What empty hand katas do you do,know? Which one do you consider your kata(as in the one you are best at or know more about)?

Me...Taikyoky series,Seiunchin,Sanchin,Tensho,and Sanseru.

My kata is Seiunchin.I've done it longer and studied it more in depth than the others.

Goju:
Gekisai Dai ichi, Dai ni
Sanchin
Tensho
Saifa
Seiunchin
Shisochin
Sanseiru
Seisan
Seipai
Kururunfa

Shorin:
Fukyugata ichi, ni, san
Pinan 1-5
Bassai Dai

Seiunchin is also the one I feel most comfortable with. A true hard/soft kata, it encompases all the most important basic aspects of goju - the bunkai is clear to see and interpret.
I enjoy studying Seisan and Seipai...the movements can be viewed as simple and powerful, or on another day, viewed as intricate and subtle.

I would have to say AKK's Short Form Three is my kata. It is the most comprehensive of all so far, and the highest one I know.

I know Short 1, Long 1, Short 2, and Long 2.

Kata that I perform regularly/teach: Pinan Shodan,Nidan,Yondan; Naihanchi Shodan and Nidan; Seisan, Passai, Chinto, Kusanku, Rohai, Gojushiho, Hakutsuru.

Kata that I perform regularly, but DO NOT teach: Wansu, Annaku, Nijushiho, Paiku, Okaku, Hakutsuru Mei.

My most in depth study has been Naihanchi(combined) and Kusanku.

I did learn Kururunfa(sp.?) back in my KajuKenpo days as a kid. I sometimes wish I would have held onto that one

Page

I've practised Seisan for quite a while and kihongata aside, it's the one I know best (which isn't to say a lot)

am training the following -

Fukugata 1,2
Pinan 1-5
naihanchi 1-3
ananku

My 'personal' kata, that I train a little more in depth are the following -

sanchin
naihanchi 1
matsumura seisan


I previously studied shito ryu and trained very hard in seiunchin, seipai, bassai dai, niseishi, pinans, kosukun dai and sanchin from memory.

My favorite kata for training are sanchin and naihanchi shodan, great historic forms that teach alot more than their simple format suggests.

The kata in my club are;

Taigyoku shodan, nidan, saifa, bassai-dai, seiunchin, empi, sepai, kanku-dai, shisochin and seisan.

I can "perform" all. I "know"* taigyoku 1+2 and am studying
saifa, kanku-dai and empi.

Outside of my style I can "perform" Sanseiru, Hangetsu, Heian 1-5, Tekki shodan, Jion, Geki sai dai ichi, Taigyoku Jodan, chudan, gedan, mawashi uke and kakie uke.
I'm trying to study Hangetsu and sanseiru.

Every time I think I'm getting close to understanding a kata
I peel back another layer of the onion and bang I'm back to
the start again.
I stopped trying to learn how to perform many different kata
a while ago. I know people who have learnt all 26 kata from the Shotokan syllabus that couldn't apply a single technique
from any one of them.

I would like to learn Sanchin or Tensho though.

I have been taught Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Yondan, Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Matsumura Passai, Seisan, and Chinto.

I have only been training for just under 5 years, so "knowing" any of them is a non-issue.

My personal favorite is Passai.

RC

I know taikyoku 1-3, seisan, seuchin, naihanchi 1-3, sanchin and wanshu from my style. Next to that I know tensho and some hakutsuru katas.

While my favourite kata is sanchin, I don`t know which is the kata I know most about. I think I haven`t been training long enough to decide. My guess would be that at the moment I know most about seuchin and seisan.

It`s interesting that quite a few of you said that seuchin is your favourite kata. It`s also the most favourite kata of my teacher.

I've trained in Fukyugata 1-2; Pinan 1-5; Naihanchi 1-3; Ananku; Matsumura Seisan; Matsumura Passai Sho & Dai; Wanshu; Seishin Sho.

My favs to study in depth are Nahanchi 1-3; Wanshu; Passai and Seisan.

I'm especially interested in training in Matsumura Seisan right now. The kata used to really frustrate me, but now I find it fascinating.

