Level of Difficult: Black Belt 4th or 5th Dan

Kusoku is the title for a high government official in China. A priest from the Shaolin Temple (shorin in Japanese) who had this title was sent in the 18th century as an emissary of his country to Okinawa where he began to teach fighting techniques of the Shoalin Temple.After his departure, his Okinawan deciples regrouped all these techniques in a kata called Kusoku in his honour.

In 1932 this kata was reintroduced in China at the celebration of China's Confederation by Shinan Masayoshi Hisataka. This marked the first official recognition of Japanese Karatedo by China.

Kusoku Kata is one of the most complete and beautiful of all katas. It displays complex techniques against many enimies and stresses flowing motions and evading techniques. The first part of the Kata concentrates on daytime fighting techniques, while the second part emphasizes fighting at night. There are several variations of this Kata.

Source: Scientific Karatedo - Hisataka (1976)