your left foot backward, in a right forward natural stance (hanmi shizen-dachi). Perform a knocking strike to the lower level (gedan tataki-uchi) and immediately burst forward with the right foot, in a right shiko-dachi with a right Shōmen-uchi, and immediately pull back the front tip to assume kamae.
Finish
I. Take your left hand to your left ear and your right hand in front of your right chest, so that the bō is positioned about 45° toward absolute direction left.
II. Draw back your right foot to your left foot, into Musubi-dachi, and assume the initial position of the bō: Take your left arm up with the upper arm vertically at the left side of the head, the left elbow at a right angle, the left forearm horizontally in front of your forehead, and the left hand holding the bō at the side of the left temple. The right hand holds the bō at the right side of the body, the right hand with the bō held vertically at a position between your right pelvis and right lower rib.
III. Step back with your right foot, and immediately draw back your left foot and attach it to your right foot to stand in Musubi-dachi facing to the front. Simultaneously, rotate the bō counterclockwise until your left hand is under your right armpit, and your right hand down and forward at about 30°. Place your left open hand on your left thigh, and hold the bō in your right hand, with your right arm hanging down naturally, and the bō tilted down and forward at about 30°.
IV. Bow to the front. While bowing, the bō remains exactly in the previous position and doesn’t move.
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