Bassai Dai - バッサイ大
Bassai (pronounced Patsai - 拔塞 - in Okinawan) is most often translated as “To Penetrate a Fortress,” meaning that one must exhibit the power and spirit required to break through an enemy’s castle. This is particularly evident in the kata’s first movement, when the karateka launches forward with soete-uchi-uke. The word Dai - 大 - means “big,” describing the kata’s larger movements, contrary to its counterpart Bassai Sho. Bassai, Kanku, and Gojushiho are the three Shotokan kata that each have two versions, a Sho - 小 - version (small) and a Dai - 大 - version (big). Most translators agree that Bassai can more accurately be translated as “To Extract From a Fortress.” Bassai Dai is believed to have been created by Sokon Matsumura. Much of the bunkai focuses on breaking the opponent’s balance and defences against grabbing attacks. Like many Shotokan kata, Bassai Dai is practised in many styles of karate, having several variations. The JKA version has 42 movements.
Bassai Dai is usually the first Sentei kata to be learned and is the most popular choice as tokui kata by 1st kyu examinees for black belt. It is characterized by many switching arm-blocking combinations, making effective use of the hanmi/gyaku-hanmi positions. Performance of gyaku-hanmi in Bassai Dai is substantially more difficult than in H2 because in Bassai, the front stance should not be shortened to accommodate gyaku-hanmi. Many techniques are seen for the first time in this kata such as tate-shuto-uke, sukui-uke, and hasami-uchi. The ryosho-tsukami-uke & gedan-sokuto-kekomi combination is unique to Bassai kata (both versions), while the powerful yama-zuki can only be found in Bassai Dai and Wankan. It is interesting to note that one of the most basic blocking techniques, chudan-soto-uke, is first used in this kata, and then never seen again.
| Kyodo | Technique | Translation | Stance | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | soete-uchi-uke (bassai-uke) |
added hand inside block | kosa-dachi | chudan | |
| 2 | uchi-uke | inside block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 3 | uchi-uke | inside block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | gyaku-hanmi |
| 4 | soto-uke | outside block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | gyaku-hanmi |
| 5 | uchi-uke | inside block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 6 | sukui-uke & soto-uke |
scooping block & outside block |
zenkutsu-dachi | gedan chudan |
sukui natural speed |
| 7 | uchi-uke | inside block | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | gyaku-hanmi |
| 8 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | hachiji-dachi | – | natural speed |
| 9 | tate-shuto-uke | vertical knife-hand block | hachiji-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 10 | tsuki (choku-zuki) | punch (straight punch) | hachiji-dachi | chudan | |
| 11 | uchi-uke | inside block | hizakutsu | chudan | |
| 12 | tsuki (choku-zuki) | punch (straight punch) | hachiji-dachi | chudan | |
| 13 | uchi-uke | inside block | hizakutsu | chudan | |
| 14 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 15 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 16 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 17 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 18 | ryosho-tsukami-uke (bassai-uke) |
both palms grasping block | ashi-zenkutsu | chudan | slow speed gyaku-hanmi |
| 19* | sokuto-kekomi/ ryosho-tsukamiyose |
sword-foot thrust kick/ both palms grasping-pulling |
ashi-dachi | gedan/ – |
|
| 20 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 21 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 22 | morote-age-uke | double-hand rising block | heisoku-dachi | jodan | natural speed |
| 23 | ryo-kentsui-hasami-uchi | both hammer-fists scissors strike | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 24 | tsuki | punch | zenkutsu-dachi | chudan | yori-ashi |
| 25 | soto-nagashi-uke/ shuto-uchikomi & gedan-uke/ uchi-uke (manji-uke) |
outside flowing block/ sword-hand thrusting strike & down block/ inside block (swirling block) |
ashi-zenkutsu/ ashi-zenkutsu & heisoku-dachi/ heisoku-dachi |
jodan/gedan & gedan/jodan |
manji-uke slow speed |
| 26 | gedan-barai/ fumikomi |
down block/ stomp kick |
kiba-dachi | gedan | |
| 27 | kake-uke | hooking block | kiba-dachi | chudan | slow speed haishu variation |
| 28 | mikazuki-geri & mae-enpi-uchi |
crescent kick & front elbow strike |
ashi-dachi kiba-dachi |
chudan/ – |
|
| 29 | gedan-uke/ zenwan-mune-kamae |
down block/ forearm chest posture |
kiba-dachi | gedan chudan |
|
| 30 | gedan-uke/ zenwan-mune-kamae |
down block/ forearm chest posture |
kiba-dachi | gedan chudan |
|
| 31 | gedan-uke/ zenwan-mune-kamae |
down block/ forearm chest posture |
kiba-dachi | gedan chudan |
|
| 32 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | ashi-zenkutsu | – | |
| 33 | yama-zuki | mountain punch | ashi-zenkutsu | jodan/gedan | |
| 34 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | heisoku-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 35 | yama-zuki | mountain punch | ashi-zenkutsu | jodan/gedan | |
| 36 | ryoken-koshi-kamae | both fists hip posture | heisoku-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 37 | yama-zuki | mountain punch | ashi-zenkutsu | jodan/gedan | |
| 38 | sukui-uke | scooping block | hizakutsu | gedan | |
| 39 | sukui-uke | scooping block | hizakutsu | gedan | |
| 40 | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 41 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | kokutsu-dachi (gyaku-kokutsu) |
chudan | slow speed |
| 42* | shuto-uke | knife-hand block | kokutsu-dachi | chudan |