I posted this on another discussion forum a long time ago.. just want to see what this group thinks.

Naihanchi Katas (aka Tekki, Naifaunchi, etc.) are taught in most systems of Okinawan Kara-te as one of the first or the first traditional katas. Due to the lateral movements and simplistic, basic hand strikes these katas have been branded as exercise katas or katas for one to develop proper basic stances. My question for this group is this:

Do you feel that there is a martial aspect to these katas or are they mearly used for exercises?

eagerly awaiting responses. [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif[/IMG]

Kind regards,

Raul

Hey Raul

Exercise be damned.

Tekki kata's are among my favorites for good, vicious, bunkai.
Great stuff in them.

I see you're not that far from me, I live in NJ and work in manhatten. Anytime you want to get together and go over them, I'd gladly meet up.

JohnL

Hi Raul,

I think they are great kata especially for the bunkai. They are also good for teaching a group because of the straight forward pattern. If you are after good bunkai check out Rick Clark's video on the subject. Puts a whole new dimension on it.

Hi Budoka,

My question was not focused on the bunkai just an inquisition on how other people and/or styles view the Naihanchi katas in general. But thanks for the lead on Rick Clark. I was aware of his capabilities I did not know he made a video on the bunkai of Naihanchi.

Kind regards,

Raul

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Budoka:
Hi Raul,

I think they are great kata especially for the bunkai. They are also good for teaching a group because of the straight forward pattern. If you are after good bunkai check out Rick Clark's video on the subject. Puts a whole new dimension on it.[/QUOTE]

Hi Budoka

I've been training with Rick Clark since he started giving seminars in the UK. Great fun. My old club in London is part of the Ao Denkou Kai group. (Ricks organization.)
I visited London about 3 weeks ago and caught up with my old buddies who are still boshing each other happily.

I know Rick is planning a series of seminars this November or so. If any of you UK guys are interested I can give a link and also put you in touch with some freinds who are hosting the seminars.

I recommend them.

JohnL

We treat them as being one of the pillars for helping develop power along with Sanchin and Tensho

I like them because they contain some nice vicious applications that are very useful .....

but then I like that sort of thing! [IMG]http://www.fightingarts.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif[/IMG]

From my perspective the Nihanchi kata(s) while short are very advanced in their mechanics to do them properly.

Their applications are likewise as subtle. Many of the karate applications shown by Motobu Choki in his books came from Nihanchi.

Correctly done these kata develop your entire trunk area and help you develop greater power generation.

The linear technique in the Nihanchi are developmental in other forms like Nijushiho and Gojushiho and more subtly are the key for correctly spinning in the Chinto kata.

Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu

There is so much bunkai in just Naihanchi Shodan! Tuite (grappling), throws, pp strikes, change-body (yes even if it's not apparent), etc.. It is often said that if you can train in any form it should be Naihanchi Shodan.

For realisitc techs and teaching see a qualified Ryukyuan Shuri Te instructor in your area. Good friggin' luck, hahaha!

Hi Dr. K,

I was wondering on your opinion on something. I study Oyata's Ryukyu Kempo and the consensus is that the katas that we practice are practically unaltered (12 empty handed kata handed down from Shigeru Nakamura). What is your take on this?

Kind regards,

Raul

Unaltered from Matsumura's teachings? i dunno. I do know that most Okinawan Kenpo (Matsumura Kenpo and Ryukyuan Kenpo) do the forms based on how the current Masters were taught. I see alot of similarity in the way the orthodox kata are preformed by the legitimate Okinawan Kenpo ryuha. Kenpo as done by Nakamura O'Sensei tended to emphasize a lot of ShuriTe (quickness, delivery) and some NahaTe aspects (longer, wider stances for example).

I think the legitimate lineages (Yuichi Kuda's Matsumura Kenpo and Seiyu Oyata's Okinawan Kenpo) have kept their orthodox renditions of the kata intact. The former- an amalgamation of Soken's and Nakamura's principles- and the latter- strictly Shigeru Nakamura's Kenpo.

Dillman and students of Dillman's don't do real Ryukyuan Kenpo.