About This Kata
| Name | Bassai Sho [抜塞小] |
| Translation | To Penetrate a Fortress – Lesser |
| Style | Shotokan |
| History | Bassai Sho is a complementary form to Bassai Dai, sharing the same roots in the original Passai kata from Okinawan Shuri-te. It was developed or restructured by Itosu Ankō as a slightly more advanced variation of the Bassai material. The Sho version includes softer, more circular techniques and its embusen (performance line) reflects a different tactical flow, emphasising internal redirection and finesse rather than pure power. Gichin Funakoshi brought both forms to mainland Japan in the 1920s. |
| Lineage | Sōkon Matsumura (Shuri-te) → Itosu Ankō (Shuri-te) [Passai] → Gichin Funakoshi (Shōtōkan) |
To Penetrate A Fortress – Small (Shotokan Kata)
