| Fukyugata | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fukyu, Gekisai |
| Martial art | Karate |
| Place of origin | Okinawa, Japan |
| Creator | Shoshin Nagamine and Chojun Miyagi |
Fukyugata is the name of kata practiced in many styles of Okinawan karate, particularly Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu. There are two sets of Fukyugata. These kata were developed by Shoshin Nagamine (Matsubayashi-ryu) and Chojun Miyagi (Goju-ryu).[1] They were developed as beginner kata because the more traditional kata were too difficult for beginners.
In some styles of karate, the kata are known as Fukyu. In Goju-ryu, the second Fukyugata is referred to as Gekisai ichi.
In 1940, these kata were commissioned by the special committee of Okinawa Karate-Do under General Hayakawa, then governor of Okinawa Prefecture, to be taught to the Okinawan school children.
A third set of Fukyugata was composed by Sensei Ansei Ueshiro in 1960, consisting of 17 movements. The Shorin-Ryu Okinawan Karate Question and Answer Book, written by William Cummins and Robert Scaglione, describes this kata as "characterized by techniques emphasizing speed, combinations and strong, low stances."