Tekki Nidan

Tekki Shodan

The second and third Tekki kata are generally considered to be Free Kata rather than Required Kata for examination purposes. Rarely do karateka learn the second and third Tekki kata early in their training. The first Tekki kata is required not only for most 3rd kyu examinations, but also for elimination kata competition in most Shotokan tournaments.

The second Tekki Kata is very rhythmical compared to the other two Tekki. Properly performed, this simple kata can be very interesting and dynamic to an observer.

Another technical difference between Tekki Sandan and Tekki Shodan and Nidan is the way in which the blocking and covering action is performed (the most distinctive technique in

Tekki). The elbows are drawn together rather than the forearms.

鉄騎弐段

Tekki Nidan

Directions

1. Natural Stance - Unlike the first Tekki with it's interesting opening posture, this kata begins in the natural stance. Start with the feet hips width apart pointing outward just a little. Relax the arms at the sides. Hold the fists lightly - don't squeeze them. You should be relaxed.

Tekki Nidan

2. Double Elbow Raise - Step across with the left foot over the right. As you do this, pull both fists upward so that they are facing palm down. Increase tension and decelerate as you move. Finish the technique with the elbows pointing outward to the sides and the fists in front of the breasts.

3. Double Arm Block - Step upward so that the foot and knee arc upward and across finishing as the right leg in a horse riding stance. As the knee comes up, put the fists together over forehead height, and put the elbows together as well. As the leg comes down, burst this posture apart and block outward in a sort of convoluted wedge block. The right arm should block inside outward to the right with the right fist overhand. The left arm should finish in a hook punch position, even though you did not throw a hook punch. 4. Supported Lower Level Block - Inside - Step across with the left foot again. As you step across, pull the right fist back and across the front of the lower body in a sweeping outside inward block to the lower level. The left hand should be placed on the right elbow with the thumb wrapped underneath the right arm. Bring the right fist all the way to the left knee. 5. Supported Lower Level Block - Outside - Step out with the right foot into a horse riding stance by keeping the foot very close to the floor. As you step out, block outward to the right with the right arm. Continue to keep the fist palm away from the body. The result should be a lower level inside block. The left arm remains on the right elbow to support the block. 6. Double Eblow Raise - Look left and pull the left foot to the right so that you stand up into the closed feet stance. Straighten the knees so that they do not bend visibly.

As you stand up, pull the fists up to the breasts as before, and point the elbows outward. Decelerate and add tension as you do this. 7. Double Arm Block - Step upward with the left foot so that the foot and knee arc upward and across finishing as the left leg in a horse riding stance. As the knee comes up, put the fists together over forehead height, and put the elbows together as well.

As the leg comes down, burst this posture apart and block outward in a sort of convoluted wedge block. The left arm should block inside outward to the left with the left fist overhand. The right arm should finish in a hook punch position, even though you did not throw a hook punch. 8. Supported Lower Level Block - Inside - Step across with the right foot. As you step across, pull the left fist back and across the front of the lower body in a sweeping outside inward block to the lower level. The right hand should be placed on the left elbow with the thumb wrapped underneath the left arm. Bring the left fist all the way to the right knee. 9. Supported Lower Level Block - Outside - Step out with the left foot into a horse riding stance by keeping the foot very close to the floor. As you step out, block outward to the left with the left arm. Continue to keep the fist palm away from the body. The result should be a lower level inside block. The right arm remains on the left elbow to support the block. 10. Fist in Hand - Look to the right. Draw the left arm strongly back into a vertical open hand with the palm toward the body. As you pull the hand in, place the right fist

Tekki Nidan

into the palm of the hand. The technique finishes much like the opening sequence of

Enpi. 11. Supported Inside Block - Inside block directly from the previous posture to the right 45° angle. You can throw the block a little further to the right, if you prefer. The palm of the left hand slides around the fist until it the open left hand is firmly pressed against the outside of the right wrist as if to support. 12. Hand Over Fist - Look straight ahead. Draw the right hand back strongly in a fist.

Slide the left open hand over the fist so that you end up in a position where it is as if you are punching into your left palm and both hands are at your left waist. At the same time you are pulling back, raise the right knee strongly to the front as if to front snap kick, but do not kick - just raise the knee. Keep the foot close to the body. The knee raise should peak as the drawing of the right hand finishes. As you set the right foot back down where it came from in a horse riding stance, strike horizontally with the right elbow to chest height. Your fist should still be in your left hand. Your hands should be in front of the middle of your chest on this technique. Your right shoulder reaches forward.