Seisan
Seiuchin
Naihanchin
Sanchin
Wansu
Chinto
Kusanku
Sunsu

Naihanchi 1,2,3
Pinan 1,2,3,4
Ananku
Passai
Wansu
Kusanku

I feel most comfortable with Naihanchi Shodan, it's the one I have practiced the most.

well i dont like to say i know a kata. But the katas that i do the most indepth study in karate are: Kanku Dai, Bassai Dai, Tekki sho.
I can perform all but gojushiho and jiin in the curriculum. but i really only work on the above 3.
Now i am also a kobujitsu student in an extremely kata heavy system. So heres the list of kata i do so far in kobu.
B0:Shiho Nuke, Choun No kun ichi and Ni, tsuken no kun, sakugawa no kun sho, tsueyhoshi no kun sho and dai, shushi no kun sho, shima igir no kun sho.
Sai: Higaionna no Sai, Kyan No sai, matsuhiga no sai, Hamahiga no sai, nicho sai
Tonfa:Nihon no Tonfa, Matsuhiga no Tonfa, Soken no Tonfa.
Kama: Kanegawa no Nichogama, Harai no Nichogama
Eku:tsuken Akacho no eku, Sunakake no Kai
Nunchaku: Kobu no nunchaku sho and Dai. Nihon no Nunchaku
Nunte:Tsuken AKacho no nunte

Of those kata(and ive still more to learn) probably sakugawa no kun and hamahiga no sai i do the most.
sorry for the long list

Hmmm...well,I did say empty hand kata.

Are these kata all performed for cultural preservation?

I see mix of Kobudo schools and philosophies represented in these kobudo kata.

What is the rationale for this particular mix? There is an inordinate amount of overlap in some areas and some rather large holes in others.

I may be incorrect regarding the holes, as you did state that you have more kata to learn. Perhaps these will fill in.

Page

yes . The kobuo system is a blend of matayoshi and ryukyu kobudo. So we do kata from both systems. yes they are done for cultural preservation. We go extremely in depth into the anatomy of combat with kitachi, bunkai, kihon, history, philosophy etc. We look at all the kata as having something unique to offer. I am completely aware of quality over quantity. As i said i do mainly Sakugawa no Kun as my main focus. The system itself contains about 50 traditional kobujitsu kata. I know its a lot.

Isshinryu: Sanchin, Seisan, Seiunchin, Nahanchin, Wansu, Chinto, Kusanku, Sunsu. I like Chinto and Sunsu.

i did basic katas at my old dojo, Heian Nidan/Shodan/Sandan, but the one i am currently learning, and love to pieces is Tensho. Its so beautiful, smooth, just an all round favourite kata. For me, it pretty much sums up what I like in katas -luffs Tensho-

Kata I know...

I know the movements/embu for a lot of kata. Between standard Isshin-ryu, Shorin-ryu, Goju-ryu and the kata one of my teachers made up, I'd guess around 40 or 50, actually. I don't feel like listing them.

I'd say I might know 1 of them really - but I think that would be a stretch. I guess if I had to choose one that I "know," it would probably be Saifa at this point - but like I said, that would be a stretch. I know some bunkai for all of them, but can't do all the bunkai reliably - hence I don't know most of the kata I know.

I know Heian series, Tekki Shodan and Nidan, Bassai Dai and Sho, and Chinte. I believe that Tekki Shodan is my best kata. I am a better with my hands then my feet so it’s a perfect kata for me.

Heian Shodan-Godan
Tekki Shodan
Empi
Bassai Dai and working on Tekki Nidan and sandan

Anyone else heard of the Kata EMPI?

Empi(also spelled enpi), or "Flight of the swallow", is also widely recognized as "wansu". That's a fun kata.

I enjoy a wide variety of kata from many many different arts. However, I NEVER say that I know them, even though I can perform many of them backwards or on the opposite side. I always say "I've studied that kata", instead of saying I "know" it.

I agree with your point, boomer. It's semantics that mostly goes without saying in person- but maybe needs mention in text. In this case I assume: 'know' = 'can perform the movements in order to further study the kata'.

That's exactly what I meant by 'know' Kintama,some people need to be quite literal.

Boomer,I see your point and I'm on your side .

