The table below shows the development of the official WKF kata between 2012 and 2020.
To explain it briefly: Until 2012, JKF/WKF kata were assigned to the four major styles of Japanese karate, namely Shito, Shotokan, Goju, and Wado. Then, from Januar 2013, the JKF/WKF had terminated the style assignment. As a result, the number of kata increased from 60 in 2012 to 89 in 2013 and to 102 in 2020.
As can be seen in the left column (WKF Kata until 2012), there are many kata of Ryuei-ryu, Matsubayashi-ryu and probably other Okinawan schools. These kata were included under the classification of Shito-ryu since around the 1970s and have since been technically and terminologically manipulated. In other words, there are many kata that were pilfered from other schools, while at the same time these schools of origin could not participate under JKF/WKF rules except they adjusted to the manipulated techniques. That brought about some bad blood since the 1980s, but since the JKF/WKF are too big to fail, and since youth loves it, and since there are so many Japanese and Okinawan beneficiaries, the whole thing blew over.
By eliminating the style assignment since 2013, the process was continued, as can be seen in the increase of kata shown in the table. In this way, while the JKF/WKF ostensibly “abolished the styles,” they actually created a new unified style of karate with its own aesthetics and technical logic. In a sense, it is the culmination of around 150 years of sport in Japan since the idea entered from the West during the early Meiji era.
Well, I am not judging this and actually I can enjoy watching it every now and then. In the end, everybody wants to create and improve autonomously and self-determined, and – honestly – that’s what everybody does. I mean, who in the world loves heteronomous activities?
However, I will add though that it was the above described system of false labeling in combination with technical manipulation that bestowed Japan (including Okinawa) tons of gold medals, international fame, money, careers, hot spouses, and free soba. Seen from the perspective of athletes and coaches, one can hardly blame any of them for not protesting, especially because they never knew better and also – why would they care? Naturally, the industry’s succcesses made the Japanese and Okinawans proud, so the results are considered to be very good. Besides, and this is a big plus, it brought children and women into the limelight, which is particularly delectable because this is about a martial art, and it is about Japan, so equality points count double.
On the flip side, the huge decade-long manipulation scheme carried out using immense resources and institutional trench warfare – some Japanese seniors were against it – goes diametrically against The Budō Charter (Budō Kenshō), where it is said that:
However, a recent trend towards infatuation just with technical ability compounded by an excessive concern with winning is a severe threat to the essence of budō.
In any case, it might be compared to watching the Tour de France: everybody knows they are cheating. It is just, other sports are internationally open under the same rules. But in Japan, they only manipulate among themselves. While I enjoy following sports every now and then, and while the Japanese and Okinawans worked incredibly hard and were immensely successful on so many karate levels, there remains a tiny voice calling for at least a tiny bit of poetic justice.
