Tekki Sandan

Tekki Sandan, literally means "horse riding level three". It is the third kata in a group of three three categorized within the Tekki kata group. The other two kata in the series are Tekki Shodan and Tekki Nidan. The kata are performed entirely in the kiba-dachi stance, or "Horse stance". The name Tekki itself (and the older Nifanchin) translates to "Iron Horse." Contrary to popular belief, the kata are not designed to teach fighting on a lateral line or against a wall. Rather, they are intricate strategies of attacking and defensive movement, done in the kiba-dachi (stance), for the purpose of conditioning the legs to develop explosive power. If one rotates one's torso a few degrees to one side or the other while performing Tekki, the result is the Hachi-monji, or figure eight stance. This has been called the basics of all karate.