My POV exactly...(I don't "Know" any kata)

I'm studying:
Pinan 1 - 5
Naihanchi Shodan
Kosokun Dai
Bassai Dai
Tensho
Juroku
Wanshu
Jitte
Jion
Seisan
Annanko
Seienchin
Kururunfa
Niseishi
Sochin
Koshiki no Rohai
Tomari Bassai
Matsukaze
Nipaipo
Seipai

Forgot:
Gojushiho
Jiin

(Damn, I never took an accounting before)

Good stuff, Sanchin...thank you!

I know Taikyoku 1-3, Heian, (Pinan) 1-5, and Tekki Shodan, (Naihanchi) the one I know best is obviously Taikyoku Shodan since it was the first one I learned, my favorite though is Tekki Shodan because the Tekki series is unique to me since they are the only katas that go side to side.

I am training for shodan examination during next summer.
I am studying the following katas:
Heian 1-5 and Tekkishodan which are selected by the commision.
bassai dai, kanku dai and Jion are katas I can choose.

I am also training the following katas:

Gankaku
Unsu
Nijushiho

I want to learn Gojushiho sho/dai, jitte.

I am also studying kobujutsu, and holds a 4.kyu in Ryukyu kobujutsu. (4. kyu is the first degree... )
I know shuji no kon sho, shuji no kon dai, tsukenshitahaku no sai.

I want to learn chatan yara no sai.

No, you don't want to learn Jitte! Yuck!

Under Ryukyu Kempo I have learnt
Taikyouku 1,2,3 Pinan 1,2,3,4,5 & Naihanchi.
Now under Koryu Uchinadi, I am currnetly learning Chokyu.
I enjoy practicing Naihanchi.
However I enjoy practicing katas in general, somedays it can be a meditation in motion and others it can be the battle of a lifetime.

There is a slight difference between what I know, what I’m somewhat good at,, and what I’ve studied.

I teach at the kyu level:
Fuygata Sho (Matsubayshi Ryu)
Annaku (Shorin Ryu Honda Katsu)
Seisan (Isshinryu)
Saifa (Goju Ryu)
Seiunchin (Isshinryu)
Naifanchi (Isshinryu)
Wansu (Isshinryu)
Chinto (Isshinryu)
Lung Le Kuen (Pai Lum)
Kusanku (Isshinryu)
Nijushiho (Sutrisno Shotokan)
SunNuSu (Isshinryu)
Sanchin (Isshinryu)
Kobudo – Bando Short Stick

At the dan level, the curricula is individualized, but it roughly covers over the next 15 or so years:

Kobudo: Bando Short Stick
Bando Staff the Horsemans Form
Bo (Isshinryu) – Tokomeni No Kon, Urashie No Bo, Shi Shi No Kon No Dai
Sai (Isshinryu) – Kusanku Sai, Chantan Yara No Sai
Tonfa - my study on Wansu NO Tonfa, & theIsshinryu variant form ‘Chia Fa’
Kama – Chosen No Kama Sho, Chosen No Kama Dai
Tanto Drills

Kata: Goju Seipai
Shotokan Bassai Dai, Gojushiho
Uechi Sanchin, Seisan
Matsumura No Patsai
Rohai (Tomari)
a private version of Hakutsuru
Matzan Tildur – tjimande
Sip Sau Jing – Tai Tong Long
Dune De Kuen – Sil Lum
Pai Lum Kuen – Pai Lum
Hon Kuen – Faan Tzi Ying Jow Pai

I am conversant with the entire Miyagi Goju curricula of kata.
I am conversant with the most of the Shotokan curricula of kata.
And a bit more.

In addition I practice and teach Yang Long Fist 108, Yang Straight Sword and I practice the Wu Gau Gee 108 form too.

(These don't really count, but Kihon 1-5, Fukyuugata 1-3 and Yakusoku kumite 1-7)

Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Pinan Sandan, Pinan Yondan, Pinan Godan
Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan
Passai Sho, Passai Dai
Chinto
Kusanku Sho, Dai
Gojushiho
Gorin
Hakutsuru So, Hakutsuru Tan, Hakutsuru Tan he (White Crane training drills, Matsumura Shorin Ryu)
Hakutsuru Sho (Matsumura Shorin Ryu)
Wansu (Matsumura Shorin Ryu)
Ananku (Matsumura Shorin Ryu)
Seisan (Matsumura Shorin Ryu)
Hakutsuru (Kyoshi Perry's version, I believe it is the Takemyoshi family style)
Rokishu (Kyoshi Perry's version, unsure where he got it from)
Yang Style Tai Chi Long Form (aptly named...I'm still learning it)
Another one I'll say if I get the "okay" to make it public (No, it's not some super secret society thing...)

