Furinkazan

Funakoshi discussed what he learned from both Anko Itosu and Anko Asato in Karate-do: My Way of Life, and some of his other works. Both Mabuni and Gusukuma have only had the same two teachers: Itosu and Higaonna. The Shito-ryu curriculum divides their kata into two groups: the ones taught by Itosu and the ones taught by Higaonna. The Tomari-te katas are listed under the ones taught by Itosu. Hanashiro only trained directly under Anko Itosu.

Yes - Gichin Funakoshi, Kenwa Mabuni, Chomo Hanashiro, and Shinpan Gusukuma all learned Tomari-te kata from Itosu. I don't see why Chibana wouldn't have.

I'm not so sure about that. First, Chosin Chibana did create kihon and fukyugatas. In other words, he added things. Secondly, Kobayashi Shorin-ryu teaches the Naihanchi series before the Pinan series. There are valid arguments for and against this, but the Pinan series was specifically created by Itosu to be the first katas taught, which means that Chibana went against this. The other thing Kobayashi Shorin-ryu is known for is the lack of Tomari-te katas. I know of some Kobayashi-ryu schools that teach Rohai, but it was added after the fact, as neither Chibana nor Nakazato taught it. I find it hard to believe that Itosu taught all of his other students Tomari-te katas, except for Chibana.

I think that might be a bit controversial. I think all kata that predate karate moving to mainland Japan should be safe from elimination. All katas developed after that, especially the ones meant to be taught before the Pinan and Heian series (or Naihanchi and Tekki, if your school teaches those before Pinan and Heian) should be fair game. Even the more advanced ones, such as Ananku and Gorin should be fair game. I agree with this 100%. I think yakosoku kumite is useful, but I don't believe it should be testable.

There are quite a few schools out that there that have over a dozen fukyugatas and another dozen taikyoku katas on top of that (I'm exaggerating here, but you get the point) before you finally get the Pinan or Heian series. Thankfully, my school isn't one of them, but if that wasn't the case, I'd consider it "fluff" that needed to go.

The first place I’d look is the ISKF website, since that’s the largest Shotokan organization in the Americas. Next would be JKA (both AF and WF). From there, look at WTKO, JKS, and SKIF USA. All of these websites have dojo directories.

There were three books that I read by Kousaku Yokota, one of which discussed this. Shotokan Myths, Shotokan Mysteries, and Shotokan Transcendence. I can’t remember which one, but it’s one of these.

I’m beginning to rethink this. We’re questioning this from the perspective of practicing kihon or standing in formation alternating left and right punches while the instructor counts in Japanese. Kihon and kumite weren’t always a thing in karate. They were introduced in Japan by students of Funakoshi who were also training in kendo. Prior to this, karate training was kata and hojo undo. In fact, the techniques within the kata didn’t even have names until the Japanese named them. Prior to that in Okinawa, you were simply told to “move your hands like this.” Funakoshi told his students who trained in kendo that there was no kumite or kihon in karate. Some of them didn’t believe him, so they went to Okinawa to see for themselves. He was right. So they took it upon themselves to introduce it to karate. While remembering this information about an hour ago, I stood up and did Tekki Shodan and Kanku Dai (I intentionally skipped the Heians as, for all I know, Itosu may have had specific bunkai in mind when creating them that may have been contrary to Kanku Dai and Jion), and the first two answers appear to be the most correct. What I’m saying is that the bunkai of a particliar technique is best analyzed in the context of kata, and not kihon or anything else.

Would you consider this to be a hikite? If so, then power generation appears to be the correct answer. Wilder isn't grabbing or pulling anything. I'd also argue that, depending on where the hikite is, its use a "chamber" might be ineffective more often than not. The longer the distance your strike travels, the better your opponent's ability to keep an eye on it and block it. I'd also argue that it would be ineffective as an elbow strike because you're not looking in that direction. If we consider this a hikite, then the purpose it serves is to assist with using the hips to create a more powerful punch.

It looks like if I read further, you mean kata in particular. I think that would require paying for private lessons if you're trying to bypass the full curriculum. I'll play devil's advocate and say that I don't disagree with the instructor. To quote Terry Silver from Karate Kid Part III, "Did you come here to teach or to be taught?" Even in the first two Rocky movies, Mickey had to assert his position over Rocky whenever Rocky expressed disagreement with Mickey's training methods. And Rocky did the same thing with Adonis Creed in the first two Creed movies. I don't think it's unreasonable that the instructors running the school don't want someone who hasn't paid their dues hijacking their classes. When we speak of learning from lower ranks, it doesn't mean someone of lower rank assuming the role of the instructor. It usually comes in the form of the person of higher rank seeing a technique that the lower ranked student used, and specifically requesting how to execute it. If you have a technique that you want to share, I think sparring is the best time for it. That's when you'll get the feedback you're looking for.

My tried and true method: 1. Mix 1 part dish detergent (preferably clear, blue, green, or yellow. I worry about red "kool aid" looking stains from other colors) and 1 part peroxide. 2. Dip a toothbrush into the solution, and use the toothbrush to brush out as much of the stain as you can. 3. Put some baking soda on the wet area you just brushed, and rub it in with your finger. 4. Let it sit for an hour, clean the toothbrush. 5. Mix 1 part water and 1 part white vinegar. Also, have a separate cup of water and a cloth. 6. Dip the toothbrush into the vinegar solution and brush out the areas with the baking soda. You'll want to use the separate cup of water and a cloth to removed any baking soda from the bristles, as you don't want any baking soda to get into the vinegar solution. 7. Throw the gi into the washer. Every stain you can possibly imagine, I've removed with this method. Blood will take few washes after this to go away completely, but it still works.