ronryu

Yes the tonfa is a very challenging weapon to master but it is also one of the most versitile . Maybe why the police carry a version of it with them huh . One thing i have noticed is people do not know how hard it is to use a weapon but it is also an important part of martial arts training . Any weapon takes time for example i have been woeking with the kama for about 2 years now ever since learning hama higa no kama and last month i finally cut myself in the leg and had to get 5 stitches i now have a whole new respect for them . as with anything it takes time . and when you think you have it it will take more time .

well if you are pacticing a traditional style you will jsut about always use the nunchaku with the cord for several reasond with the chain nunchaku useally the chain is to long to emplow the nerve holds and grabs wiht the nunchaku . i belive it was the movies that made the chain nunchaku popular . Befor i got inot a traditional class and understood exactly what the nunchaku were used for i did have the chaind pair . Now i would never poick a pair of them up . I too use the wooden octagnal cord nunchaku.

yes Jutte Jion and Jiin are of the same family of kata . I was told thy mean Jutte (ten hands or temple hands) Jion (temple sound ) Jiin (temple ground ) and all three start with the right fist covered by the left hand in front of you . To me Jiin was the hardest to learn the tempo is a little differetn from the other 2 also bassai starts simaliar at lest the version we do with the exception that you do not bring your fist from the side foward it starts with the fist already in front and then moves to the left side . but there i go running off on kata agin but hey i love them .

I understand you opinon and i have met many people with that same opinion . Coming from a traditional standpoint i have enjoy the contionious learning of technique in the kata not to mention the history of each movement there is jsut so much tolearn from the kata . However agin it isent for everyone i understand your point . But for me you caint have karate without kata .

We start with the Taikyokyu kata we have 6 of the basic kata the first 3 i belve are the same as the ones Funokoshi created . we then follow those with Tenno (fukigata ichi ) and Chino (fukigata ni , gekisai dia ichi ) . then we start with the pinans and you are correct the first 2 pinans and heians are switched ie... pinanshodan is heian nidan and pinan nidan is heian shodan ....

I am a shodan and currently this is the kata list that i currently run including the kiyon kata Taikyokyu 1-6 Tenno (fukigata ichi) Chino (fukigata ni , geki sia dia ichi) Pinan shodan Pinan nidan Pinan sandan Pinan yondan Pinan godan Nihanchi sho (tekki) Nihanchi ni Nihanchi san Matsukaze (wankan) Rohai Seiuchin Jutte Jion Jiin Kosokun dai Bassai dai Shisochin Chinto Ananku Sanchin Miyagi Sanchin Higiaonna Sanchin (goju kata learned from Higiaonna Morio Sensei )

Yes we work with sia currently I only know 1 sia kata which is Tsuriken haku no sai . but yes i enjoy working them i like doing basicks with them in stances for some reason it helps me concentrate on the stance and make it better . it was diffacult learning the stricks though .

It is very interesting reading all the replys from this thread so let me throw my 2 cents in . I am a traditionalist . 16 yrs in Motobu ha shi to ryu karate and i love kata .To me kata is more then just an exercise it is the history of the style . There are many different bunkai that take many years of study to understand .Even now when i run a kata i will always find something new in it. But hey traditionla karate is not for everyone that is why there are so many different systems out there . I once heard one of my Sensei say "A school chooses you , you do not choose a school " and that is what i tell every potential student taht walks in to take class's from me . I sincerly hope this reply does not anger anyone that is not my intent im just voicing my opinion .

I am a Shodan (1st degree) in Motobu ha Shi to ryu Karate , Katsu ryu Kempo , Ryukyu Kobudo .

Well we do not do the heians we do the pinans and after e lern them we either learn nihanchi(tekki) or matsukazi (wankan). then as follows rohai , seiuchin , bassai dai , kosokun dai, chinto , beyond that i do not know off hand there are other kata that we do that are not required such as sanchin , shisochin , gunkakyu etc...

The most diffucolt kata i think i had to learn was most likley tomori Chinto i have a hard time on the turns keeping one knee behind the other . and also Kosokun Dai (kushanku.kanku dai)

we only do one version of rohai i belive it is itosu's rohai ichi the others are very simular . matsumuri rohai is only slightly different . hope this helps if you have other Questions plese let me know if i can help .

wow favorate kata tahts a hard one to answer but i would have to say my favorate kata would have to be Jutte and tomori chinto however there are so many that i love but those 2 are ran every time i work out .

welcome Henery i have alittle experence witht he sword however my sensei and several others in my dojo do attend and study Tenshin ryu Kenjutisu i am not sure if you are fomoilar with it i can put you in touch with them if you are interested they are all very serious with this unique art. what style of karate are y ou studing right now ?

yes i know gekisia dai ichi we also do a version of it called chino . they are perty much identical wiht a few different stances but it is a very good kata one of my favorite.

From my understanding we do itosu rohai ichi i have seen rohai ni which i belive has elbow strickes in it i have never seen rohai san , Ihave also seen matsumora rohai . It is not much diferent from rohai ichi .

thanks for your reply . As of right now the kata i know and run on a regular basis are as follows , ten no , chi no ,the Pinan's , wankan , nihanchi 1,2,3 , Basai Dai , Kosokun Dai , Shisochin , Seiuchin , Jutte , Jiin , Jion , Sanchin , Higionna Sanchin , Miyagi Sanchin , Tomori Chinto , Rohai , Ananku , and i belive that is about it i know several others but these are the ones that I practice on most of my workouts .

I am a studnet of Motobu ha ****o ryu karate whick incorprates a lot of traditional kata . I was wondering what some peoples opinions and views are on traditional kata . ie what is your favorate kata and bunkai . I am only a shodan and curently the kata i am working alot on is chinto (tomori version).

Hello I am a Shodan in Motobu ha ****o ryu karate and we also practice the same naha kata as the Goju ryu systems with only slight differences i recently had the opertunity to attend a seminar conducted by Higaonna Morio Sensei. It was great he is an awsome Instructor. if i can help let me know .

Hello i have been studing Kobudo for about 17 yrs the best thing i can say is to work on your grip the bottom of the hand looser then the top this will prevent the tonfa from slipping (hopefully) . You want to be able to tighten the grip to stop the tonfa .

I to am student of ****o ryu karate (motobu ha ). Yes there are at least 50 kata as well as kobudo kata . I have been studing for about 16 yrs and you have to really break the kata down dont just run it but understand it with the bunkai applications . I love kata the history and the techniques . hope this helps .

Hello I am a Shodan in Motobu ha ****o ryu karate , Katsu ryu kempo , Ryukyu kobudo . I am looking for other people interested in Okinawan kata . To exchange information on the kata and bunkai . I currently live in Dallas ,Ga. which is just outside Atlanta .