Anaku
Exercise in Karate
- Type
- Forms, kata and routines
- Martial arts
- Karate
- Classified as
- practice, karate kata
- Part of
- karate
Ananku (安南空) is a kata from Okinawan karate. Its history in Okinawan martial arts is relatively short in comparison to other kata as it was composed by Chotoku Kyan. Its meaning is "Light from the South" or "Peace from the South", as it is thought to originate when Kyan returned from a trip to Taiwan.
What makes this kata special is its techniques of offense and defense while in zenkutsu dachi and Naname Zenkutsu Dachi (otherwise known as front leg bent stance or bow stance and Slanted Front Stance, Ryo-hanchin dachi in Okinawan) This kata also introduces the aforementioned Naname Zenkutsu Dachi in Shōrin-ryū and Matsubayashi-ryū. It is also the first Shōrin/Matsubayashi-ryū kata to start with a centered movement blocking to both sides of the body.
Other Karate forms, kata and routines
- Passai
- Pinan
- Yakusoku Kumite Forms
- Ansan
- Heian Godan
- Heian Nidan
- Heian Sandan
- Heian Yondan
- Heian Shodan
- Seiryu
- Shisochin
- Taikyoku
- Wankan
Japanese terms for forms, kata and routines
| Term | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 三戦 | sanchin | sanchin; fundamental karate kata focusing on breathing, stability, and body hardening |
| 徳俵 | tokudawara | 4 bales on the edge of the ring set slightly back |
| 套路 | touro | taolu (Chinese martial arts forms); martial arts routine |
| 五形拳 | gokeiken | Wu Xing Fist; Five Form Fist (Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Crane, Leopard) |
| 形稽古 | katageiko | form refinement training |
External links
Facts from Wikidata Q4750988 (CC0); text quoted from English Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Data retrieved 2026-10-22.
Data: Wikidata (CC0 1.0); Wikipedia (English) (CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.