I assume you are referencing Butterfly's post, and as it mentions the article by Giles Hopkins, I feel obliged to add my newbies tuppence.

While 'Tensho' is not a 'classical' kata (depending on your time frame), it's certainly a 'capstone' one in our Goju. 'Magical' thinking aside, Tensho, in my book, is a 'statement' from Miyagi that deserves some deep consideration.

Indeed. Well said harlan.

Hard tensho. Sometimes we do it this way...but a little more 'loose'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjlqvJUMTnQ

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I've been unable to do kata for a couple of months because of my knee injury and subsequent surgery,but I have returned...almost. I'm still unable to do much of the turns to the left properly,but I'll get there.

One thing I have questions about. The sanchin I practice is very much like the hard style sanchin we see on most video's. The tensho is a little different. There is no rigidity in my tensho. It is very much flowing and more circular than what I have seen. I haven't found a video like it on youtube or anywhere.

1. Why was I taught that way? (speculate)
2. Is it just different or wrong?

Take into account that I do American goju.(Yamaguchi, Urban, Lou Angel, my instructors)

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Good grief, looked like that guy would have an anurism or something.

Do you take your shirt off to perform this kata too?

If I took my shirt off...you'd go blind. LOL!

Isn't this what you were asking...tensho done hard? I thought that meant 'dynamic tension'? We've played with it once in awhile like this, but mostly a 'hard' interpretation that is usuable for striking and blocking.

Another instance of hard tensho:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F20Z3KCoY_0

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One thing I have questions about. The sanchin I practice is very much like the hard style sanchin we see on most video's. The tensho is a little different. There is no rigidity in my tensho. It is very much flowing and more circular than what I have seen. I haven't found a video like it on youtube or anywhere

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There are lots of examples of a hard tensho,but tensho is supposed to be the soft aspect of goju. Atleast that's what I was told.

I learned the hard style sanchin too,but our tensho is soft,circular, and flowing.

I'm with Brian.

I think doing Tensho that hard misses its point.

And what, in your opinion, is the point of tensho?

wrist releases and some push hands elements from a solid base?

radical I know but you should check out Nathan Johnsons work on the kata tensho, naihanchi and sanchin.