The following describes some of the Goju Karate-Do kata in detail. They may sound hard, but the fun is in their execution.

• Gekisai Dai Ichi
• Gekisai Dai Ni
• Saifa
• Seiyunchin 

Gekisai Dai Ichi

This Kata was created by Chojun Miyagi in 1940 . It was developed to help karateka practice basic techniques. It should be noted that it is the only kata in which a forward step is used to finish the kata all other kata are finished with a backward step into yoi.
Although it is often one of the first kata taught to beginners, its importance should not be underestimated.

Starting from Musubi dachi. Turn 90 degrees to the left into Sanchin dachi, pivoting on the ball of the left foot ending with left foot in front.

At the same time perform a left hand Jodan Age Uke.

Step with the right foot into Hans Zenkutsu dachi and punch Jodan Oi Zuki

Step back with the right foot into Shiko dachi whilst performing Gedan Barai with the left hand.

Turn 90 degrees to the right into Sanchin dachi with the right foot forward and block Jodan Age Uke with the right hand.

Step forward into left Hans Zenkutsu Dachi and punch left Jodan Oi Zuki.

Step back with the right foot into Shiko dachi whilst performing Gedan Barai with the right hand.

Step forward into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uke slowly and with tension.

Step forward into right Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uke slowly and with tension.

Kicking with left leg Chudan Mae Geri and then land in left Zenkutsu Dachi, the arms are in not moved.

After landing in Zenkutsu Dachi perform with the left arm Empi, Uraken and Gedan Barai and then a Chudan Gyaku Zuki with the right arm with Ki-ai on the focus of the punch. Turn 90 degrees to the right performing Ashi Barai and then landing into Heiko dachi whilst simultaneously striking Jodan Shuto Uchi with the right arm.

Step forward into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uke slowly and with tension.

Kicking with left leg Chudan Mae Geri and then land in left Zenkutsu Dachi, the arms are in not moved.
After landing in Zenkutsu Dachi perform with the right arm Empi, Uraken and Gedan Barai and then a Chudan Gyaku Zuki with the left arm with Ki-ai on the focus of the punch. Turn 90 degrees to the left performing Ashi Barai and then landing into Heiko dachi whilst simultaneously striking Jodan Shuto Uchi with the left arm.

Step back with the left leg into Zenkutsu dachi pulling the left arm to chamber and then punch Chudan Morote Zuki

Step up into Heiko dachi and turning arms in a circle.

Step back with the right leg into Zenkutsu dachi pulling the right arm to chamber and then punch Chudan Morote Zuki.

Open your left hand and circling the right hand place right on top of left and step forward into Musubi dachi and then lower arms to one fist from the groin.

Gekisai Dai Ni

This Kata was created by Chojun Miyagi in 1940 . It carries on from Gekisai Dai Ichi and is very similar, but introduces open hand techniques.

Starting from Musubi dachi.

Turn 90 degrees to the left into Sanchin dachi, pivoting on the ball of the left foot ending with left foot in front.

At the same time perform a left hand Jodan Age Uke.

Step with the right foot into Hans Zenkutsu dachi and punch Jodan Oi Zuki  

Step back with the right foot into Shiko dachi whilst performing Gedan Barai with the left hand. 

Turn  90 degrees to the right into Sanchin dachi with the right foot forward and block Jodan Age Uke with the right hand. 

Step forward into left Hans Zenkutsu Dachi and punch left  Jodan Oi Zuki. 

Step back with the right foot into Shiko dachi whilst performing Gedan Barai with the right hand. 

Step forward into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uke slowly and with tension. 

Step forward into right Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uke slowly and with tension. 

Kicking with left leg Chudan Mae Geri and then land in left Zenkutsu Dachi, the arms are in not moved. 

After landing in Zenkutsu Dachi perform with the left arm Empi, Uraken and Gedan Barai and then a Chudan Gyaku Zuki with the right arm with Ki-ai on the focus of the EMPI. Turn 90 degrees to the right performing Ashi Barai and then landing into Heiko dachi whilst simultaneously striking Jodan Shuto Uchi with the right arm. 

Step forward into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Hiki Uke. Step forward into right Sanchin Dachi and block right Chudan Hiki Uke. Step back into left Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Hiki Uke. 

Kicking with left leg Chudan Mae Geri and then land in left Zenkutsu Dachi, the arms are in not moved.

After landing in Zenkutsu Dachi perform with the right arm Empi, Uraken and Gedan Barai and then a Chudan Gyaku Zuki with the left arm with Ki-ai on the focus of the EMPI. Turn 90 degrees to the left  performing Ashi Barai and then landing into Heiko dachi whilst simultaneously striking Jodan Shuto Uchi with the left arm. 

Slide back 45 degrees with the left leg into Neko Ashi dachi and perform Mawashi Uke,Tora Guchi. 

