Tekki Sandan. Asai sensei

Tekki Sandan. Asai sensei — Tetsuhiko Asai performing Shotokan kata. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #kata

Asai Tetsuhiko sensei explains Sen no Sen, Go no Sen

Asai Tetsuhiko sensei explains Sen no Sen, Go no Sen — Seminar footage featuring Tetsuhiko Asai, founder of Asai-Ryu karate. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #seminar

搬运 浅井哲彦先生打卷藁稽古

搬运 浅井哲彦先生打卷藁稽古 — Seminar footage featuring Tetsuhiko Asai, founder of Asai-Ryu karate. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #seminar

Karate Classic | ASAI TETSUHIKO Shihan in Shanghai (China) 2004

Karate Classic | ASAI TETSUHIKO Shihan in Shanghai (China) 2004 — Seminar footage featuring Tetsuhiko Asai, founder of Asai-Ryu karate. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #seminar

This seminar recording from Shanghai captures Asai teaching in front of a large group, and it is best watched as a lesson rather than a performance. Notice how he moves between explanation and demonstration: a principle is stated, then shown at full speed, then broken down again slowly. Pay attention to his footwork between techniques — the steps are short, grounded, and always leave him balanced and ready to move again. Watch also how he uses the whole floor, changing direction without losing rhythm, and how his breathing stays even while the tempo rises. For students, the value of this footage is in the transitions: the moments between techniques show how Asai connected basics, form, and free application into one continuous way of moving.

Asai Tetsuhiko. Bassai dai shotokan kata

Asai Tetsuhiko. Bassai dai shotokan kata — Tetsuhiko Asai performing Shotokan kata. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #kata

 

Bassai Dai is one of Shotokan's major kata, built around powerful, decisive technique: strong blocks, driving forward movement, and a clear contrast between slow, loaded preparation and explosive release. In this performance, watch the stances first — the long forward stances must stay low and stable while the hips drive each technique. Notice the rhythm: the kata is not performed at one speed, and the pauses are part of the technique, giving each block and strike its full weight. Pay attention to the turns and direction changes, where balance is easiest to lose, and to how the hands work together, one hand guarding while the other strikes. The closing movements should land with the same power and precision as the opening ones, which is the real test of control in this kata.

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Jitte | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Джитте

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Jitte | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Джитте — Tetsuhiko Asai performing Shotokan kata. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #kata

Jitte is a compact kata with a distinctive character: its techniques are close, direct, and built around strong stick-like blocks and short, sharp strikes. Watch the hands closely in this performance — the double blocks and the characteristic bo-style movements need both arms working as one unit, with no slack between them. The stances stay compact and rooted, and the power comes from the hips rather than from the arms alone. Notice the tempo: Jitte moves in short bursts, with clear stops that frame each technique. The kiai points and the final movements should carry the same focus as the opening, showing control from the first step to the last.

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Kanku Dai | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Канку Дай

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Kanku Dai | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Канку Дай — Tetsuhiko Asai performing Shotokan kata. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #kata

Kanku Dai is the longest of the classical Shotokan kata and one of the most complete: it moves through long stances, jumps, fast combinations, and slow, controlled passages. In this performance, watch the famous opening — the hands rising slowly to form the triangle — and how the same calm focus carries into the explosive techniques that follow. The jumps demand height without losing posture, and the landings must arrive already balanced, ready for the next movement. Notice the changes of direction: Kanku Dai turns through every angle, and the feet must arrive precisely under the body each time. The final section should feel as fresh and controlled as the first, which is what makes this kata such a demanding test of stamina and concentration.

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Empi | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Эмпи

Tetsuhiko Asai - kata karate Shotokan Empi | Тетсухико Асаи - ката Эмпи — Tetsuhiko Asai performing Shotokan kata. Preserved as part of the Asai karate video collection.

#karate #asairyu #shotokan #kata

Empi is one of the most dynamic kata in Shotokan, famous for its leaps, fast turns, and the sudden drop to the floor that gives the form its character. Watch how the performer builds speed through the opening sections, then launches into the jumps without any visible preparation or hesitation. The low positions after the jumps matter as much as the jumps themselves: the body must arrive low, stable, and ready to strike. Notice the elbow techniques and close-range strikes that punctuate the kata — they are short, sharp, and driven by the hips. The rhythm changes constantly in Empi, and the performance should feel like a series of bursts rather than one steady pace.