Bassai Sho

Bassai Sho is the smaller version of "Penetrating a Fortress," having fewer movements and a slightly smaller frame than its predecessor, Bassai Dai. While Bassai Dai is a very heavy kata that uses very large movements to demonstrate outer strength and power, the smaller techniques of Bassai Sho should exhibit an inner calm and energy.

Many of the kata's applications involve defenses against stick attacks. The kata uses many grasping (tiger-mouth) blocks to that effect.

Although Bassai Sho contains standard techniques found in other kata, they are performed is a very unusual manner. For example, using the back of the hand for awase-uke, or performing double tsukami-uke vertically.