Empi has 37 movements
Kiai is at movement 15 and movement 36
EMPI – “Flying Swallow”
- Named for the kata’s resemblance to the up and down pattern of a swallow in flight Empi is a favourite kata with many brown belt and black belt students alike, but the quick complex movements and combinations in this kata, make Empi a kata that should only be taught to the more senior students in the dojo, in particular those who are close to obtaining the rank of Shodan. The requirement to perform for example, a move into kosa-dachi (cross legged stance) while at the same time making chudan-soto-uke and a gedan-zuki (middle level outside inward block and a lower level punch), or properly performing the series of three chudan-teisho-oshi-age-uke and gedan-teisho-osae-uke (upper level pressing palm heal block and lower level pressing palm heal block), while at the same time stepping into a zenkutsu-dachi (forward stance), requires a high level of discipline, and the proper repeated effort, that can only begin to emerge if the student has at least 3 to 4 years of previous training.There are two kiai points in Empi, the first one occurs on the on the jodan-soto-uke (upper level forearm strike) that is performed while in a hidari-ashi-dachi (left legged stance), and the second kiai begins the moment your start the jump and continues until you land in a kokutsu-dachi (back stance) where a chudan-shuto-zuki (middle level sword hand strike) is performed. Thought to be Chinese in origin this kata was originally introduced to Okinawa asWanshu a name by which this kata is still known today within several other styles of karate. This kata contains 37 movements and should take the student approximately one minute (60 seconds) to complete. To finish the kata from the last movement, leave your right foot in place and withdrawing your left foot, stand up facing forward in a hachiji-dachi (natural stance), now bring your left foot half way in towards your right foot, and your right foot half way in towards your left foot, and your hands to your sides, rei (bow).