| WKF Kata until 2012 | WKF Kata from 2013 | WKF Kata 2020 |
| 1. Annan (Shitō) | 1. Anan | 1. Anan |
| 2. Anan Dai | 2. Anan Dai | |
| 2. Annanko (Shitō) | 3. Annanko | 3. Ananko |
| 3. Aoyagi/Seiryu | 4. Aoyagi | 4. Aoyagi |
| 5. Bassai | ||
| 4. Bassai Dai (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 5. Bassai Dai | 6. Bassai Dai |
| 5. Bassai Sho (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 6. Bassai Sho | 7. Bassai Sho |
| 6. Chatanyara Kushanku (Shitō) | 7. Chatanyara Kushanku | 8. Chatanyara Kusanku |
| 9. Chibana no Kushanku | ||
| 7. Chinte (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 8. Chinte | 10. Chinte |
| 8. Chinto (Shitō, Wadō) | 9. Chinto | 11. Chinto |
| 9. Enpi (Shotōkan) | 10. Enpi | 12. Enpi |
| 11. Fukygata 1 | 13. Fukygata Ichi | |
| 12. Fukygata 2 | 14. Fukygata Ni | |
| 10. Gankaku (Shotōkan) | 13. Gankaku | 15. Gankaku |
| 14. Garyu | 16. Garyu | |
| 15. Gekisai 1 | 17. Gekisai 1 | |
| 16. Gekisai 2 | 18. Gekisai 2 | |
| 11. Gojushiho (Shitō) | 17. Gojushiho | 19. Gojushiho |
| 12. Gojushiho Dai (Shotōkan) | 18. Gojushiho Dai | 20. Gojushiho Dai |
| 13. Gojushiho Sho (Shotōkan) | 19. Gojushiho Sho | 21. Gojushiho Sho |
| 14. Hakucho (Shitō) | 20. Hakucho | 22. Hakucho |
| 15. Hangetsu (Shotōkan) | 21. Hangetsu | 23. Hangetsu |
| 22. Haufa | 24. Haufa (Haffa) | |
| 23. Heian 1 | 25. Heian Shodan | |
| 24. Heian 2 | 26. Heian Nidan | |
| 25. Heian 3 | 27. Heian Sandan | |
| 26. Heian 4 | 28. Heian Yondan | |
| 27. Heian 5 | 29. Heian Godan | |
| 16. Heiku (Shitō) | 28. Heiku | 30. Heiku |
| 29. Ishimine Bassai | 31. Ichimine Bassai | |
| 30. Itosu Rohai 1-3 | 32. Itosu Rohai Shodan | |
| 33. Itosu Rohai Nidan | ||
| 34. Itosu Rohai Sandan | ||
| 17. Jiin (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 31. Jiin | 35. Jiin |
| 18. Jion (Shitō, Shotōkan, Wadō) | 32. Jion | 36. Jion |
| 19. Jitte (Shitō, Shotōkan, Wadō) | 33. Jitte | 37. Jitte |
| 20. Jyuroku (Shitō) | 34. Jyuroku | 38. Juroku |
| 35. Kanchin | 39. Kanchin | |
| 21. Kanku Dai (Shotōkan) | 36. Kanku Dai | 40. Kanku Dai |
| 22. Kanku Sho (Shotōkan) | 37. Kanku Sho | 41. Kanku Sho |
| 38. Kanshu | 42. Kanshu | |
| 43. Kishimoto no Kushanku | ||
| 23. Kushanku (Wadō) | 39. Kosokun (Kushanku) | 44. Kousoukun |
| 25. Kosokun Dai (Shitō) | 41. Kosokun (Kushanku) Dai | 45. Kousoukun Dai |
| 26. Kosokun Sho (Shitō) | 42. Kosokun (Kushanku) Sho | 46. Kousoukun Sho |
| 27. Kururunfa (Shitō, Gōjū) | 43. Kururunfa | 47. Kururunfa |
| 44. Kusanku | 48. Kusanku | |
| 49. Kyan no Chinto | ||
| 50. Kyan no Wanshu | ||
| 28. Matsukaze (Shitō) | 45. Matsukaze | 51. Matsukaze |
| 29. Matsumura Bassai (Shitō) | 46. Matsumura Bassai | 52. Matsumura Bassai |
| 47. Matsumura Rohai | 53. Matsumura Rohai | |
| 30. Meikyo (Shotōkan) | 48. Meikyo | 54. Meikyo |
| 49. Myojo | 55. Myojo | |
| 32. Naifanchin I (Shitō) | 50. Naifanchin I | 56. Naifanchi Shodan |
