Favourite Kata - If you were able to keep 5 what are they?

[aurik]

In Uechi-Ryu, we only have 8 kata (9 in some organizations) in our entire system - there are the original 3 katas from Pangai-Noon (sanchin, seisan, and sanseiryu) and 5 additional "bridging" katas which were added later. We have sanchin, 3 kyu level katas, and 4 dan level katas. Each kyu kata is required for 3 kyu grades -- for example, Kanshiwa is required for 9th kyu through 7th kyu. At 9th kyu, the student is expected to show basic memorization of the kata. At 8th kyu, the student should show memorization + appropriate power in the techniques. At 7th kyu, the student is expected to show memorization, power, and techinique/timing.

In our school, adults are generally taught their next kata 2 kyu grades before they will be tested on it. So a student will be taught Kanshu (first tested at 6th kyu) after they reach 8th kyu, and the student will be working both kanshiwa and kanshu during that time.

We practice Sanchin 3 times at the beginning of almost every class. In some classes, we will have time to work on kata individually, either the kata itself or its associated bunkai. Also at the end of most classes, we will run the gamut of kata, starting at kanshiwa followed by kanshu, seichin (required for 3rd-1st kyu), and seisan. If there is sufficient time (and students of appropriate rank), they will run the advanced black belt katas (seiryu, kanchin, and sanseiryu).

So that being said, my favorite katas are the ones I currently know:

Sanchin

Kanshiwa

Kanshu

Daini Seisan (a variant of Kanshu with a cool jumping sequence)

Seichin

With the current COVID-19 and teleconference lesson situation, our CI has been giving us teasers of the advanced black belt katas (seiryu and kanchin). I'd like to think I'll be able to learn the entire kata during this time, but I seriously doubt that

[username19853]

I love this question!

- Fukyugata Ni

- Pinan Shodan

- Pinan Yondan

- Pinan Godan

- Naihanchi Sho

No particular reason, and in no particular order. I just enjoy them!

[rhilllakefield]

Pinan Go

Saifa

Yansu

Pinan San

Enpi

[champ8309]

I like all Katas, but my heart is in the 12 Goju-Ryu Katas, because that's where my Kata passion started.

Based on the Kata's I trained:

1. Gekisai dai ichi

2. Gekisai dai ni

3. Tensho

4. Saifa

5. I haven't officially trained a fifth Kat and I was supposed to learn sanchin, but I am learning Seienchin at home right now.

The overall Katas I'd keep practicing:

1. Suparimpei (Because it's my most favourite one)

2. Kururunfa

3. Sanseiru

4. Shisochin

5. Seiyunchin

I never trained those five, but I'd be training these privately starting today

[username19853]

I don’t remember if I answered this or not, but here’s an update:

Pinan Shodan

Pinan Yondan

Pinan Godan

Naihanchi Shodan

Naihanchi Sandan

[mazzybear]

1. Kushanku

2. Wanshu

3. Passai

4. Chinto

5. Pinan Yodan

Mo.

[RW]

Pinan Nidan

Pinan Shodan

Naihanchi (Shodan)

Rohai

Shudoso

[SanchinTensho]

Hi all,

Greetings from Australia.

Unfortunately we cannot attend the dojo atm which gives too much time to think.

Anyway interesting reading. One way of looking at the Goju kata groupings could be:

Style 1

Suparempi, seisan, sanseru, shi sho chin, with Sanchin as the base.

Style 2

Kururunfa, Seipei, Seiunchin, Saifa with Tensho as the base.

It seems clear from the intent that Gekisai Ich and Ni Were to be Seperate non style specific (still well worth practicing) kata.

In The Meibukan we also train a third “group” again of 4 plus a central base 5th kata.

I would be interested feedback And if anyone sees merit in these groupings.

[RW]

Pinan Sandan

Kushanku

Naihanchi

Chinto

Wanshu

Pinan sandan? Funny enough, every time I hear people discussing kata they don’t like, I see Pinan sandan mentioned more than any others. I never realized it until I kept seeing it, but it’s my least favorite too. I’ll amend that, it’s my second least favorite. My least favorite is easily Gekisai Sho.

I don’t have any dislike for Pinan sandan, it’s just that I don’t like it as much as the rest.

Gekisai Sho is a different ball of wax though. It’s a shodan (sometimes nidan) kata in Kyokushin. It never felt like a black belt kata to me. And the fact that everyone in Kyokushin and the offshoots that do Gekisai Sho think it’s Miyagi’s kata. Nothing can be further from the truth, no matter who says so (unless it was one of Miyagi’s students saying so). It’s Mas Oyama’s kata.

yeah the hands-by-your-hips thing isn't too cool, IMO