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rare version of naihanchi kata


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Has anyone else heard of or seen naihanchi kata with open-hand techniques instead of the usual closed fist? What style/ryuha has it and how does this open-hand version relate to the “regular “ kata? Are there three of them or just one?

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Has anyone else heard of or seen naihanchi kata with open-hand techniques instead of the usual closed fist? What style/ryuha has it and how does this open-hand version relate to the “regular “ kata? Are there three of them or just one?

I do 3 Nahanchi kata. The first 2 both have open handed strikes/blocks. Do you have a video?

Shorin Ryu Matsumura Seito/Orthodox (we call it Kenpo now)

If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please..feel free to stand in front of them.


Student since January 1975---4th Dan, retired due to non-martial arts related injuries.

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There is the "Naihanchi Ju no Kata" that, as far as I know, is a creation of Shimabukuro Katsuyuki:

He was a student of Chibana Chosin and Higa Yuchoku, both of whom did not teach Naihanchi this way.

Aside from that, there are some additional open-handed techniques in the Isshin-Ryu version of Naihanchi:

https://youtu.be/MnJis1yIVLA?si=47jkvYixLvE55Qqi

I have also seen open-handed versions in a particular branch of Shito-Ryu:

Personally, I see all of these as being personal interpretations of the kata, rather than historical versions. Granted, that is partially because both of them are post-Itosu creations, and older versions (KishimotoDi, Matsumura Seito, and Tomari-Te) don't use these methods. I do, occasionally, play with using open hands in many of my kata, including Naihanchi, and I assume I'm not the only one. It certainly has value, even if it isn't historically accurate.

For what it's worth, though, KishimotoDi's Tachimura no Naihanchi DOES use open-handed gedan-barai, where other versions use closed fists:

Edited by Wastelander

Kishimoto-Di | 2014-Present | Sensei: Ulf Karlsson

Shorin-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 Rivera

Illinois Practical Karate | International Neoclassical Karate Kobudo Society

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This is the closest to what I do. Matsumura Seito Shorin Ryu

If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please..feel free to stand in front of them.


Student since January 1975---4th Dan, retired due to non-martial arts related injuries.

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Which techniques are open-hand instead of using a fist?

Unfortunately, none of my sensei I trained under taught me the names of any individual techniques. Blocks were hand, outside, inside, down and up blocks.

sorry.

If you don't want to stand behind our troops, please..feel free to stand in front of them.


Student since January 1975---4th Dan, retired due to non-martial arts related injuries.

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