All in all, too many.

Is your Rokkishu similar to the Goju-ryu Tensho?

I'd be interested to know more about the form. It was supposedly created by Kyoda Juhatsu (founder of Tou'on Ryu). If you can find where Kyoshi Perry learned it, that would be quite interesting, as Tou'on Ryu is not a common style at all.

There may be another form with the same name, but I'd still like to check it out.

These are the forms as practiced in Chung do Kwan.
* Tae Guk 1-3
* Pyong-On 1-5.....Pinan, Heian
* Kuk-Mu 1-5
* Chulgi 1-3.... .Naihanchi, Tekki
* Pal Sek...........Bassai
* Ship Soo
* Yoon Bee........Empi
* Ja-On.............Jion

I practice Shotokan Karate and I know:
Heian Serie
Tekki Shodan/Naihanchi/Naifanchi
Bassai Dai
Wan Kan

Anyway the one I like the most is Tekki Shodan, because of its difficulty to execute.
It is a short kata, but in each kyodo you have to put all the kime. A Shotokan master once said that he recognize a karate fighter by his Tekki. And that a true Karate fighter
must practice Tekki at least ten thousand times to be a good karateka.

What do I actually know?

Taikyoku Shodan and Sandan

Heian I-V

Tekki I-III

Bassai Dai and Sho

Jion

Enpi

Hangestu

Kanku Dai and Sho

Chinte

Jiin

Jitte

Gojushoho Sho

Unsu

Nijushiho

Wankan

Meikyo

tried learning Gojushoho Dai, Gankaku and Sochin but I don't know my other kata well enough yet, and they seemed awkward.

too many katas!

At the moment: saifa

-Nikki

Naihanchin
Sanchin
Tensho
Seiunchin
Saifa
Sanseru
Starting to learn Seisan

We have some basic technique katas/forms but these are the traditional katas that I know.

I would also say that my favourite kata and the one that I would consider "my" kata is also seiunchin. It's a fantastic kata. I also really like sanseru but since I only learnt that in the last 12 months I'm yet to have the same understanding of it as I do (so far that is) of seiunchin - still heaps more I can get out of that kata!

Pian 1
Pian 3
Pian 4
Pian 2

Green Belt Kata

Taiki Yoku Go I
Taiki Yoku Go H
Taiki Yoku Series
Gekki Sei
Mawashi Uke

Purple Belt Kata

Empi 3
Empi Ha
Taikiyoku Mawashi Uke
Saifa
Tensho
Nunchaku 1

Brown Belt Kata (basic level rank)

Empi 1
Hangetsu
Uchi Ni
Seinchin
Nunchaku 2
Goju Long Bo

SanKyu Brown Belt Kata

Budo 1
Gekki Sei Sai

NiKyu Brown Belt Kata

Gi Shako Sho
Sanchin

IkKyu Brown Belt Kata

Empi 2
Hangetsu Sai

Shodan Black Belt Kata

Gankakyu
Pian Black Belt 5
Hein Yodan
Double Nunchaku
Seinchin Sai
sanseiru
Tokemine no bo

There is more,just havent earned the right to learn them. Just learned sanseiru,i like all of them on diffrent days.

Goju:
Gekisai Dai ichi, Dai ni
Saifa
Seiunchin
Shisochin
Sanseiru
Seisan
Seipai
about half of Kurunfa

every now and again on sundays i go to a shotokan dojo and so far ive only learnt one called 'kata kion'

Just in karate?

