Gekisai sho
Name
Gekisai sho (撃砕小) means the smaller form of attacking, breaking through or crushing. Sho means small/lesser. It expresses determination, mobility, timing, direction and controlled power. Some modern sources use other kanji; Galaz Dojo chooses 撃砕小, with 砕 explicitly expressing crushing/breaking, and keeps the title Gekisai sho.
Introduction
The second Gekisai form develops Dai’s principles with more stance transitions, open hands, kicks/Uraken, Kake-dachi, Nekoashi-dachi and a circular finish. It has its own compact, mobile character, combining strong thrusts, slow ibuki, quick kicks, controlled crossed landings and active rear-weighted hand control. Preserve hard/soft transitions without splitting the form or becoming rigid.
Historical background
The Gekisai forms belong to modern Okinawan kata development and Gōjū-ryū, especially Chōjun Miyagi and standardised forms for broader teaching. Kyokushin transmits them through Masutatsu Oyama and his Gōjū contacts, particularly training with Nei-Chu So. Describe the history cautiously: Okinawan, Fukyū-kata and Gōjū connections predate their Kyokushin role. They develop southern principles of close/compact work, strong breathing and hard/soft transitions. The source also names Sōshin Nagamine in the broader Fukyū-kata/Okinawan background; this does not establish a single simple origin for every modern Gekisai version.
Place in the system
Group: southern / higher kata. Level: intermediate to advanced intermediate. First establish Gekisai dai, Sanchin/ibuki, Kokutsu, Zenkutsu, Kiba, circular shuto, Haitō/Shōtei, recovered high side kicks, lateral Uraken, Kake, Nekoashi, kime and zanshin. Combine defence/counter in one count, controlled open hands, kick/Uraken coordination, stable landings, parallel double thrusts and an active Nukite/mawashi finish.
Technical profile
The table gives 20 main teaching counts for the selected sequence.
Group: southern / higher kata. Level: intermediate to advanced intermediate. First establish Gekisai dai, Sanchin/ibuki, Kokutsu, Zenkutsu, Kiba, circular shuto, Haitō/Shōtei, recovered high side kicks, lateral Uraken, Kake, Nekoashi, kime and zanshin. Combine defence/counter in one count, controlled open hands, kick/Uraken coordination, stable landings, parallel double thrusts and an active Nukite/mawashi finish.
Kiai: 10 on Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki after Jōdan mae geri and Jōdan uke, not on the kick; 16 on Seiken morote heikō chūdan tsuki in Kake-dachi. Kiai marks gathering and does not replace kime.
Technical character
Opening Uchi uke/Gyaku tsuki in Kokutsu and Jōdan uke/Gyaku tsuki in Zenkutsu unite defence and counter. Kiba/Gedan barai leads to three slow Haitō/ibuki and quick low-shuto groups. The middle uses Mae geri/Jōdan uke/Gyaku with kiai, combined Uchi uke/Gedan barai, circular shuto and three Yoko geri/Uraken/Gyaku sequences. Later Mae geri leads to Kake and parallel double punches; Kokutsu and Nekoashi then support Haitō, Ura yonhon nukite and final Mae mawashi uke/ibuki.
Embusen and technical diagram
Diagram unavailable: The embusen diagram described in the source is absent from this edition. Follow the directions and movement sequence in the text.
The compact varied pattern uses 45° directions and 90°/180° turns, side/diagonal movement, kicking, Kake and Nekoashi. Check the first 90° Kokutsu turn, Zenkutsu/Kiba transitions, ibuki, front-kick/block/counter, circular shuto, all three side-kick groups, crossed landing, Nekoashi control, final ibuki and Musubi return. No extra adjustment steps.
Stances
Fudō/Musubi/Yoi-Hachiji: formal readiness/preparation. Kokutsu: active rear-weighted Uchi uke, circular shuto and control. Zenkutsu: forward Jōdan uke, Gyaku and post-kick techniques. Kiba: stable lateral Gedan barai and Haitō/low-shuto ibuki, supporting slow force and quick completion. Kake: controlled crossed landing with Morote heikō chūdan tsuki, not a decorative jump. Nekoashi: light, controlled, active finishing Haitō, Nukite and Mae mawashi uke.
Principal techniques
- Seiken uchi uke / Chūdan gyaku tsuki: inward defence and immediate middle counter in Kokutsu. Seiken jōdan uke / Chūdan gyaku tsuki: high protection and middle counter in Zenkutsu, shoulders low and centre clear. Seiken gedan barai: low deflection/downward control.
- Haitō chūdan uchi uke: slow ibuki inner control of neck/arm/middle line. Shutō gedan barai: quick downward shuto control/cutting after Haitō in Kiba.
