About This Kata
| Name | Bassai Dai [抜塞大] |
| Translation | To Penetrate a Fortress – Greater |
| Style | Shotokan |
| Level | Intermediate |
| History | Originally called Passai, the name Bassai (抜塞) means ‘to penetrate a fortress’. The kata has roots in Okinawan Shuri-te and likely draws from Chinese martial arts brought to Okinawa via trade and cultural exchange. Its base is thought to derive from a 14th century Chinese tao. Key figures in its transmission include Master Kokan Oyadomari, who learned it from masters Kishin Teruya and Gikō Uku, and Sōkon Matsumura, widely credited with preserving the original form. Itosu Ankō refined it and created the Dai and Sho versions. Bassai Dai is often required for 1st Dan (black belt) testing and is considered one of the most important intermediate-to-advanced kata in Shotokan. Funakoshi retained the name largely unchanged when bringing karate to Japan. |
| Lineage | Sōkon Matsumura (Shuri-te) → Itosu Ankō (Shuri-te) [Passai] → Gichin Funakoshi (Shōtōkan) |
To Penetrate A Fortress – Big (Shotokan Kata)