Fukyugata 1+2
Pinan 1-5
Naihanchi 1-3
Ananku
Wankan
Wanshu
Rohai
Passai
Gojushiho
(Chinto, but not well enough)

Wankan is my favorite/best, I think.

other empty hand forms

Se Mien Tau Lien -facing four directions
Fei Hu Chu Tong - tiger flying out of a cave
Tai P'eng Sin Kun - something about a giant mythical bird
Lohan Quan - monk fists
San He Chien - three battles
Ching Kong Fu Hu Quan- Golden Mountain defeats the tiger
Chie Quan - connecting fists
Lien Wu Chang - five direction palms
Pai He Chuan Ie- white crane circles the wings
Pai He Huan Ie- white crane flips the wings
Pai He Huan Jiao- white crane flips the legs
Luo Tien -descent from heaven
Chan Ie - spread the wings
Yen He - performing crane
Hei Hu Chuan Sen - black tiger turns the body
Hei Hu Huan Sen- black tiger flips the body
Hei Hu Dao Sen - black tiger strikes the body/heart
Hei Hu Shou Shang- black tiger wounded
Taiji quan 24 posture modern form
Taiji quan 37 posture yang style
PaKuaChang 180 posture form
Hsing I Quan 5 element linkage form
Tang Lang Sze Sua Quan- preying mantis pick and play fist
Shaolin Wu Xing Quan - shaolin five animal form
Hu He Shuang Xing Quan - tiger crane double animal form

of these, I am focusing on five animal form the most. that is my favorite

if feel all stupid because i've forgotten the katas that i learnt years ago (wasn't that many though) and now i can only perform pinan nidan which i've learnt over the last two weeks and i'm really trying to 'know' it. its a great kata though. gotta (re)start somewhere i suppose.

So far, , I've learned and work on...

Heian I-V
Taikyoku V
Yontsu
Saifa

Katas i know are-
Pinan Shodan
Pinan Nidan
Pinan Sandan
Pinan Yodan
Pinan Godan
Bassai Dai
Naihanchin
Rohai
Rohai Shodan
Seiunchin

Would realy like to know Seipai. have seen is performed and it looks very interesting.
would also like to know kusanku and Tensho but ill have to wate for them. would like seipai first

like all of the katas but if i had to pik a favorate it would be Seiunchin. I dont know why, it just feals right. if you know what i meen.

My favorite Kata's at the moment are Kenshu and Gojushiho ... I've been doing a lot of research on the previous because... Well damn. Its just cool.

Kenshu is a Shito-Ryu traditional Kata, I'm not sure any other groups practice it. I was lucky enough to learn it and I thank my star's for my instruction. I am not going to list my Kata here because basically its the same list as any other Traditional Karateka's...

The kata I need to know for my kyu grade (5th) are the following:
Taikyoku sono ichi, ni, san
Pinan sono ichi, ni, san
Seido sono ichi, ni (part of Seido karate syllabus)
Sanchin

I like the Seido katas and perform quite well in them as well, but I also enjoy Pinan 2 and 3.
Sanchin I find interesting, and I feel myself improving, but it's a very difficult kata and will take a very long time before I will feel I can perform it reasonably well.

For my next belt, which I will hopefully grade to this Saturday, I will have to learn 3 more kata:
Gekisai Dai
Pinan sono yon
Seido sono san

I quite look forward to learning new kata, as every single one brings in new aspects, new insights and things to think about.

Let's see, I know Taikyoku Shodan, Nidan, and sandan, Heian Shodan, Nidan, Sandan, Yondan, and Godan, and Tekki Shodan, the one I'm best at would probably be Taikyoku Shodan but my favorite is Heian Yondan.

good at:

Heian 1-5
Tekki 1-3
Basai Dai, Basai Sho
Jion, Jiin
Kanku Dai, Kanku Sho
Empi
Hangets
Wankan
Sochin

still becomming good at :

Chinte
Nijushiho

Damn, Victor! Why didn't you list the kata you DON'T know?

I see you had sanchin down the list. Do you teach this at brown belt? Seems it's taught either 1st or 7th in the Isshinryu curriculum.

Kata I "know"

Wado Ryu: Pinan Nidan, Shodan, Sandan, Yodan and Godan. Kushanku, Nianchi, Seishan, Chinto, Bassai, Rohai, Jion and Jitte.

Shindo Ryu: Keiko kata ichi, ni and san. Tanshiki kata Nidan, Shodan, Sandan, Yodan and Godan. Kusanku, Nianchi, Seisan, Chinto, Bassai, Rohai and Jion.

Yoseikan: Heian Nidan, Shodan, Sandan, Yodan and Godan.

