Editing Embusen (section)

{{short description|Kata movement}}
{{More citations needed|date=November 2019}}
[[File:Heian Shodan Embusen.gif|thumb|Embusen of Heian Shodan (from [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0986585602 ''Best Embusen: Shotokan''])]]

{{nihongo|'''Embusen'''|演武線}} is a [[Japanese language|Japanese]] term used in martial arts like [[karate]] and [[judo]] to refer to the spot where a ''[[kata]]'' begins, as well as its line of movement. Though it is not stressed in Okinawa, nearly all Japanese-influenced ''kata'' start and end on exactly the same ''embusen'' point (Kiten). This word is also commonly [[Romanization of Japanese|romanized]] as ''enbusen''.

The ''embusen'' line varies for each series of ''kata''. It is always perpendicular to the battle line of an engagement and is the line one travels back and forth in battle.  So it is, for example, a straight line for the [[Shotokan|Shōtōkan]] ''[[Naihanchi|Tekki]]'' series of ''kata''. It follows the form of a capital letter ''I'' for the ''[[pinan|Heian]]'' series of ''kata'', as well as for the ''[[Taikyoku]]'' series. More advanced ''kata'', such as Shotokan's ''[[Kūsankū (kata)|Kanku-Dai]]'' and ''[[Gojūshiho|Gojūshiho Dai and Sho]] kata'', as well as the [[goju-ryu|Gōjū-ryū]] ''[[goju-ryu#Kata_.2F_bunkai|Seipai and Kururumfa]] kata'', for example, have increasingly more complex ''embusen'' to train the practitioner in more advanced defensive angles and footwork. For any ''kata'', the ''embusen'' is fixed and must be followed exactly for proper mastery of the style.