Kanku dai

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Kanku Dai (観空大) (translated as "gazing heavenward" or "viewing the sky" or "contemplating the sky"), is a popular kata in many schools of Karate descended from the Shorin style of karate practiced on Okinawa. Kanku-Dai is also known by the names "Kashanku" or "Kusanku" in Okinawan styles, and in Japanese styles it is sometimes called "Kosokun-Dai." The original name, Kosokun/Kusanku, refers to the name of the Chinese diplomat from Fukien who is believed to have traveled to Okinawa and taught his system of fighting there. The kata was renamed to Kanku-Dai by Funakoshi Gichin during the 1930's while developing the now very popular system of karate known as Shotokan^[1].

Kanku-Dai is an important and ancient kata used in many karate styles. It consists of around 65 movements executed in about 90 seconds, and symbolizes attack and defense against eight adversaries. Kanku dai is the major form of the kata, and the minor form is called Kanku sho. Kanku Dai was one of Sensei Gichin Funakoshi's favorite kata and is a representative kata of the Shotokan system. The Heian kata contain sequences taken from this kata, as a result of Sensei Itosu's effort to enable easier understanding and ability to improve practice of Kanku dai^[2].