Short Forms

Can’t remember you Short Forms? Just want to run through them as a quick work out? Want to explore some advanced variations of ones you can already do. This is the page for you.

Regular Short Forms

Short Forms 1 through 6. All Short Forms are done in mirror image with me saying the correct side of the body for the techniques but doing the opposite so it looks like we are performing the short form in a mirror of each other.

Short Form 7 is the most complicated of all the 13 short forms because it involves a throw that has to be done in a very specific way. It is also difficult to demonstrate without a partner. This one IS NOT Done in mirror image but is instead down from a behind view.

Short Forms 8 through 13. All Short Forms are done in mirror image with me saying the correct side of the body for the techniques but doing the opposite so it looks like we are performing the short form in a mirror of each other.

Short form Variations

For brown belts (or curious color belts), here are two sets of variations of the short forms. These are not required to be learned (YET). This section is a “Work-In-Progress”, and things may change over time. Specially if I find a different variation I like more. Please excuse all spelling a grammar errors. That was always my weak point in school. Videos Coming Soon.

Nage-Waza (Throw Technique) Short Form Variations Updated 4-23-2024:

While these variations still use “kata basics”, they are meant to teach a variety of karate (and some modified judo) throws. Similar to bonkai, they still keep the basic elements of the movements of the short forms. Though some of them are dramatically shortened.

1. Ashi Barai: Left pressing block and right reverse punch. Grab their arm with your left hand and throw left sweep kick at the back of their front calf. (Ashi-Barai/kosoto gari). Punch while they are unbalanced.
2. Tai-Otoshi (Recently changed): (Note Step: Short form is now performed on mirror image side with the uke throw a left punch) Step left and throw a right punch to the the body. Left punch (or palm heel) to the head while right reaches out to grab their punching arm. Left hand grabs the neck (or head or hair) while stepping you left leg across in front of Uke’s front left leg. Immediately twist your body clockwise.
3. Osoto-Gari: Left pressing block. Step-drag in right hammer fist (no or minimal bend from uke). Left palm heel strike to head. Right foot steps behind as you right ridge hand at throat/chest level to sweep (Osoto-Gari).
4. Geki-sai Sweep (Sukui Nage / Irimi Nage): Skip step in but realize you are too late to side kick. Instead drop left leg immediately behind their lead right thigh while left shuto-ing across the body (cover head on the way in).
5. Koshi-Guruma/Ogoshi: Right kick to face. Land diagonal with left punch. Step left leg in as you left block and right punch. Left hand grabs the wrist while the right arm wraps around the head. If you are shorter than your opponent, drop your right arm around their hip instead of going around their head. Bring right foot in and hip lift while keeping their arm high (Koshi-Guruma or Ogoshi).
6. Kouchi & Ouchi: Left inside out pressing block as you right Kouchi sweep the incoming leg (even a little is okay). Snap right leg (like a side kick) behind their left leg as you forearm smash the face/neck.
7. Sandwich Neck Crank (Recently changed): Left pressing block. Step-drag in right hammer fist (big bend from uke). Right shuto to the back of the neck while you simultaneously left palm heel to the jaw. Twist hands counter clockwise to grab each other causing the neck to be sandwiched between the arms. Twist the arms back clockwise as you drop your weight. Restomp the groin.
8. Anon Dump: All of 8. Right hand lifts the back leg while the left hand pulls down the head.
9. Sweep the Leg: Fully capture the kick by wrapping the left arm up around it. Step your right leg behind their base leg while simultaneously striking to the head or pushing to the upper chest.
10. Shuto with Single Leg: Step in with the right open handed outside-in block. Slide right hand up to shuto the neck as your left hand lifts up their front right knee. Optional One-Knuckle punch, and/or kick to the groin on your way out.
11. Figure-4 Arm Bar (Recently changed): Simultaneously left pressing block with a grab and right punch to the face. Slide the left hand up to just above the elbow while you snake your right arm over and under their punching arm and lock it onto your left forearm. Pull your right foot back as you rotate your left arm to put pressure on their right elbow (arm-bar)
12. Shiho-Nage(Recently changed): Step left, right grab the wrist while you right roundhouse kick. Use the power of the kick to rebound you spinning backwards while left hand grabs the opponent’s elbow. Continue the spinning motion as you bring the opponents arm over your head. As you finish the spin, bring your arms forward like you are doing an overhead Samurai Sword chop with the opponents arm.
13. Seoi-Nage: Start with the double shuto (left to wrist and right to neck). Grab the sleeve and collar. Yank the collar across to the opposite shoulder as you slide in for your hip lift (morote seoi-nage). If your collar grab slips off, slide the right arm under and around their arm between the elbow and armpit (ippon seoi-nage). Pull the arms forward as you lift the hips to throw them over you. Alternatively, you can drop to your knees while pushing your arms forward (drop seoi-nage). 

NOW UPTO DATE! In Depth Breakdown and Demonstration Video of the Naga Waza Short Forms

Practical Self-Defense Short Form Variations (updated 1-23-23):

Shorter and simplified versions of the short forms that are meant more for self-defense. All short forms start with both hand up and open, as if you are trying to diffuse the situation by talking the person down. Always end with exiting out. Targets are more suggestions, and you should go for whatever is open. As well, these short forms work if they throw lunge punch or reverse punch.

1. Minimal Change to the short form. Keeps your hands up. If the block pushes their arm down, change the strike to the face.
2. Short form is done on the official mirror image side with the uke throwing a left punch. It mostly stays the same. Just keep your hands up. No pull back between the punches.
3. (Opponent throws a hook) Duck under and left parry, right groin strike, left palm heal to the head, left leg sweep their front leg (ashi barai if it is their right leg, kouchi gari if it is their left). Finish with a strike of your choice (face punch, knee to the groin, stomp… have fun with it!)
4. Fading side kick.
5. Right groin kick,  right punch to the head, left to the body, right to the head as you angle out right.
6. Right knee kick, face kick, optional attack if they are still in range.
7. As you step left and block. Bring your right hand straight up into a rising strike to the jaw. Then drop the right hand into a groin strike. Finish by rolling your right arm up and over into a strike (Forearm, hammer fist, or shuto) to the back of the head as you right knee to the stomach.
8. (Opponent throws a hook) lunge right leg in while left hand covers the head (optional head butt), at the same time throw a right ridge hand or palm heel to the groin. Left elbow or punch to the head, jump out right as you throw a right hook punch to the head.
9. (Opponent throws a kick) Small side step to opponent’s open side, counter groin kick
10.  Double block (back hand open, front in a fist), right forearm strike (axe handle) to jaw or throat, left palm heel, right jab to the face, knee or kick to the groin as you escape.
11. Opponent grabs left arm. Simultaneously step left foot in while throwing a left cross elbow to the rib (causing a wrist release) and right vertical fist punch to the face.
12. Step left, right grab the wrist while you right roundhouse kick. Pull in to left punch to the head. If they haven’t pulled the arm back, do a standing armbar.
13. (Opponent can throw either straight or hook) Double Shuto, left hand controls the arm as you right hand controls the neck/head. Right knee strike to stomach (or snap kick to the groin or knee). Pivot on your base leg as you set down the kick across and in front of your opponents legs. Simultaneously pull their left arm and head across forcing them to trip over your leg in a Tai Otoshi.

In Depth Breakdown and Demonstration Video of the Self-Defense Short Forms

WARNING: 3 short forms have changed. As well short form 3 and 7 have switched places. The Current video is NOT up-to-date.

Quick Practice Video (COMING SOON)