OLD KARATE VIDEO CLIPS

Here are some old Karate video clips showing Shotokan kata performed by Japanese Karate masters in the period after WW2. Obviously, these old Shotokan kata videos are not very clear and shown in black and white.

I believe that Karate have undergone many changes through the years and hopefully viewing these old Shotokan kata videos will show us some of the differences between what is considered modern Karate today and those practiced earlier. I don't believe there is such a thing as a perfect kata performance. I think it's more important to understand why changes occurred and what are the benefits or effects of those changes. After viewing these old Karate video clips, it's my view that these Shotokan kata have already undergone significant transformation and are very much similar to the way that the JKA or SKIF Karateka perform their kata today, which is more aesthetic-oriented than bunkai-oriented.

Below are all the old Shotokan kata videos you may download for free. Just RIGHT-CLICK your mouse and select "SAVE TARGET AS..." to save these video clips into your PC for viewing anytime you like.

Bassai Dai - To Penetrate A Fortress Minor

Bassai Sho - To Penetrate A Fortress Major

Kanku Dai - Viewing The Sky Minor

Kanku Sho - Viewing The Sky Major

Hangetsu - Half Moon

Empi - Flying Swallow

Gankaku - Crane On A Rock

Jitte - Ten Hands

Jion - From The Temple Of Jion

Chinte - Strange Hands

Nijushiho - Twenty Four Steps

Sochin - Immovable In The Face Of Danger

Unsu - Hands In The Cloud

That's all for now.  I will continue to search for more old Karate videos showing the old masters such as Chojun Miyagi, Kenwa Mabuni and Choki Motobu performing kata. It's part of my quest to understand deeper how the old masters practice kata to hone their fighting skills. I hope these old Shotokan kata videos would be your authentic guide to the way JKA or SKIF Karateka perform their kata. Please let me know what other old Karate video clips you want through our Feedbacks Form.