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