Slide across with the right leg into Neko Ashi dachi and perform Mawashi Uke,Tora Guchi. 

Staying in Neko Ashi Dachi turn to the front and finish 

Step back into Musubi Dachi and Yoi.

Saifa

From Musubi Dachi step forward with the right leg 45 degrees into Zenkutsu Dachi, at the same time clasp the left hand around the right fist whilst pulling the right hand into chamber position. Bringing the left leg into Musubi Dachi as you turn 45 degrees to the left, pull the hands strongly from right hand side of the body to the left hand side of the body. The head up to this point is in line with the body.

Slide the left leg back into Shiko Dachi whilst looking to the front, palm down with the left hand and strike Jodan Uraken with the right. 

Repeat sequence to the left and then again to the right. 

From Shiko Dachi slide the left foot in an arc until the left heel is in line with the toes of the right foot, turn the head to the right. Perform a right Gedan Shotei Barai and a left Chudan Sukui Uke then slide the right foot into the left and then a right Hiza Geri

Immediately follow with a right Chudan Mae Geri.

Look to the left and take a large step to the right, repeat mirror of previous moves. 

From the kick step back into Zenkutsu Dachi and the perform Morote Zuki followed by Morote Gedan Uchi with the fist over lead leg. 

Turning 180 degrees into Zenkutsu Dachi and repeat hand sequence above. 

Looking over the right shoulder perform a Tettsui Uchi with the right hand while stamping with the right foot into Heiko Dachi. Pulling the right arm back perform a left Ura Zuki. Ki-ai on the focus of the Tettsui Uchi. 

Look over the left shoulder and repeat the above moves. 

Pivoting to the left step the right leg forward into right Hans Zenkutsu Dachi. and punch left  Jodan Gyaku Zuki. 

Slide the left foot a large step forward and turn 180 degrees pivoting on the left foot into right Neko Ashi Dachi and strike right Haito Uchi pulling the left hand to the side, palm uppermost.

Seiyunchin 

There are many pulling and throwing techniques performed within this Kata, however there are no kicks. It develops a strong stance and good breathing technique. 

Starting from Musubi dachi. 

Slide 45 degrees with the right foot into Shiko Dachi, looking straight ahead, perform Morote Sukui Uke, keeping the elbows in and the back of the hands together raise them towards, but not touching the chin. Follow by slow Morote Gedan Barai.

Perform a slow right Sukui Uke, bringing the left hand to the side, palm open and uppermost. Turn the right wrist downwards and perform a Hike Uke pulling towards the right ribs and then deliver a left Nukite, palm up. 

Repeat movements to the left. 

Repeat movements to the right. 

In Shiko Dachi turn the right hand into a fist and place into palm of the left. 

Slide the right foot forward into Right Heiko Dachi simultaneously punching Chudan augmented with the left palm. Pull the left leg back into Hans Zenkutsu Dachi and at the same time pull the right fist to the right side and then deliver a right Empi into the palm of the left hand. 

Slide into right Renoji Dachi and block right Chudan Uke braced with the left palm. Step the left leg forward in the same direction into Shiko Dachi and execute a left Gedan Barai. Step back along the same line 180 degrees  and execute a right Gedan Barai, still in Shiko Dachi. 

Slide the left leg into left Renoji Dachi and repeat above movements. 

With the left leg slide back into Shiko Dachi and perform Harai Uke with the head looking in line with the torso. Step back 180 degrees and perform Harai Uke again.

Step forward into right Heiko Dachi but pivoting on the left foot and making doing a Ashi Barai with the right foot making a Jodan Uchi Uke with the right arm into the palm of the left hand. Slide forward in the same stance and strike right Jodan Uraken with the left palm against the right arm.

Slide the right leg across in front of the left into Bensoku Dachi, turning 135 degrees into left Heiko Dachi and perform left Chudan Uke and right Gedan Barai together fast. Step forward and drop into right Shiko Dachi and perform right Jodan Age Uke followed by right Jodan Uraken and then a right Gedan Barai. Step back along the same line into left Shiko Dachi execute a left Gedan Barai. Withdraw the right leg into Neko Ashi Dachi cross the arms in front of the body with the right arm on top and perform a left Ushiro Empi  and a right Hiji Age. Take a large step back with the right leg into left Neko Ashi Dachi and repeat elbow strikes but this time with the right arm starting on the underneath. Turn right 135 degrees into Bensoku Dachi and repeat the whole sequence. 

From right Neko Ashi Dachi Slide forward into right Heiko Dachi at the same time execute a left Shotei Otoshi Uke together with a right Jodan Uraken.

From right Heiko Dachi take a large step back with the right followed by the left into left Neko Ashi Dachi at the same time bringing both arms above the head and then bringing both elbows closely together lowering them and executing a morote Kuri Uke.

 Step back into Musubi Dachi and finish.