More interesting to me than which style/art is best for self defense is the question of which kata?

If you had to teach someone effective self defense skills within a 3 month time limit, for use in everyday situations, but you had to derive your teachings from a singe karate kata, which would you pick and why?

Kanku Dai for me from a Shotokan/Shorin perspective-good range of flinch response and receiving techniques, open and closed hand strikes to all levels, a couple of kicks, takedowns, wrist locks, an arm bar and a possible leg lock, several throws and escapes. 3 months would be a tall order though-what is happening in 3 months?

That said, there is so much overlap between kata in terms of application and principles (when real men only practiced one or two ) that real concentration on Bassai Dai or Enpi or even Jion would achieve something similar. Equally Gojushiho/Ueseishi or Unsu or Nijushiho/Niseishi might achieve good defence but teaching sometimes slightly different skills and principles.

B.

I would have to say, Goose Man Kata for obvious reasons.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVk7RFEo6dc

That kata was so redic I had to comment on the video.

Saifa. It's got a lot in it.

harlan

Good call--even has a (arguable) defense vs a single leg takedown in it.

I'd go with Seisan myself--partial to the goju version--but any of them would do.

If I had one kata to work with I'd pick Seisan.....as of today..might have a different opinion next month.....and another still the month after

It's not practiced in Shorin ryu, or, at least not in Matsubayashi.

I'm partial to the Naihanchi Series mainly because it deals exclusively with "In-fighting" which is where most self-defense situations happen (face to face).

Although I do enjoy and respect Passai for it's applications and evasive manuvers/vicious counter attacks/locks/throws, etc.