Can’t remember you Short Forms? Just want to run through them as a quick work out? Want to explore some advanced variations of ones you can already do. This is the page for you.

Short Forms

Short Forms 1 through 6. All Short Forms are done in mirror image with me saying the correct side of the body for the techniques but doing the opposite so it looks like we are performing the short form in a mirror of each other.

Short Form 7 is the most complicated of all the 13 short forms because it involves a throw that has to be done in a very specific way. It is also difficult to demonstrate without a partner. This one IS NOT Done in mirror image but is instead down from a behind view.

Short Forms 8 through 13. All Short Forms are done in mirror image with me saying the correct side of the body for the techniques but doing the opposite so it looks like we are performing the short form in a mirror of each other.

Short form Variations

For brown belts (or curious color belts), here are two sets of variations of the short forms. These are not required to be learned (YET). This section is a “Work-In-Progress”, and things may change over time. Specially if I find a different variation I like more. Please excuse all spelling a grammar errors. That was always my weak point in school. Videos Coming Soon.

Nage-Waza (Throw Technique) Short Form Variations:

While these variations still use “kata basics”, they are meant to teach a variety of karate (and some modified judo) throws. Similar to bonkai, they still keep the basic elements of the movements of the short forms. Though some of them are dramatically shortened.

  1. Kosoto-Gari: Left pressing block as you left rear foot sweep (Kosoto-Gari). Punch while they are unbalanced.
  2. Kouchi-Gari: Step Right and left punch. As you right punch and left block, step your right foot into either Kouchi-gari or Ouchi-Gari (driving them back).
  3. Osoto-Gari: Left pressing block. Step-drag in right hammer fist (no or minimal bend from uke). Left palm heel strike to head. Right foot steps behind as you right ridge hand at throat/chest level to sweep (Osoto-Gari).
  4. Geki-sai Sweep: Skip step in but realize you are too late to side kick. Instead drop left leg immediately behind their lead right thigh while left shuto-ing across the body (cover head on the way in).
  5. Koshi-Guruma: Right kick to face. Land diagonal with left punch. Step left leg in as you left block and right punch. Left hand grabs the wrist while the right arm wraps around the head. Bring right foot in and hip lift while keeping their arm high (Koshi-Guruma).
  6. Kouchi & Ouchi: Left inside out pressing block as you right Kouchi sweep the incoming leg (even a little is okay). Snap right leg (like a side kick) behind their left leg as you forearm smash the face/neck.
  7. Naihanchi Neck Crank: Left pressing block. Use the left hand to grab the back of the head to help guid your right elbow to the face. Left hand reaches under and passed the jaw as the right reaches over the head, so both hands can grab the back of the neck. Squeeze and crank the neck as you spin the right left backwards. Stomp the groin after they fall.
  8. Anon Dump: All of 8. Right hand lifts the back leg while the left hand pulls down the head.
  9. Sweep the Leg: Fully capture the kick by wrapping the left arm up around it. Step your right leg behind their base leg while simultaneously striking to the head or pushing to the upper chest.
  10. Shuto with Single Leg: Step in with the right open handed outside-in block. Slide right hand up to shuto the neck as your left hand lifts up their front right knee. Optional One-Knuckle punch, and/or kick to the groin on your way out.
  11. Standing Arm-Bar: Simultaneously left pressing block and bring up the right hand to capture the arm. Press the arm to your chest as you backswing away with the right leg. Optional add on: As they start to go down, throw your left leg around and over their head and drop down into a full arm bar.
  12. Behind Face-Rake: Step to the left and right roundhouse kick the stomach. Quickly set down and backspin left side kick to the knee. Grab the face from behind and yank them to the ground.
  13. Seio-Nage: Start with the double shuto (left to wrist and right to neck). Grab the sleeve and collar. Yank the collar across to the opposite shoulder as you slide in for your hip lift (morote seio-nage). If your collar grab slips off, slide the right arm under and around their arm between the elbow and armpit (ippon seoi-nage). Pull the arms forward as you lift the hips to throw them over you. Alternatively, you can drop to your knees while pushing your arms forward (drop seio-nage). 

In Depth Breakdown and Demonstration Video of the Naga Waza Short Forms

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ys-iIBwvt6I

Practical Self-Defense Short Form Variations:

Shorter and simplified versions of the short forms that are meant more for self-defense. All short forms start with both hand up and open, as if you are trying to diffuse the situation by talking the person down. Always end with exiting out. Targets are more suggestions, and you should go for whatever is open.

  1. Minimal Change. Keeps hands. Maybe palm right heel to face instead of punch.
  2. Stays the same. Just keep hands up. No pull back between the punches
  3. Block, right hook to the body, left palm heel to the face, front (left) knee to face, optional right osoto gari to throw them back ward.
  4. Fading side kick.
  5. Right groin kick,  right punch to the head, left to the body, right to the head as you angle out right.
  6. Right knee kick, face kick, optional attack if they are still in range.
  7. (Opponent throws a hook) Duck under and left parry, right hook to the body, left palm heal, right knee to stomach, optional takedown.
  8. (Opponent throws a hook) lunge right leg in while left hand covers the head (optional head butt), at the same time throw a right ridge hand or palm heel to the groin. Left elbow or punch to the head, jump out right as you throw a right hook punch to the head.
  9. (Opponent throws a kick) Small side step to opponent’s open side, counter groin kick
  10.  Double block (back hand open, front in a fist), right forearm strike (axe handle) to jaw or throat, left palm heel, Knee or kick to the groin as you escape.
  11. Opponent grabs left arm. Simultaneously step left foot in while throwing a left cross elbow to the rib (causing a wrist release) and right vertical fist punch to the face.
  12. Step left, right grab the wrist while you right roundhouse kick. Pull in to left punch to the head. If they haven’t pulled the arm back, do a standing armbar.
  13. Double Shuto, right hand grabs the heads while the left palm heels the face, left knee strike, right elbow to head or collar bone.

Breakdown and Quick Practice Video (COMING SOON)