WKF Official Kata List – Development 2012 | 2013 | 2020

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. 

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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 2012WKF Kata from 2013WKF Kata 2020
1. Annan (Shitō)1. Anan1. Anan
 2. Anan Dai2. Anan Dai
2. Annanko (Shitō)3. Annanko3. Ananko
3. Aoyagi/Seiryu4. Aoyagi4. Aoyagi
  5. Bassai
4. Bassai Dai (Shitō, Shotōkan)5. Bassai Dai6. Bassai Dai
5. Bassai Sho (Shitō, Shotōkan)6. Bassai Sho7. Bassai Sho
6. Chatanyara Kushanku (Shitō)7. Chatanyara Kushanku8. Chatanyara Kusanku
  9. Chibana no Kushanku
7. Chinte (Shitō, Shotōkan)8. Chinte10. Chinte
8. Chinto (Shitō, Wadō)9. Chinto11. Chinto
9. Enpi (Shotōkan)10. Enpi12. Enpi
 11. Fukygata 113. Fukygata Ichi
 12. Fukygata 214. Fukygata Ni
10. Gankaku (Shotōkan)13. Gankaku15. Gankaku
 14. Garyu16. Garyu
 15. Gekisai 117. Gekisai 1
 16. Gekisai 218. Gekisai 2
11. Gojushiho (Shitō)17. Gojushiho19. Gojushiho
12. Gojushiho Dai (Shotōkan)18. Gojushiho Dai20. Gojushiho Dai
13. Gojushiho Sho (Shotōkan)19. Gojushiho Sho21. Gojushiho Sho
14. Hakucho (Shitō)20. Hakucho22. Hakucho
15. Hangetsu (Shotōkan)21. Hangetsu23. Hangetsu
 22. Haufa24. Haufa (Haffa)
 23. Heian 125. Heian Shodan
 24. Heian 226. Heian Nidan
 25. Heian 327. Heian Sandan
 26. Heian 428. Heian Yondan
 27. Heian 529. Heian Godan
16. Heiku (Shitō)28. Heiku30. Heiku
 29. Ishimine Bassai31. Ichimine Bassai
 30. Itosu Rohai 1-332. Itosu Rohai Shodan
  33. Itosu Rohai Nidan
  34. Itosu Rohai Sandan
17. Jiin (Shitō, Shotōkan)31. Jiin35. Jiin
18. Jion (Shitō, Shotōkan, Wadō)32. Jion36. Jion
19. Jitte  (Shitō, Shotōkan, Wadō)33. Jitte37. Jitte
20. Jyuroku (Shitō)34. Jyuroku38. Juroku
 35. Kanchin39. Kanchin
21. Kanku Dai (Shotōkan)36. Kanku Dai40. Kanku Dai
22. Kanku Sho (Shotōkan)37. Kanku Sho41. Kanku Sho
 38. Kanshu42. Kanshu
  43. Kishimoto no Kushanku
23. Kushanku (Wadō)39. Kosokun (Kushanku)44. Kousoukun
25. Kosokun Dai (Shitō)41. Kosokun (Kushanku) Dai45. Kousoukun Dai
26. Kosokun Sho (Shitō)42. Kosokun (Kushanku) Sho46. Kousoukun Sho
27. Kururunfa (Shitō, Gōjū)43. Kururunfa47. Kururunfa
 44. Kusanku48. Kusanku
  49. Kyan no Chinto
  50. Kyan no Wanshu
28. Matsukaze (Shitō)45. Matsukaze51. Matsukaze
29. Matsumura Bassai (Shitō)46. Matsumura Bassai52. Matsumura Bassai
 47. Matsumura Rohai53. Matsumura Rohai
30. Meikyo (Shotōkan)48. Meikyo54. Meikyo
 49. Myojo55. Myojo
32. Naifanchin I (Shitō)50. Naifanchin I56. Naifanchi Shodan
33. Naifanchin II (Shitō)51. Naifanchin II57. Naifanchi Nidan
34. Naifanchin III (Shitō)52. Naifanchin III58. Naifanchi Sandan
31. Naihanchi (Wadō) 59. Naihanchi
35. Nijushiho Sho (Shotōkan)53. Nijushiho60. Nijushuiho
36. Nipaipo (Shitō)54. Nipaipo61. Nipaipo
37. Niseishi (Shitō, Wadō)55. Niseishi62. Niseishi
 56. Ohan63. Ohan
  64. Ohan Dai
  65. Oyadomari no Passai
38. Pachu (Shitō)57. Pachu66. Pachu
39. Paiku (Shitō)58. Paiku67. Paiku
40. Papuren (Shitō)59. Papuren68. Papuren
41. Passai (Wadō)60. Passai69. Passai
 61. Pinan 170. Pinan Shodan
 62. Pinan 271. Pinan Nidan
 63. Pinan 372. Pinan Sandan
 64. Pinan 473. Pinan Yondan
 65. Pinan 574. Pinan Godan
42. Rohai (Shitō, Wadō)66. Rohai75. Rohai
43. Saifa (Shitō, Gōjū)67. Saifa (Saiha)76. Saifa
44. Sanchin (Shitō, Gōjū)68. Sanchin77. Sanchin
  78. Sansai
 69. Sanseiru79. Sanseiru
45. Sanseru (Shitō, Gōjū)70. Sanseru80. Sanseru
 71. Seichin81. Seichin
46. Seiyunchin (Shitō, Gōjū)72. Seienchin82. Seienchin (Seiyunchin)
47. Seipai (Shitō, Gōjū)73. Seipai83. Seipai
 74. Seirui84. Seiryu
  85. Seishan
48. Seisan (Shitō, Gōjū, Wadō)75. Seisan (Seishan)86. Seisan (Sesan)
24. Kosokun Shiho (Shitō)40. Kosokun Shiho87. Shiho Kousoukun
 76. Shinpa88. Shinpa
 77. Shinsei89. Shinsei
50. Shisochin (Shitō, Gōjū)78. Shisochin90. Shisochin
51. Sochin (Shitō, Shotōkan)79. Sochin91. Sochin
52. Suparimpei (Shitō, Gōjū)80. Suparinpei92. Suparinpei
53. Tekki I (Shotōkan)81. Tekki I93. Tekki Shodan
54. Tekki II (Shotōkan)82. Tekki II94. Tekki Nidan
55. Tekki III (Shotōkan)83. Tekki III95. Tekki Sandan
56. Tensho (Shitō, Gōjū)84. Tensho96. Tensho
57. Tomari Bassai (Shitō)85. Tomari Bassai97. Tomari Bassai
58. Unshu/Unsu (Shitō, Shotōkan)86. Unsu (Unshu)98. Unshu
  99. Unsu
 87. Useishi (Gojushiho)100. Useishi
59. Wankan (Shotōkan)88. Wankan101. Wankan
60. Wanshu (Shitō, Wadō)89. Wanshu102. 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.

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