Hangetsu - 半月
It is said that Sokon Matsumura learned this kata during one of his journeys to China. Like many Shotokan kata, Hangetsu can be found in other styles of karate as well, and with several variations. The JKA version has 41 counts. This kata in particular is believed to be one of the oldest, and it is common particularly in the Naha-te school. Other styles of karate tend to use the kata’s original name of Seisan - 十三 (or Seishan), which means “13”. Some say the number 13 refers to the original number of steps of the kata, others believe it refers to the number of different techniques found in the kata. These theories have no historical ground. Funakoshi Gichin changed the kata’s name to Hangetsu, meaning “Half-Moon,” describing the semi-circular movements of the hands and feet during the kata’s beginning sequence. Although many kata have these same circular movements (i.e. step in zenkutsu-dachi), the half-moon sliding motions of the feet tend to be a little larger and more pronounced when performing hangetsu stance. The half-moon shape is also seen at the end of the kata, with the leg and hand movements during the uraken-uchi, and of course, with the mikazuki-geri.
Hangetsu is a very unique kata within the Shotokan system. It is an internal kata, focusing on the cultivation and release of ki energy, or one’s inner force. The kata’s main stance, hangetsu-dachi, is an inner tension stance that only appears in this kata and nowhere else (hence the name of the stance). As such, it tends to be a very under-developed stance that is rarely practised. Most of the kata’s slow moves are executed with atypical tension and isometric contraction. Emphasis is on strong breathing and muscular contraction of the legs, buttocks, and abdominals. Some instructors in other styles teach the slow moves with ibuki breathing (hard, forceful breathing accompanied by throat contraction). However, this is not the norm for Shotokan schools and is much more common in styles like Goju-ryu. Quite simply, Hangetsu is meditation in motion, with the aim of developing one’s ki. Bunkai involve close range fighting in which the hangetsu stance is used to move in between an opponent’s legs (or around them) to break their balance.
| Kyodo | Technique | Translation | Stance | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 2 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 3 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 4 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 5 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 6 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 7 | ryo-jishi-ippon-ken-kamae | both one-knuckle fists posture | hangetsu-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 8 | ryo-jishi-ippon-ken-morote-zuki | both one-knuckle fists double-hand punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 9 | kaisho-yama-kamae | hands open mountain posture | hangetsu-dachi | jodan | slow speed |
| 10 | ryosho-kakiwake-kamae | both palms wedge posture | hangetsu-dachi | gedan | slow speed |
| 11* | uchi-uke/ gedan-uke |
inside block/ down block |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan/ gedan |
|
| 12 | tsukami-uke (koko-uke) |
grasping block (tiger-mouth block) |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 13 | uchi-uke/ gedan-uke |
inside block/ down block |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan/ gedan |
|
| 14 | tsukami-uke (koko-uke) |
grasping block (tiger-mouth block) |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 15 | uchi-uke/ gedan-uke |
inside block/ down block |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan/ gedan |
|
| 16 | tsukami-uke (koko-uke) |
grasping block (tiger-mouth block) |
hangetsu-dachi | chudan | slow speed |
| 17 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 18 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 19 | tsuki (choku-zuki) | punch (straight punch) | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 20 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | yori-ashi |
| 21 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 22 | tsuki (choku-zuki) | punch (straight punch) | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 23 | uchi-uke | inside block | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | yori-ashi |
| 24 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 25 | tsuki (choku-zuki) | punch (straight punch) | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 26 | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical backfist strike | kokutsu-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 27 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | – | – | slow speed kosa-ashi |
| 28 | mae-geri/ ken-kata-ue |
front kick/ fist above shoulder |
ashi-dachi | chudan/ – |
|
| 29 | gedan-zuki | downward punch | hangetsu-dachi | gedan | |
| 30 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 31 | age-uke | rising block | hangetsu-dachi | jodan | |
| 32 | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical backfist strike | kokutsu-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 33 | jotai-sonomama | upper body as is | – | – | slow speed kosa-ashi |
| 34 | mae-geri/ ken-kata-ue |
front kick/ fist above shoulder |
ashi-dachi | chudan/ – |
|
| 35 | gedan-zuki | downward punch | hangetsu-dachi | gedan | |
| 36 | gyaku-zuki | reverse punch | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | |
| 37 | age-uke | rising block | hangetsu-dachi | jodan | |
| 38 | uraken-tate-mawashi-uchi | vertical backfist strike | kokutsu-dachi | – | slow speed |
| 39 | mikazuki-geri | crescent kick | ashi-dachi | chudan | |
| 40* | tsuki (gyaku-zuki) | punch (reverse punch) | hangetsu-dachi | chudan | zenkutsu variation gedan variation |
| 41 | ryo-teisho-awase-uke (gassho-uke) |
palm-heels combined block (joined palm block) |
neko-ashi-dachi | gedan | slow speed yori-ashi |