Bassai Sho - バッサイ小

Another one of Itosu Yasutsune’s “second editions,” Bassai Sho is the smaller version of “Penetrating a Fortress”, having fewer movements and a slightly smaller frame than its predecessor, Bassai Dai. Since there exist many different versions of Bassai kata, it is uncertain which one Itosu used as a model for Bassai Sho. It is entirely possible that Bassai Sho is simply one of the different versions of Bassai and was imported by Itosu. In either case, Bassai Sho is similar to Bassai Dai in its embusen and style of movement. While Bassai Dai is a very heavy kata that uses very large movements to demonstrate outer strength and power, the smaller techniques of Bassai Sho should exhibit an inner calm and energy.

Many of the kata’s applications involve defenses against stick attacks. The kata uses many grasping (tiger-mouth) blocks to that effect. Although Bassai Sho contains standard techniques found in other kata, they are performed is a very unusual manner. For example, using the back of the hand for awase-uke, or performing double tsukami-uke vertically. New adaptations for previously learned techniques are prevalent in Bassai Sho. The kata has a total count of 27 and, although at one time the kiai points were on moves #17 and #25 (Best Karate #9), presently they are on moves #17 and #22.

Kyodo	Technique	Translation	Stance	Target	Notes
1	ryosho-koho-awase-uke & ryosho-juji-awase-uke	pressing block behind & combined backhand block	– & kosa-dachi	– & jodan
2	ryosho-bo-uke & suihei-bo-dori	both palms stick block & horizontal stick grab	kokutsu-dachi	jodan & –	suihei slow speed
3	haito-sukui-uke & gedan-barai	ridgehand scooping block & down block	heisoku-dachi	gedan & gedan
4	ryosho-bo-uke & suihei-bo-dori	both palms stick block & horizontal stick grab	kokutsu-dachi	jodan & –	suihei slow speed
5	ryote-koshi-kamae	both hands on hip posture	heisoku-dachi	–	top hand stays open
6	haito-yoko-mawashi-uchi/ yoko-geri-keage	sideways ridge-hand strike/ side snap kick	ashi-dachi	jodan chudan
7	tate-shuto-uke	vertical knife-hand block	kiba-dachi	chudan	slow speed
8	tsuki (choku-zuki)	punch (straight punch)	kiba-dachi	chudan
9	tsuki (choku-zuki)	punch (straight punch)	kiba-dachi	chudan
10	uchi-uke/gedan-uke (manji-uke)	inside block/down block (swirling block)	kokutsu-dachi	jodan/gedan
11	uchi-uke/gedan-uke (manji-uke)	inside block/down block (swirling block)	kokutsu-dachi	jodan/gedan
12	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
13	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
14	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
15	shuto-uke	knife-hand block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
16	ryosho-tsukami-uke (bassai-uke)	both palms grasping block	ashi-zenkutsu	chudan	slow speed left hand fingers over right forearm
17*	sokuto-kekomi/ ryosho-tsukamiyose	sword-foot thrust kick/ both palms grasping-pulling	ashi-dachi	gedan/ –
18	ryoken-kakiwake-uke	both fists wedge block	kokutsu-dachi	chudan
19	ryoken-ura-zuki	both fists inverted punch	kokutsu-dachi	jodan	yori-ashi
20	soto-uke/deashi-barai & ryoken-koshi-kamae & morote-sokumen-zuki	outside block/foot sweep & both fists on hip posture & double-hand punch to side	ashi-dachi & ashi-dachi & kiba-dachi	jodan & – & chudan
21	kentsui-uchi-mawashi-uchi	inside hammer-fist strike	kiba-dachi	chudan
22*	oi-zuki	lunge punch	zenkutsu-dachi	chudan
23	soto-uke/deashi-barai & ryoken-koshi-kamae & morote-sokumen-zuki	outside block/foot sweep & both fists on hip posture & double-hand punch to side	ashi-dachi & ashi-dachi & kiba-dachi	jodan & – & chudan
24	soto-uke/deashi-barai & ryoken-koshi-kamae & morote-sokumen-zuki	outside block/foot sweep & both fists on hip posture & double-hand punch to side	ashi-dachi & ashi-dachi & kiba-dachi	jodan & – & chudan
25	soto-uke/deashi-barai & ryoken-koshi-kamae & morote-sokumen-zuki	outside block/foot sweep & both fists on hip posture & double-hand punch to side	ashi-dachi & ashi-dachi & kiba-dachi	jodan & – & chudan
26	ryosho-tsukami-uke	both palms grasping block	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed
27	ryosho-tsukami-uke	both palms grasping block	neko-ashi-dachi	chudan	slow speed