Mr. Wax,
I'm trying to put some linkage to this wide ranging discussion that has frequently lost its way.
There is only so much anyone can do in a discussion group.
Having spent the last hour or so reading through all of the posts on FA.com regarding channan kata, as well as reviewing my own files of discussions on other groups (involving Multiversed and Paul Heart too) it's very clear that there is a real failure to commnicate or for almost any of the sides to understand that they're not taking the time to listen to what is being said.
Then human huberis takes over and blood, which is bull ****, fit for trolls not people trying to share in the arts.
So let's look well.
1. I'm less than perfect but I haven't found a description of how to perform your Channan Kata opening.
2. I've used multiple search engines, and have also referenced all of my library, and find no mention of Junji Kata anywhere on the inernet, in John Sells book Unante, or elsewhere.
That is not proof it doesn't exist, it's just proof that your kata is a private tradition and people outside of your tradition have no knowlede of it.
I suspect you know that well, which questions why you ask about it?
If your tradition should be secret then why haven't you kept it so. Of course it's your choice.
Channan Kata (going back to theme) is likewise almost a mystery.
Historically there are a few references to it, but it is not practiced for whatever reason across almost all of other Okinawn karate. Perhaps that's by design. Perhaps that because it was kept secret and Nobody on Okinawan outside of one tradition knew about it.
There is no proof, outside of your oral history that I can find. Oral history is fine for those in a tradition, but it does not constitute proof for outsiders.
If what I've read is correct, and its a source kata for what became Itosu's Pinan sho and ni, just more chinese, I'm happy you keep your own traditions alive.
But nothing that's out there proves it.
Channan has become a growth industry. There are books and video tapes from several sources (I've sourced previously) and by your own words and Paul Heart's, there is a book in the work to show us the truth.
But of course, how do we prove that book is right? Unfortunately I have hundreds of books in my karate library, and have thrown more away. Many books I thouht were right when I bought them in time became far less right.
Just publishing something does not make it true. It just allows others to make up their own minds.
Not bad or good, just the truth.
And the only ones who will buy it are those seeking a particular history.
I undestand how the great Depression, population increase and lack of space drove Okinawa in the 20's and 30's into disporia. Okinawn communities did spring up in Japan, Singapore, Hawaii and South America among other places.
For the most part those Okinawan's remained in a closed community, with occasional outside sharing. Yes those communities kept karate alive there, and yes many of them were based on traditions that left or died out on Okinawa.
Okinawan karate has always been alive. It has always grown from generation to generation. those old master quotes of 'NEVER CHANGE KATA' are pure BS for new students ears. For everyone has changed the kata, or as it was never really documented, nobody can prove their unproven system hasn't changed either.
So we're left with Channan as a complete enigma, a question mark that won't stop any tradition that uses it but it won't make a difference for those who don't use it either.
By way of example, does anyone watching the seniors here
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mGIHXVeL24o&mode=related&search=uechi%20ryu believe they're looking for something else? Nor do the rest, nor do most of us.
I've been doing this a while, not as long as you, and I'm not a Marine, though my original instructor was and got his training in Okinawa. I've never met a serious Martial Artist that was looking to hang in their art, though they do look at others to try and understand what others do.
For myself I've trained more than a few places, and my real desire to understand the rest is to look for the best way to take them out, using my own arts. Sure I'm oversimplifying things, but it is a core argument.
If the big deal about the "Chinese Sources of Okinawan Karate" was really a big deal, then why the heck does anyone study Okinawan karate, why not go to the real stuff, the original Chinese Arts.
But then take it a next step? Which are the strongest Chinese Arts, why play with systems that karate borrowed from, why not go for the real stuff?
That really isn't happening. Some might market pieces of that, but that's all. The Okinawan's while acknowledging there are Chinese roots, don't look to China. They train their students.
And I, here in New Hampshire, just work with what we have.
Thank yor for your Naifanchi kata analysis. I can follow what you write. Of course the Isshinryu Naifanchi kata starts off in the opposite direction, but I won't quibble because you're going the wrong way (that is a gentle josh, not a challenge).
Unfortunately I've studied its applications in different ways. From a marvelous Shotokan instructor his applications have absolutely nothig to do with the form, they just drop people very effectively. From one of my Isshinryu Seniors, he took that section and broke it into dozens of applciations, all of which drop people with just the kata technique. For myself I do what I must, but I strongly look to the lower body work for applications too.
Then again I really see Naifanchi as a way to increase abdominal power for Chinto, a real fire breathing kata in my book. Which is why I don't focus much on beginning technique answers from other systems.
I see no rational way anyone can prove or disprove any of this discussion about Channan.
If as I suspect, I'd see your kata, and your people had their act together I'd agree it has its use.
but so to many many things.
And of couse you have many kata nobody it appears has seen, uses, or knows about.
So the issue is really multiplied for each one of them.
Perhaps Mr. Hart's book will make a difference, if of course any of us can afford to buy it as the price of gas continues to rise. Then again I remember when gass was in the teens, and also penny postcards, 5cent hershey bars and cokes and other fun times.
Let's just try and share, enjoy our sharing, and always keep a healthy skecptism about everyone posting.
Especially mine. after all why should anyone believe me?
I hope you don't and contine to over look my practice.
In the long run that really makes my life easier, for I can hit you were you're not looking.
pleasantly,