Old Okinawan Funakoshi Naihanchi Kata (Ichi, Ni and San / Shodan, Nidan and Sandan)

A Study of Master Gichin Funakoshi's Ryukyu Kenpo Karate: Page 4 - Kata: A Broad List

Even as early as 1925, Master Funakoshi noted the fact of students training in a "...broad and shallow" manner as opposed to the old way of practising in a "...narrow but deep" format. This, I think, is interesting. Perhaps it is just down to students becoming less naturally disciplined, or maybe it is the fault of the teachers. Master Funakoshi narrowed his primary focus of kata instruction to 15 forms (nine if you group the pin'an and naihanchi), but overall he taught an apparent maximum of about 32 kata, seemingly after reducing the number. As Master Funakoshi recognised, there are benefits in learning many different kata and in studying a few thoroughly, just as there are, equally, drawbacks for each. Looking deeply provides a higher level of skill and knowledge, while a broad practice offers varied knowledge and physical development.

Master Gichin Funakoshi's original list of Okinawan karate kata included the five stages of pin'an, the three stages of naihanchi, passai (dai and shō), kūsankū (dai and shō), gojūshiho (ūsēshi), sēsan, chintō, chinte (mariti), ji'in, jitte, jion, wansū, wandau, rōhai, jiyūmu, wandō, sōchin, nijūshi (nisēshi), sanjūroku (sansērū / sansēryū), hyaku-rei-hachi (sūpārinpei), wanku-un, kokan, unsu and sanshintō. Several of these kata seem to have not been taught by Master Funakoshi, at least in Japan, if not Okinawa, too. It can varyingly be speculated as to what some of those kata which are not known to have been transmitted in this lineage looked like. Was the sūpārinpei Master Funakoshi noted in Rentan Goshin Karate Jutsu (Karate Jutsu) like the versions commonly seen, or was it different? Likewise, Master Funakoshi likely studied Aragaki sōchin as well as Kudaka sōchin, but it isn't known for certain. He may have only been taught the latter. How did his originals present?

The various kata of Master Funakoshi's karate are, indeed, his kata. To one degree or another, he made changes to the forms he had learnt. Kata such as meikyō, which is really Funakoshi rōhai, were devised later, by the 1940s, but should still be included in the list of kata for Funakoshi-ha Shōrin-ryū karate kenpō. Meikyō comprises elements of all three Itosu rōhai. Master Funakoshi's later teachings are just as necessary to study as his earlier teachings, when practising Shōtōkan Shōrin-ryū karate. They all represent Funakoshi karate. Yet, his old Okinawan teachings did not include meikyō or taikyoku, for example. He probably learnt various rōhai including Itosu rōhai and Matsumura rōhai. He likely also studied Aragaki (Niigaki) sōchin in addition to Aragaki nisēshi and Aragaki unsu, though, if this was the case, he switched Aragaki sōchin for Kudaka sōchin, and, if they had not already occurred, made alterations. Kudaka no sōchin, found in the book, "Essential Shorinjiryu Karatedo" by Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, illustrating Kenkokan Shōrin-ji-ryū Karate-Dō, was developed on Kudaka Island. Master Gigō Funakoshi likely influenced this kata [as well] to the end of it appearing as it usually does these days, at least more closely than his father's likely edition. (It was due to reading an article by Sensei Victor Smith on fightingarts.com that I found the lead to check Kudaka sōchin with the Shōtōkan sōchin.)

Shishū (Itosu) sōchin would appear to be quite possibly the variation of what is usually called Aragaki sōchin, that is found in the Kyudōkan Shōrin-ryū karate school of Master Yuchoku Higa. Evidence indicates that the similar version of Aragaki sōchin found in Mabuni Shitō Ryū karate must be the "correct" Aragaki sōchin, considering a note made by Sensei Patrick McCarthy in Volume 2 of Ancient Okinawan Martial Arts, on page 6.

The ūsēshi that Master Funakoshi originally practised were likely Itosu ūsēshi and Matsumura ūsēshi (from Masters Asato and Matsumura at least). Later, for one reason or another, Master Funakoshi adopted Master Tōyama's ūsēshi, called koryū gojūshiho, and Master Mabuni's gojūshiho, both of which are versions of Itosu gojūshi. He made changes to both kata. Tōyama gojūshiho became Master Funakoshi's gojūshiho [dai] while Mabuni gojūshiho became Funakoshi gojūshiho [shō].

The taikyoku kata of Funakoshi karate were developed by the 1940s by Master Funakoshi. While his son, Gigō, also innovated, they were his changes, not his father's, and Master Gichin made many developments from long before Master Gigō. Master Gichin stated in the 1958 edition of "Karate-Dō: Kyōhan" that the taikyoku kata were his. They are not, however, one of the elements of so-called "Japanese karate". Developments "in Japan" do not make them Japanese in style. Japanese karate is militaristic karate. Otherwise, all karate is simply kara-ti; it is all Okinawan. 