- Jōdan mae geri: high front kick with clear knee lift and recovery, opening for block/counter and later Kake. Jōdan yoko geri / Uraken yoko jōdan uchi: simultaneous or directly linked side kick/head-level strike to two lines or after a turn; recover before stable Zenkutsu/Gyaku counter.
- Shutō mawashi uke: structured rear-weighted circular control in Kokutsu. Seiken morote heikō chūdan tsuki: two parallel middle-level fists on controlled Kake landing with kiai.
- Haitō / Chūdan ura yonhon nukite: close control and directed gathered open-hand thrust in Nekoashi. Mae mawashi uke: final circular control with ibuki and zanshin. Waki no kamae actively prepares kicks/Uraken; hikite gathers technical completion.
Start and finish
Begin Fudō-dachi facing shinden. At mokusō, gather to Musubi-dachi and mokusō position. On Gekisai sho, open the eyes and await yoi. Enter Yoi/Hachiji-dachi with ibuki according to dojo standard. In mugōrei, continue without counts after hajime. The table has 20 main teaching counts, with formal commands described separately. Count 20 returns to Musubi-dachi while retaining mokusō. Naore: Fudō-dachi. Yasume: rest.
Movement sequence
The following teaching sequence supports practice and revision according to the selected Galaz Dojo/modern Kyokushin standard; it does not replace dojo instruction.
| No. | Direction | Stance | Technique | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Turn 90° left | Hidari kokutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken uchi uke / migi seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Move the left foot behind and turn 90° anticlockwise into Hidari kokutsu-dachi. Block Hidari uchi uke and punch Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 2 | Forwards | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi seiken jōdan uke / hidari seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Advance into Migi zenkutsu-dachi. Block Migi jōdan uke and punch Hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 3 | Turn 90° right | Kiba-dachi | Hidari seiken gedan barai | Retract the right foot and turn 90° clockwise into Kiba-dachi. Block Hidari gedan barai. |
| 4 | Turn 180° right | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi seiken uchi uke / hidari seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Pivot on the left foot, retract the right foot and turn clockwise into Migi kokutsu-dachi. Block Migi uchi uke and punch Hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 5 | Forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari seiken jōdan uke / migi seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki | Advance into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi. Block Hidari jōdan uke and punch Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 6 | Turn 90° left | Kiba-dachi | Migi seiken gedan barai | Retract the left foot and turn 90° anticlockwise into Kiba-dachi. Block Migi gedan barai. |
| 7 | 45° anticlockwise | Kiba-dachi | Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke / migi shutō gedan barai, ibuki | Keep the left foot in place and move the body 45° anticlockwise into Kiba-dachi. Slowly block Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke with ibuki, immediately followed by quick Migi shutō gedan barai. |
| 8 | 90° anticlockwise forwards | Kiba-dachi | Hidari haitō chūdan uchi uke / hidari shutō gedan barai, ibuki | Advance 90° anticlockwise into Kiba-dachi. Slowly block Hidari haitō chūdan uchi uke with ibuki, immediately followed by quick Hidari shutō gedan barai. |
| 9 | 90° clockwise forwards | Kiba-dachi | Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke / migi shutō gedan barai, ibuki | Advance 90° clockwise into Kiba-dachi. Slowly block Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke with ibuki, immediately followed by quick Migi shutō gedan barai. |
| 10 | 45° anticlockwise / forwards | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan mae geri / hidari seiken jōdan uke / migi seiken chūdan gyaku tsuki, kiai | Retain the hands, turn the body 45° anticlockwise and kick Hidari jōdan mae geri. Place the foot in Hidari zenkutsu-dachi, block Hidari jōdan uke and punch Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki with kiai. |
| 11 | Same direction | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Migi seiken uchi uke / hidari seiken gedan barai | Block Migi uchi uke, followed by Hidari gedan barai. Keep the stance stable and the technique clear. |
| 12 | Turn 180° right | Migi kokutsu-dachi | Migi shutō mawashi uke | Pivot on the left foot and turn 180° clockwise into Migi kokutsu-dachi. Slowly block Migi shutō mawashi uke. |