All of the above need a lot of improvement. I am leaning Ananku which I need along with Wanshu for my 4th dan in Shindo Ryu. For Wado Ryu I need that version of Wanshu plus Ni Sei Shi.

My favourite kata is Jion. I love both versions of that kata.
Sharon

I'm a Shorinryu (Kobayashi) practitioner who also does other Japanese/Okinawan styles. I also do Taekwondo. Here are my Japanese/Okinawan katas

Taikyoku Gedan, Chudan, Jodan, Mawashi Uke and Kake Uke
Gekisai Dai Ichi and Ni
Saifa
Sanchin
Tensho
Seiunchin
Kururunfa
Suparinpei
Pinan Shodan-Godan
Naihanchi Shodan-Sandan
Passai Dai and Sho
Kusanku Dai and Sho
Gojushiho
Chinto
Unsu
Aragaki Unsu
Wankan
Nipaipo
Annan
Paiku

At the moment in my training I do: kihon-ichi-no-kata, ten-i-no-kata, kihon-ni-no-kata, shiho-empi and shiho-tsuki-geri. (The last one actually in different ways, but this way most of the time.)
I'm 5th kyu at the moment.

Hi Ironfoot,

Just saw your post, having been working flat out the past several months.

As to what kata I know, I've trained a few places and when taught tried to remember it. I think at one time or another I've studied several hundred forms, but whether I know them is a question. Time has restricted many of those practices, many of them were variations of the same kata (such as 3 or 4 different versions of Chinto) which made the retention somewhat easier.

What it does help is my understanding of what others do.

As for Sanchin, I teach Sanchin as the 8th Isshinryu kata, the same order as my instructors taught me. That I teach other kata drills in between the 8, does not change the order of our Isshinryu.

There are some who use Sanchin first (which is more traditional Goju tradition), and I understand at one time Isshinryu taught it first, in the early years before my instructors began training.

I see no special merit in either practice.

Of course I do make one small difference, I only teach Sanchin full speed with normal breathing, after long study on my part. I use Sanchin as a way to break up attacks.

Shorin-ryu
Fukyu-sho
Annanku
Rohia
Wanshu
Naihanchi Sho
Passai Dai

Years later after
Jion
Sesain Matsummura's
Jitte
Chinto

Goju-ryu

Kihon Fukyu-sho
Sanchin
Gakisai 1-3 S.Toguchi's 3rd kata
Gakihai 1 ST's
Tensho
Saifa
Gakihai-2 ST's
Kaku-hai 1-2 ST's
Seienchin
SeiSan Hagashionna's
Sanseiru
Shisochin
Seipai
Kururunfa
Suprienpia
Hakutsuru
Hakutsuru Toguchi's

Tang-soo-do
Pinan 1-5
Tekki-1-3
Baisai sho

Shotokan Heian 1-5, Naihanchi sho, Baisai

Spring flower

Sil-lum Tao Little idea
Chum – Kui Sinking & Bridging
Biu-Jee Darting Fingers
Chi-sauo Sticky Hands

Fukien White Crane ...Ngo-cho-kun
Basic kuens
Sam chien

Silat and Kali sets 1-8.....

Neko456,

You mention "SeiSan Hagashionna's"
It's different from the Goju version ?
Where does it come from (Toguchi-Higa-Higashiaonna ???)

I came up in a school that taught a bastardized form of Okinawan Karate, so I learned a lot of kata, although I do not teach them all. At Nidan, I know:

Goju Ryu:
Gekisai-di Ichi
Gekisai-di Ni
Saifa
Seiyunchin
Shisoshin
Sanseru
Miyagi Sanchin
Higashionna Sanchin
Tensho

Shorin Ryu:
Naifanchi
Pinan/Heian 1-5
Jutte
Jiin
Jion
Shihokosukun
Rohai
Passai
Wankan
Wanshu
Ananku
Chinto

Kobudo:
Shiho no Kun
Shodan no Kun

Other:
Juroku [Shito-Ryu]
Kanshi-wa [Pangai Noon Uechi Ryu]

I hope to finish out my Goju Kata with Seipai, Sesan, Kururunfa, and Suparenpai...as well as pick up Kusanku. We will see, in time. It's more finding teacher in the area than anything else.