It is difficult to know precisely what the Okinawan Funakoshi chinte (mariti in Okinawan) looked like. It would have at least been very similar to the version we see in the oldest known performances of the so-called "Shōtōkan" lineage of kara-te, but not necessarily identical, considering the evidence showing Master Funakoshi's karate evolving from the simple to-the-point performances of forms to the somewhat more physically demanding and elaborate versions he himself developed in the 1930s and 1940s, with his son furthering the intent of a somewhat more physically strenuous school of kara-te. A simplification of the particularly unusual techniques in Shōtōkan chinte is probably actually the best educated guess as to the original chinte of the school, but it should be remembered that it may either have been more incomparable or similar. From the research presented in Origins of Shōtōkan in 2013, to now in 2018, my ideas have developed further, so the mariti (chinte) I performed and discussed then is not identical to the mariti I practise now. Research is an ongoing process.

Likewise, on the subject of the kobujutsu of Funakoshi karate, it is not known for certain which kata he knew, though he definitely would have been taught kobudō kata. This is, however, only partially evident from the image of Master Gichin Funakoshi performing a technique individually with the bō. Although, a little proof is a lot more than none, and still goes a long way to more fully knowing what Master Funakoshi's complete old karate comprised. The photo could be illustrating a technique from one of a number of bōjutsu kata, for example Tenryū no kon. This looks to be the most plausible possibility, though it is not certain. Tenryū no bō is mentioned by other practitioners to be a kata transmitted within the lineage, but this is not proof that Master Funakoshi himself knew or taught it. He was likely versed in a variety of kobujutsu kata, with the bō and the sai at least, but he seems to have not particularly transmitted weapons kata, mostly demonstrating techniques with the sai versus the bō and applications defending against the bō with empty hands. This is the greatest evidence of the kobudō teachings of Funakoshi karate.

Otherwise, there are the odd techniques in various unarmed kata, applicable to one or more weapons, and there are some Funakoshi karate kata which fit one implement or another entirely, naturally. The best examples are wansū nu bō, passai [shō] nu bō, kūsankū [shō] nu bō, jitte no konbō, jitte no sai and nisēshi nu sai. Applying karate kata to weapons is not a new idea. Quite a few practitioners do it, and noted experts talk about this being the correct mode of practice. Funakoshi-Kudaka sōchin, for instance, works with the kama and is apparently a sai kata. However, any karate kata can be applied to one or more items or weapons, so the movements are traditionally interchangeable between the bare hands and weaponry. This notion is also prevalent in Chinese quanfa, with, for example, taijiquan students practising some of the same movements in their hand and weapons forms. This is not surprising, considering the obvious fact that you use the same two arms [and two legs] to move in essentially a limited number of ways, whether your hands are empty or not.

Gigō Funakoshi definitely practised kata at least with the six-foot staff. There are pictures of him demonstrating his technique. I am not absolutely certain of the particular kata. It may be a Shuji no kon or a Sakugawa no kon. The photos might even be illustrating some of the techniques of Matsukaze no kon which is Master Gigō's own bōjutsu kata, apparently created alongside Master Tomosaburo Okano. This does not provide evidence for one of his father's bō kata, as Master Gigō also learnt from other teachers.

Kata such as wandau, jiyūmu, wandō, sansērū, sūpārinpei, wanku-un (unless this is wankan / ōkan), kokan and sanshintō, as already noted, are unknown in the sense of uncertainty as to which of them Master Gichin Funakoshi knew. They may even just be notes of numerous kata that are practised in Okinawa. Although, the chances are that Master Funakoshi selected the kata he perpetuated. Whether or not he was indeed familiar with a version of sanchin, he did mention the name at least once in one of his texts. Clearly he did not decide to transmit it, if he did know a sanchin kata. That is also potentially more evidence of noting various Okinawan karate kata in passing, without necessarily actually knowing the forms. However, this is speculative, and as he focused on 15/nine primary kata in 1922/5, yet still taught, studied and developed others after that time, the evidence points to him likely being versed in a number of other kata as well. Regardless, we know for certain that he taught at least about 26 empty-handed kata in 1925, and about 27 by the 1950s. And we know that his favourite kata were naihanchi (shodan, nidan and sandan), kūsankū [dai], and perhaps wansū (enpi) and meikyō (Funakoshi rōhai), judging by the video footage of his demonstrations in around the 1930s (maybe in the 1940s). (Note: That old footage is not from 1924 as has been so wrongly popularised.)

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Funakoshi Naihanchi Kata Practised in the Snow

Funakoshi naihanchi kata from the first to the last in succession. Practised in the snow, treading on snow and ice, training stability and solidity.