The three Tekki kata were introduced by Anko Itosu who derrived them from from an older kata which he learned from a Chinaman from the village of Tomari.

The Tekki kata are all performed along a straight horizontal line using sideways stepping movements and entirely based in "kiba dachi" or horse-riding stance. It is partly from the use of this stance that the kata's name is derrived. "Tekki" is the japanese transcription of the okinawan name "Naihanchi" which can be best translated from the kanji characters as "iron horseman".

Tekki Sandan is the shortest and more complex of the three Tekki kata and includes sharp changing arm movements, arm locks, cross-blocks, and a side-press block.

There are two "Bassai" kata in Shotokan, and indeed in the Shotokai and Shito-Ryu systems of karate; a major (dai) and minor (sho). (Wadu Ryu practices a single form of Bassai). The Dai form of the kata probably originated in China and appears to have similar origins to Jion, Jiin, Empi, Jitte, and Chinte from the techniques used and especially the "yoi" or ready position (and variations of the position).

The usual translation of "Bassai" is "to storm a fortress", and the kata consists of very powerful techniques conducted at a dynamic pace, along with many changes of direction and speed. .