Manner of performance of Kata Shinzen

Stylistically this exercise should be performed very slowly and softly with firm tensioning of the musculature on the exhalations. This firm tensioning should never be excessive, but rather like a firm yogic kind of tensioning.

The exercise can be performed as a series of repeated steps in a straight forwards and backwards line, to the four directions, or in the simple mode of one right and one left performance. When the form is practised in a repeated manner, depending upon one's personal needs or teacher's choice, the opening and closing movements (A-F) are only performed once, not at the start and finish of each repetition.

Outline for the performance of Kata Shinzen

	OPENING OF KATA
1.	OFFERING HANDS:	Offering; Realisation; Receiving.
2.	SALUTING HANDS:	Saluting; Opening; Generating. Morote age uke
3.	GENERATING HANDS (right):	Generating; Catching.
4.	GREETING HANDS (right):	Greeting; Meeting; Communion. Nukite - Teisho
5.	ELICITING HANDS (right):	Eliciting; Pleading ; Offering. Tate kakewaki
6.	EMBRACING HANDS (right):	Embracing; Expressing; Hugging. Ura gamae
7.	COMFORTING HANDS (right):	Comforting; Calming; Stopping. Omote gamae
8.	REACHING HANDS (right):	Reaching; Inviting; Welcoming. Morote tate nukite
9.	EVALUATING HANDS (right):	Evaluating; Listening; Resting. Renketsu uke
10.	COMBINING HANDS (right):	Combining; Tiger's mouth; Energy ball. Mawashi uke
11.	HOLDING HANDS:	Holding; Energy ball; Protecting
12.	GREETING HANDS (left):	Greeting; Meeting; Communion. Nukite - Teisho
13.	ELICITING HANDS (left):	Eliciting; Pleading ; Offering. Tate kakewaki
14.	EMBRACING HANDS (left):	Embracing; Expressing; Hugging. Ura gamae
15.	COMFORTING HANDS (left):	Comforting; Calming; Stopping. Omote gamae
16.	REACHING HANDS (left):	Reaching; Inviting; Welcoming. Morote tate nukite
17.	EVALUATING HANDS (left):	Evaluating; Listening; Resting. Renketsu uke
18.	COMBINING HANDS (left):	Combining; Tiger's mouth; Energy ball. Mawashi uke
19.	HOLDING HANDS:	Holding; Energy ball; Protecting
20.	PROJECTING HANDS:	Expansive; Giving; Growing energy. Yama uke
21.	CLOSING HANDS:	Closing; Repose; Conclusion. Oshimai
	END OF KATA

General principals of Kata Shinzen

The three primary gestures within Kata Shinzen are:

1. Eliciting hands
2. Embracing hands
3. Comforting hands

Of all the gestures that exist, these are the most fundamental and important in terms of coping with conflict and aggression. All three can be expressed in open wedge or closed wedge forms. Only experience, sensitivity and self-awareness will provide an understanding of how these gestures are used.

Initially open wedging is to be preferred. The hands can be set some eight to fifteen inches apart, giving a sense of openness and inviting expression in the other person. If the other person has penetrated the tactile zone the embracing and comforting hand positions can be used to 'engage' the other person in a surreptitious way in order to provide a responsive sticking hand safety mechanism should an assault occur.