13. Grasping Block - Look right. From its current position, reach up with the right open hand with the thumb out and arc it over until it is fully extended to the right side at shoulder height. This action happens almost entirely at the elbow. There is a small shoulder motion, but for the most part, the elbow does the work. This is not a vertical sword hand strike. Begin the motion quickly, then decelerate and add tension as it progresses. Draw the left arm back slowly. 14. Hook Punch - Draw the right arm back as you hook punch with the left. The forearm should angle slightly downward. The left fist should not extend beyond the edge of the right side of the torso. From above, the hook punch should be seen to describe a nice rectangle in front of the body. 15. Inside Block - Step across with the left foot. Pause slightly as the left foot touches the floor. Turn to look straight ahead. Lift the right knee and perform the arcing knee-lift stomping step so that when you finish, you are in a horse riding stance again. After the foot begins its descent, reach across the body with the left arm to fold for an inside block. Nakayama recommended that you do not move the right arm out to participate in the folding action. Some people are reverse engineering this action back into the kata. Inside block strongly with the left arm as you finish the stomp. 16. Sweeping Blocks - Downward block with the left arm. The right arm should come up beside the head so that the right fist is pointing palm down at the top of the head. 17. Close Punch - Bring the left arm up so that it is back in the hook punch position, but you do not hook punch. Strike forward and down with the right arm so that the elbow rests on the back of the left wrist. The right fist should be palm upward and at your own throat height. Kiai on this technique. 18. Fist in Hand - Look to the left. Draw the right arm strongly back into a vertical open hand with the palm toward the body. As you pull the hand in, place the left fist into the palm of the hand. The technique finishes much like the opening sequence of

Enpi.

Tekki Nidan

19. Supported Inside Block - Inside block directly from the previous posture to the left 45° angle. You can throw the block a little further to the left, if you prefer. The palm of the right hand slides around the fist until it the open right hand is firmly pressed against the outside of the left wrist as if to support. 20. Hand Over Fist - Look straight ahead. Draw the left hand back strongly in a fist.

Slide the right open hand over the fist so that you end up in a position where it is as if you are punching into your right palm and both hands are at your left waist. At the same time you are pulling back, raise the left knee strongly to the front as if to front snap kick, but do not kick - just raise the knee. Keep the foot close to the body. The knee raise should peak as the drawing of the left hand finishes. As you set the left foot back down where it came from in a horse riding stance, strike horizontally with the left elbow to chest height. Your fist should still be in your right hand. Your hands should be in front of the middle of your chest on this technique. Your left shoulder reaches forward.

21. Grasping Block - Look left. From its current position, reach up with the left open hand with the thumb out and arc it over until it is fully extended to the left side at shoulder height. This action happens almost entirely at the elbow. There is a small shoulder motion, but for the most part, the elbow does the work. This is not a vertical sword hand strike. Begin the motion quickly, then decelerate and add tension as it progresses. Draw the right arm back slowly. 22. Hook Punch - Draw the left arm back as you hook punch with the right. The forearm should angle slightly downward. The left fist should not extend beyond the edge of the left side of the torso. From above, the hook punch should be seen to describe a nice rectangle in front of the body. 23. Inside Block - Step across with the right foot. Pause slightly as the right foot touches the floor. Turn to look straight ahead. Lift the right knee and perform the arcing knee-lift stomping step so that when you finish, you are in a horse riding stance again. After the foot begins its descent, reach across the body with the right arm to fold for an inside block. Nakayama recommended that you do not move the left arm out to participate in the folding action. Some people are reverse engineering this action back into the kata. Inside block strongly with the right arm as you finish the stomp. 24. Sweeping Blocks - Downward block with the right arm. The left arm should come up beside the head so that the left fist is pointing palm down at the top of the head. 25. Close Punch - Bring the right arm up so that it is back in the hook punch position, but you do not hook punch. Strike forward and down with the left arm so that the elbow rests on the back of the right wrist. The left fist should be palm upward and at your own throat height. Kiai on this technique. 26. Finish - Finish by standing up drawing the right foot back into the natural stance.

Tekki Nidan