I was making the distinction between Matsumuras' Seisan and Hagashionna's SeiSan. I know both, I like the Goju-ryu verison better and I would its my base, but I enjoy exploring the Bunkia of both. Actually when you compare the Bunkia shown to me and even the Kata Goju-Kia's Seisan it is different then Okinawans Goju-ryu's which has more Gung-fu like smaller circle moves. The floor pattern near the same but not hands.

From what I understand of course Bushi Matsumura's version is older and there more verison then these 2 or 3. I'd like to do a side by side comparison with Isshin-ryu's Seisan. Shito-ryu is almost the same as Goju-ryu with very small differences.

Seisan may rival Paisia as one of the oldest Katas on Ryukyu Islands, As you know.

My Sensei said Seisan was my best Kata, I like Seipa and Superinpei better.

Heian shodan
Heian Nidan
Heian Sondan
Heian Yondan
Heian Godan
Tekki Shodan
Tekki Nidan
Bassai Dai
Jitte
Jion

My favorite would be either bassai dai or jion.

I know/train:

Taikyoku series
Wansu
Anaku
Empi
Sanchin
Naifanchi (sho, ni)
Passai dai
Kushanku sho
Dan enn sho, Go pei sho (Trias shuri ryu kata)
Nandan Sho (Niseishi)
Seipai

I favor and know best Naifanchi and Wansu. Particularly wansu, undergoing an intensive and exclusive bunkai study of the kata over the last year and a half or so, extracting and documenting over 40 oyo from the form.

I have been taught Heian 1-5, Tekki Shodan, Empi, Bassai Dai, and Jion

I love Empi. It feels very natural to perform it.

1Seisan
2Seiuchin
3Wansu
4Naihanchi
5Chinto
6Kusanku
7Sanchin
8Sunsu
9Tensho


And for the youngest/children we have a pattern which is a standard I pattern (NOT a kata) with some particular ~flavorings~ undergoing careful scrutiny and likely imminant changes. We have several weapons kata as well, but your question was specific to the empty handed materials.

Favorite, got me... love them all. Chinto I suppose, but Seisan, Tensho take your pick... none are bad, all enjoyable.

J

Bump

my my how a little time can change many things, kata I work now are as follows -

Pinan Sho/Ni
Naihanchi Sho/Ni

Paisai Dai
Chinto - current favorite!
Useishi
Kusanku

Sanchin, personal version for playing with white crane principles

Seisan, on the shelf............

Also a few kobudo kata.

I limited my study to Funakoshi's syllabus as quoted in Karatedo Kyohan, which gives me:

Hiean 1-5
Tekki 1-3
Jitte
Jion
Hangetsu
Kanku Dai
Bassai Dai
Empi
Gankaku

I also know the first 3 forms of Fujian White Crane and the first 6 Taeguk forms of WTF Taekwondo.

I also practice Nijushiho and Jiin and have developed my own version of Hangetsu as a means of catalogueing the close quarter karate/kungfu I've learned.

My deepest study has been on the Tekki series, but I'm currently focussed on the Temple Kata: Jitte Jion and Jiin.

Gekisai Dai ichi, Dai ni
Sanchin
Saifa
Seiunchin
Shisochin
Sanseiru
Anaku
Chinto

I always liked Saifa and Chinto

GeikiSai Dai Ichi/Ni
Saifa
Seiyunchin
Shishochin
Sanseiryu
Seipai
Kurunfa
Seisan

Sanchin
Tensho

Seisan and Tensho - Favorites

So far I've learned Pinan 1 and pretty much 2, blocking form 1-2, Hyungs 1-7 (and forgot them), then Naihanchi 1. Use to know fukyugata 1-2 but not much anymore.

I know Seiyunshin inside out. That would have to be my kata.

Let's update a little

Shiho (several short forms for kihon)
Kihon Ichi
Kihon Ni
Kihon San
Ten I
Chi I
Naihanchi
Wankan

At sankyu

Wow, I must say I am astounded by the number of people who know many Kata. I was under the impression that it took approx ten years per kata to truly understand it.

That really depends on the person.. My retarded cousin took about 14 years to learn how to tie his shoes but it only takes a couple tries for most people...

im trying to find a step by step instruction of pian shodan for ryukyu kempo. if anyone can help me it would be much appreciated.