| 33. Naifanchin II (Shitō) | 51. Naifanchin II | 57. Naifanchi Nidan |
| 34. Naifanchin III (Shitō) | 52. Naifanchin III | 58. Naifanchi Sandan |
| 31. Naihanchi (Wadō) | 59. Naihanchi | |
| 35. Nijushiho Sho (Shotōkan) | 53. Nijushiho | 60. Nijushuiho |
| 36. Nipaipo (Shitō) | 54. Nipaipo | 61. Nipaipo |
| 37. Niseishi (Shitō, Wadō) | 55. Niseishi | 62. Niseishi |
| 56. Ohan | 63. Ohan | |
| 64. Ohan Dai | ||
| 65. Oyadomari no Passai | ||
| 38. Pachu (Shitō) | 57. Pachu | 66. Pachu |
| 39. Paiku (Shitō) | 58. Paiku | 67. Paiku |
| 40. Papuren (Shitō) | 59. Papuren | 68. Papuren |
| 41. Passai (Wadō) | 60. Passai | 69. Passai |
| 61. Pinan 1 | 70. Pinan Shodan | |
| 62. Pinan 2 | 71. Pinan Nidan | |
| 63. Pinan 3 | 72. Pinan Sandan | |
| 64. Pinan 4 | 73. Pinan Yondan | |
| 65. Pinan 5 | 74. Pinan Godan | |
| 42. Rohai (Shitō, Wadō) | 66. Rohai | 75. Rohai |
| 43. Saifa (Shitō, Gōjū) | 67. Saifa (Saiha) | 76. Saifa |
| 44. Sanchin (Shitō, Gōjū) | 68. Sanchin | 77. Sanchin |
| 78. Sansai | ||
| 69. Sanseiru | 79. Sanseiru | |
| 45. Sanseru (Shitō, Gōjū) | 70. Sanseru | 80. Sanseru |
| 71. Seichin | 81. Seichin | |
| 46. Seiyunchin (Shitō, Gōjū) | 72. Seienchin | 82. Seienchin (Seiyunchin) |
| 47. Seipai (Shitō, Gōjū) | 73. Seipai | 83. Seipai |
| 74. Seirui | 84. Seiryu | |
| 85. Seishan | ||
| 48. Seisan (Shitō, Gōjū, Wadō) | 75. Seisan (Seishan) | 86. Seisan (Sesan) |
| 24. Kosokun Shiho (Shitō) | 40. Kosokun Shiho | 87. Shiho Kousoukun |
| 76. Shinpa | 88. Shinpa | |
| 77. Shinsei | 89. Shinsei | |
| 50. Shisochin (Shitō, Gōjū) | 78. Shisochin | 90. Shisochin |
| 51. Sochin (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 79. Sochin | 91. Sochin |
| 52. Suparimpei (Shitō, Gōjū) | 80. Suparinpei | 92. Suparinpei |
| 53. Tekki I (Shotōkan) | 81. Tekki I | 93. Tekki Shodan |
| 54. Tekki II (Shotōkan) | 82. Tekki II | 94. Tekki Nidan |
| 55. Tekki III (Shotōkan) | 83. Tekki III | 95. Tekki Sandan |
| 56. Tensho (Shitō, Gōjū) | 84. Tensho | 96. Tensho |
| 57. Tomari Bassai (Shitō) | 85. Tomari Bassai | 97. Tomari Bassai |
| 58. Unshu/Unsu (Shitō, Shotōkan) | 86. Unsu (Unshu) | 98. Unshu |
| 99. Unsu | ||
| 87. Useishi (Gojushiho) | 100. Useishi | |
| 59. Wankan (Shotōkan) | 88. Wankan | 101. Wankan |
| 60. Wanshu (Shitō, Wadō) | 89. Wanshu | 102. Wanshu |
Sources:
World Karate Federation. Kata and Kumite Competition Rules Revision 7.1. Effective from 1.1.2012. APPENDIX 8: WKF TOKUI KATA LIST. Main List of Katas (Tokui) of the World Karate Federation (WKF). Page 50 – 51.
World Karate Federation. Kata and Kumite Competition Rules Revision 9.0. Effective from 1.1.2015. APPENDIX 5: CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION. Official kata list. Page 28.
World Karate Federation. Karate Competition Rules. Effective from 1.1.2020. ARTICLE 5: CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION. 5.1 Official kata list. Page 38.
© 2020, Andreas Quast. All rights reserved.