username19853 Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 What do you think are THE kihon katas of ALL of karate?I recently came across a post that suggested the top 3 Kihon Katas of karate were Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Seisan (various versions). I loved the combination of these 3 and started that “only the essentials” game. Say… top five?
Sailor Sindbad Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 What do you think are THE kihon katas of ALL of karate?I recently came across a post that suggested the top 3 Kihon Katas of karate were Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Seisan (various versions). I loved the combination of these 3 and started that “only the essentials” game. Say… top five?You must be speaking of Goju-ryu.In Kobyashi Shorin-ryu, if you say "kihon katas," you'd be referring to the three first katas of the style that were developed by Chosin Chibana (i.e., Kihon Ippon, Kihon Ippon, and Kihon Sanbon). Seisan wasn't taught by Shugoro Nazakato, so the Shorin-ryu of his lineage (Shorinkan and its offshoots) isn't learned there (I personally think it should be added, but I left at 6th kyu, so my opinion doesn't matter). My understanding of Sanchin is that it's more of a Naha-te thing.Personally, I would say there are only two: Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian. They're the only katas practiced by ALL Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Even Tang Soo Do / Soo Bakh Do practice them, with different names. History:Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, 2019 - 2023: RokkyuShotokan, 2023 - Present: YonkyuJudo, 2023: NoviceBrazilian Jiu-jitsu, 2023 - Present: White Belt
sensei8 Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 Personally, I would say there are only two: Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian. They're the only katas practiced by ALL Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Even Tang Soo Do / Soo Bakh Do practice them, with different names.I wholeheartedly agree. **Proof is on the floor!!!
Fat Cobra Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 Personally, I would say there are only two: Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian. They're the only katas practiced by ALL Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Even Tang Soo Do / Soo Bakh Do practice them, with different names.I wholeheartedly agree. I second that opinion! Godan in Ryukyu KempoHead of the Shubu Kan Dojo in Watertown, NY(United Ryukyu Kempo Alliance)
Zaine Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 I think that I would add the Pinans and Empi Take/Iwa to your list. The Pinan series introduce a lot of concepts important for later kata. The Empi series uses elbows and teaches you to become comfortable with doing so in self-defense situations. Martial arts training is 30% classroom training, 70% solo training.https://www.instagram.com/nordic_karate/
aurik Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 Personally, I would say there are only two: Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian. They're the only katas practiced by ALL Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Even Tang Soo Do / Soo Bakh Do practice them, with different names.I'd qualify that with "MOST" Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Uechi-Ryu does not practice either of those katas. If you're talking about Uechi-Ryu, the 3 kata that could be considered "kihon katas" would be Sanchin, Seisan, and sanseiryu, because those are the 3 original kata that Kanbun Uechi learned in China, and form the foundation of the style. All of the other kata were developed as "bridging kata" to help students learn the main 3. Shuri-Ryu 1996-1997 - Gokyu Judo 1996-1997 - Yonkyu Uechi-Ryu 2018-Present - Nidan ABS Bladesmith 2021-Present - Apprentice Matayoshi Kobudo 2024-Present - Kukyu
Wastelander Posted April 12, 2023 Posted April 12, 2023 Personally, I would say there are only two: Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian. They're the only katas practiced by ALL Okinawan and Japanese styles of karate. Even Tang Soo Do / Soo Bakh Do practice them, with different names.Technically, that's not accurate. The vast majority of Shuri-Te-based systems do practice Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian, but there are some that do not--some branches of Matsumura Seito, Kojo-Ryu, and KishimotoDi, for example, don't practice the Pinan/Heian kata. Additionally, Naha-Te-based systems, like Goju-Ryu, To'on-Ryu, and Uechi-Ryu, don't practice them.What do you think are THE kihon katas of ALL of karate?I recently came across a post that suggested the top 3 Kihon Katas of karate were Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Seisan (various versions). I loved the combination of these 3 and started that “only the essentials” game. Say… top five?If we want to talk about the most widely-practiced foundational kata across all styles of karate, the answer is actually Seisan--this is the one kata found in more styles than any other, statistically. Of course, I happen to practice two systems that DON'T practice it, so I get to be an outlier in that statistic. Naihanchi, Sanchin, and Gekisai are the other top most-practiced kata, and the Pinan/Heian series falls after those. Kishimoto-Di | 2014-Present | Sensei: Ulf KarlssonShorin-Ryu/Shinkoten Karate | 2010-Present: Yondan, Renshi | Sensei: Richard Poage (RIP), Jeff Allred (RIP)Shuri-Ryu | 2006-2010: Sankyu | Sensei: Joey Johnston, Joe Walker (RIP)Judo | 2007-2010: Gokyu | Sensei: Joe Walker (RIP), Ramon Rivera (RIP), Adrian RiveraIllinois Practical Karate | International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society
Sailor Sindbad Posted April 13, 2023 Posted April 13, 2023 Technically, that's not accurate. The vast majority of Shuri-Te-based systems do practice Naihanchi/Tekki and Pinan/Heian, but there are some that do not--some branches of Matsumura Seito, Kojo-Ryu, and KishimotoDi, for example, don't practice the Pinan/Heian kata. Additionally, Naha-Te-based systems, like Goju-Ryu, To'on-Ryu, and Uechi-Ryu, don't practice them.Ah, you know what? I thought Goju-ryu practiced Pinans, because I've seen videos of Rika Usami performing them. Did a little diggging, and found out that she also practices Shito-ryu, so it all makes sense now. History:Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, 2019 - 2023: RokkyuShotokan, 2023 - Present: YonkyuJudo, 2023: NoviceBrazilian Jiu-jitsu, 2023 - Present: White Belt
KumiteDutchie Posted April 14, 2023 Posted April 14, 2023 As a Shotokan nut, I'd say Ten No Kata, the Taikyoku series, and Heian Shodan. From Heian Nidan onward the techniques are a bit beyond basic kihon imo.
Sailor Sindbad Posted April 14, 2023 Posted April 14, 2023 As a Shotokan nut, I'd say Ten No Kata, the Taikyoku series, and Heian Shodan. From Heian Nidan onward the techniques are a bit beyond basic kihon imo.So here's what I've seen. My dojo is ISKF, and we don't do the Taikyokus. We start immediately with Heian Shodan. My understanding is that this is also the case with SKIF, and JKA only has Taikyoku Shodan.The Shorin-ryu dojo that I left has five Taikyokus (I hear some places have more), though, my understanding is that beyond Nidan, the Taikyoku katas are totally different between associations.Personally? I think Taikyokus are a waste. Everything in the Taikyoku series is captured in the Pinan/Heian series.With the exception of the hammer fist (which is easy to learn) all moves in Heian Shodan are part of white belt kihon in Shotokan, so I don't see the point in Taikyokus. History:Kobayashi Shorin-ryu, 2019 - 2023: RokkyuShotokan, 2023 - Present: YonkyuJudo, 2023: NoviceBrazilian Jiu-jitsu, 2023 - Present: White Belt
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