| 13 | 45° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari uraken yoko jōdan uchi / migi chūdan gyaku tsuki | Bring both fists to right waki no kamae. Kick Hidari jōdan yoko geri at 45° to the left while striking Hidari uraken yoko jōdan uchi. Advance in that direction into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and punch Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 14 | 90° right | Migi zenkutsu-dachi | Migi jōdan yoko geri / migi uraken yoko jōdan uchi / hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki | Retain the hands. Kick Migi jōdan yoko geri at 90° to the right while striking Migi uraken yoko jōdan uchi. Advance in that direction into Migi zenkutsu-dachi and punch Hidari chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 15 | 90° left | Hidari zenkutsu-dachi | Hidari jōdan yoko geri / hidari uraken yoko jōdan uchi / migi chūdan gyaku tsuki | Retain the hands. Kick Hidari jōdan yoko geri at 90° to the left while striking Hidari uraken yoko jōdan uchi. Advance in that direction into Hidari zenkutsu-dachi and punch Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki. |
| 16 | 45° clockwise / movement | Kake-dachi | Migi jōdan mae geri / seiken morote heikō chūdan tsuki, kiai | Kick Migi jōdan mae geri. Bring both fists to Hidari waki no kamae and jump or move 45° clockwise into Kake-dachi. Strike Seiken morote heikō chūdan tsuki with kiai. |
| 17 | Turn 180° anticlockwise | Kokutsu-dachi | Hidari shutō mawashi uke | Turn 180° anticlockwise into Kokutsu-dachi, keeping the right foot in place and moving the left. Slowly block Hidari shutō mawashi uke. |
| 18 | Backward transition | Migi nekoashi-dachi | Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke / hidari chūdan ura yonhon nukite | Move the left foot back into Migi nekoashi-dachi. Perform Migi haitō chūdan uchi uke towards the neck or control line as a pulling control. Simultaneously thrust the left hand slowly in Hidari chūdan ura yonhon nukite. |
| 19 | Same position | Migi nekoashi-dachi | Hidari mae mawashi uke, ibuki | Finish in the same Migi nekoashi-dachi with Hidari mae mawashi uke and ibuki. Maintain balance in Nekoashi-dachi and retain zanshin. |
| 20 | Finish | Musubi-dachi | Mokusō-position | Retract the right foot to Musubi-dachi, retaining the mokusō position. Finish the kata on the command naore. |
Breathing, rhythm and kiai
Distinguish opening block/counters, lateral low defence, slow Haitō and quick low shuto, front-kick combination, circular shuto, side kick/Uraken, Kake double punches and Nekoashi open control. Ibuki: 7, 8, 9 and 19, supporting structure and kime without shoulder, throat or face stiffness.
Kiai: 10 on Migi chūdan gyaku tsuki after Jōdan mae geri and Jōdan uke, not on the kick; 16 on Seiken morote heikō chūdan tsuki in Kake-dachi. Kiai marks gathering and does not replace kime.
Technical key points
Keep each stance’s weighting and direction distinct. Join block/counter, maintain low directed Gedan barai, slow body-supported Haitō and quick low shuto without losing Kiba. Recover front and side kicks; align Uraken sharply and land Zenkutsu/Kake steadily. Keep parallel fists and active Nekoashi hand control. Preserve zanshin after kiai and final ibuki.
Common errors
Avoid treating Sho as merely Dai again, collapsing Kokutsu forwards, separated block/counter, raised Jōdan-uke shoulder, high/narrow Kiba, disconnected Haitō, throat ibuki, late directionless low shuto, unretracted kicks, misplaced count-10 kiai, uncoordinated side kick/Uraken, crooked Zenkutsu, unstable Kake, nonparallel fists, passive Nekoashi, poor Nukite fingers and final mawashi without breath or completion.
Bunkai and application
Explore transitions among defence, counter, open-hand control, kicking, side attack and close control using the functions above. Practise with a partner under control, keeping the complexity appropriate to this kata.
Training method
- Review Gekisai dai and its principles.
- Practise Kokutsu/Uchi uke/Gyaku tsuki.
- Practise Zenkutsu/Jōdan uke/Gyaku tsuki.
- Practise Kiba turns/Gedan barai.
- Practise Haitō chūdan uchi uke with ibuki.
- Practise Haitō-to-Shutō gedan barai.
- Isolate 7–9.
- Practise Jōdan mae geri with recovery.
- Practise count 10 with kiai on Gyaku tsuki.
- Practise Shutō mawashi uke in Kokutsu.
- Isolate Jōdan yoko geri.
- Isolate Uraken yoko jōdan uchi.
- Combine kick and Uraken.
- Add Gyaku tsuki after kick/Uraken.
- Practise Kake and its landing.
- Practise Morote heikō chūdan tsuki with kiai.
- Practise the Nekoashi finish.
- Combine Haitō and Chūdan ura yonhon nukite.
- Practise Mae mawashi uke with ibuki.
- Add correct breathing, rhythm and zanshin.
- Perform slowly without counting.
- Practise simple partner bunkai.
- Return and correct direction, stance and technical finish.