Chikara no kata is one of the auxiliary kata of Shintani Wadōkai karatedō, as taught by Sensei Paul Leonard, hachidan, World Congress of Shintani Karate and direct disciple of Shintani Masaru 新谷勝 (1927-2000), kudan. This kata, like Chonan, is not part of the mainline Wadō ryū curriculum. It was created by Shintani Sensei as an introductory kata, especially for children. Chikara no kata was likely influenced by Shintani Sensei's previous training in Shōrin ryū 小林流, but that is speculative. Chikara 力 means "power" and is often mispronounced as "chee-kerr-ah," while the correct pronunication is closer to "chee-car-ah." The Japanese "r" is something of a mix between the English "r," "l" and "d." Video of Sensei Dallas Wilm, sandan, performing Chikara no Kata

Movement sequence

1. Assume shizentai 自然体 (natural stance), with feet parallel and pointed straight ahead, not out at angles. Come to musubi dachi 結び立ち (attention stance) and bow in. Do not then return to shizentai, as in the Pinan kata, but remain in musubi dachi.
    
2. Hidari namigaeshi 波返し (returning wave kick), simultaneously pulling both fists to hips, palms up, in ryō ken ryō koshi gamae 両拳両腰構え. Keeping left foot up and against left leg in tsuriashi dachi 鶴足立ち (crane leg stance),
    
3. Drop into kiba dachi 騎馬立ち (horse stance), execute jūji zuki 十字突き (cross thrust) to throat level. This strike marks the first kiai 気合 point. Most Shintani Wadōkai kata have two kiai points.
    
4. Immediately, with no pause, pull both fists back to ryō ken ryō koshi gamae then execute jōdan jūji uke 上段十字受け (upper level cross block) with fists.
    
5. Slowly, with dynamic tension, rotate arms down to ryō ken ryō soku gedan kakiwake 両拳両側下段 掻き分け (lower level reverse wedge [block] to both sides). Still in kiba dachi.
    
6. Quickly windmill both arms (right arm clockwise, left counterclockwise) about 450°, approximately one quarter rotation past a complete circle, until forearms cross in front of chest, fists with palms towards you at shoulder height. Still in kiba dachi.
    
7. Slowly, with dynamic tension, kakiwake uke 掻き分け受け (reverse wedge block), pushing fists out until they are outside of elbows. Still in kiba dachi.
    
8. Quickly, slide the right foot forward into migi zenkutsu dachi 右前屈立ち (right forward stance), snapping fists back so forearms are beside and contacting sides of body. Slowly, with dynamic tension, chūdan morote zuki 中段諸手突き (middle level two-handed punch). Do not snap the morote zuki at the end.
     
   
9. Quickly, slide the left foot forward into hidari zenkutsu dachi 左前屈立ち (left front stance), snapping fists back so forearms are beside and contacting the sides of body. Slowly, with dynamic tension, chūdan morote zuki.
    
10. Quickly, pull left foot back into namigaeshi, keeping arms extended in front but crossing them at the wrist.
     
11. Drop into kiba dachi. Snap fists to ryō ken ryō koshi gamae, then immediately jōdan jūji uke.
     
12. Repeat steps 5 through 7.
     
13. Quickly, snap fists to ryō ken ryō koshi gamae then immediately jūji zuki to throat level. This is the second kiai point.
     
14. As in all Shintani Wadōkai kata, hold this penultimate position for about five seconds, with zanshin 残心 (remaining mind). Slowly pull the left foot into musubi dachi, while slowly and simultaneously pull hands into ryō ken ryō koshi gamae. Fists should touch body at the same instant that the heels come together. Lower hands to your sides while opening them into kaishu 開手 (open hands). Bow and assume shizentai.