Heian: Considered basic kata for beginning students. These kata were created by Master Anko Itosu. These were passed on to Master Kenwa Mabuni, who passed them on to O’sensei Gichin Funkoshi. The origin of these kata are Kanku dai.
- Heian Shodan – (peaceful mind, first level)
- Heian Nidan – (peaceful mind, second level)
- Heian Sandan – (peaceful mind, third level)
- Heian Yondan – (peaceful mind, fourth level)
- Heian Godan – (peaceful mind, fifth level)
Tekki: Originally known as Naihanchi. Master Anko Itosu learned Naihanchi from his teacher Sokon Matsumura. He then created three seperate training kata from it.
- Tekki Shodan – (iron horse riding, first level)
- Tekki Nidan – (iron horse riding, second level)
- Tekki Sandan – (iron horse riding, third level)
Advanced Katas
- Bassai Dai (to penetrate a fortress – big)
- Bassai Sho (to penetrate a fortress – small)
- Kanku Dai (to view the sky – big)
- Kanku Sho (to view the sky – small)
- Hangetsu (half moon)
- Goju Shi Ho Dai (fifty four steps – big)
- Goju Shi Ho Sho (fifty four steps – small)
- Enpi (flying swallow)
- Jion (love and goodness)
- Jiin (love and shadow)
- Jitte (ten hands)
- Meikyo (bright mirror)
- Niju Shi Ho (twenty-four steps)
- Wankan (king and crown)
- Gankaku (crane on a rock)
- Sochin (strength and calm)
- Chinte (rare hand)
- Unsu (cloud hands)