Tekki Sandan (Shōtōkan)

About This Kata

Name Tekki Sandan [鉄騎三段]
Translation Iron Horse – Third Level
Style Shotokan
History Originally part of the Naihanchi series, Tekki Sandan was developed or reconstructed by Itosu Ankō as a logical extension and refinement of the core principles of the original Naihanchi form. Itosu inherited the base kata from Sōkon Matsumura and divided it into three separate kata to facilitate learning. Gichin Funakoshi renamed the series Tekki, meaning ‘Iron Horse’, referencing the deep kiba-dachi (horse-riding stance) that dominates the forms.
Lineage Sōkon Matsumura → Itosu Ankō (Shuri-te) → Gichin Funakoshi (Shōtōkan)

Horse Riding – Level 3 (Shotokan Kata)