ata means form. "Kihon" is written with two kanji (ideograms), which mean "fondation" (KI) and "origin" (HON). The whole can be translated by "base". The KIHON katas are basic forms. Four katas are referenced in the practise of Aikibudo, under the names: KIHON NAGE WAZA shodan     KIHON OSAE WAZA     KIHON NAGE WAZA nidan     KIHON SUTEMI WAZA     Often understood as fixed figures, the Kihon are much more than that. They put together into one single technique all the underlying principles which define Aikibudo.    In fact, their creation, which dates from the beginning of the 80s, aims at: normalization of the practise ; definition of the AIKIBUDO form ; creation of a pedagogical tool.    hose katas are part of the programs of the 1rst and 2nd Dan exams since November 1983. Besides, although they are only a part of the exam, they are one of its essential elements. If a weakness in the practise on several items of the exam may possibly be counterbalanced by a better performance on others, an unsatisfactory performance in the KIHON is however eliminatory.        All the parameters which constitute the fondation of Aikibudo are integrated inside the Kihon katas, which then become a means to spread the aikibudo form within the group, whatever the number of relays between the founding master and the student in a dojo of the provinces or a distant country, who never takes part into regional or national training sessions. uards, distances, attacks, disengagements, educatives, displacements, positioning, reaction time, basic techniques, pedagogical and technical progress ; all this is part of the Kihon, whether evidently or in the background. Moreover, it provides the student with a set of keys, tools, which enables him to go further into the practise, with the understanding of the principles and their use in other circumstances. As we can see, the Kihon katas are a mine of teachings, a concentrate of aikibudo.