Favorite Kata of Famous Sensei

[dancingalone]

I'm always interested in knowing what techniques and kata the older masters favored. Can anyone correct or add to to this list?

KYAN Chotoku - Passai
NAGAMINE Shosin - Wankan, Wanshu
MOTOBU Choki - Naihanchi
FUNAKOSHI Gichin - Kusanku/Kwanku Dai (Not certain on this one, but reportedly he demoed it a lot in his early Japan days when he was trying to grow karate)
OYAMA Mas - Tensho
OTSUKA Honori - Naihanchi
SHIMABUKURO Zenpo - Kusanku
MIYAGI Chojun - Shisochin, reportedly he disliked Sanseiru, and he created Tensho, unknown if we should infer that he favored Tensho or not
HIGA Seiko - Tensho and Kururunfa
TOGUCHI Seikichi - Seipai
SHINJO Masanobu - Suparinpei

[seasoned]

Just a comment.
I to am interested in the Kata's of old, and who favored what. While doing some of the above kata, I consider the older masters body type along with the names and what the names mean, in regard to the kata. I feel there is much insight to be gained into kata practice, with this in mind.

[dancingalone]

Just a comment.
I to am interested in the Kata's of old, and who favored what. While doing some of the above kata, I consider the older masters body type along with the names and what the names mean, in regard to the kata. I feel there is much insight to be gained into kata practice, with this in mind.

I've pondered that frequently myself. Of course I am a giant compared to most of the old masters, as you likely are.

What does this mean for us? Is big person karate the same as small person karate? There's a lot of navel contemplation possible there.

[seasoned]

I've pondered that frequently myself. Of course I am a giant compared to most of the old masters, as you likely are.

What does this mean for us? Is big person karate the same as small person karate? There's a lot of navel contemplation possible there.

You are most correct. There are disadvantages, but we do the best we can. I do have a picture in one of by albums of Shinjo Masanobu seasei and myself, and the difference is very operant, but once on the floor, his power more then makes up for any doubt.

[SuperFLY]

FUNAKOSHI Gichin - Kusanku/Kwanku Dai (Not certain on this one, but reportedly he demoed it a lot in his early Japan days when he was trying to grow karate)

This is correct. Kanku Dai/Kwanku was his favourite kata and the kata that all the hein katas are based on. Originally named Kusanku after one of his dear friends who reportedly brought the kata to Okinawa. As far as I recall anyway. been a little while since I read Gichin's book.

[twendkata71]

This is correct. Kanku Dai/Kwanku was his favourite kata and the kata that all the hein katas are based on. Originally named Kusanku after one of his dear friends who reportedly brought the kata to Okinawa. As far as I recall anyway. been a little while since I read Gichin's book.

That is impossible, since Kusanku was on Okinawa about 100 years before Funakoshi. They could not have been friends.

[SuperFLY]

replace friend with idol/man he respected then.

i remember he thought a lot of him, presumed it was that they were friends. obviously not

as said its been a while since i've read about it, memories a bit muddled.

[puunui]

MIYAGI Chojun - Shisochin, reportedly he disliked Sanseiru, and he created Tensho, unknown if we should infer that he favored Tensho or not

So Miyagi Sensei's favorite kata was not Sanchin?

[dancingalone]

So Miyagi Sensei's favorite kata was not Sanchin?

Apparently not, going by personal preference. Sanchin's not my favorite either - but it may be the most important kata.

[puunui]

Apparently not, going by personal preference. Sanchin's not my favorite either - but it may be the most important kata.

What is your favorite kata?

[dancingalone]

What is your favorite kata?

Goju-ryu - Kururunfa
Matsubayashi-ryu - Rohai, but sometimes I get on a Passai kick

[chinto]

That is impossible, since Kusanku was on Okinawa about 100 years before Funakoshi. They could not have been friends.

actually about 150 years before Funakoshi.

[chinto]

I'm always interested in knowing what techniques and kata the older masters favored. Can anyone correct or add to to this list?

KYAN Chotoku - Passai
NAGAMINE Shosin - Wankan, Wanshu
MOTOBU Choki - Naihanchi
FUNAKOSHI Gichin - Kusanku/Kwanku Dai (Not certain on this one, but reportedly he demoed it a lot in his early Japan days when he was trying to grow karate)
OYAMA Mas - Tensho
OTSUKA Honori - Naihanchi
SHIMABUKURO Zenpo - Kusanku
MIYAGI Chojun - Shisochin, reportedly he disliked Sanseiru, and he created Tensho, unknown if we should infer that he favored Tensho or not
HIGA Seiko - Tensho and Kururunfa
TOGUCHI Seikichi - Seipai
SHINJO Masanobu - Suparinpei

please note that the passai in question is the tamrai not the shuri te version for Kyan Chotoku Sensei. the Tamari version is very different then the shuri version of that kata.

[Black Belt Jedi]

The masters of old, had one or two favourite katas. The saying goes, "Three years, one kata." They spent so much time focusing on the bunkai for these templates. I remember reading an article by Iain Abernethy on Naihanchi (at least I believe it was that article) claiming that Motobu's favourite kata was Naihanchi, in addition he also favoured Kushanku, Chinto and Passai katas.

For me, I don't prefer learning so many kata because I find it too overwhelming for me to retain everything. I try to study on bunkai for at least my favourite katas. Holding a black belt in Goju-ryu, I have learned Kobudo and supplementary (foreign) katas, and I felt that I should slow down in learning new katas since Martial Arts is a lifetime of study.

[TimoS]

Kanku Dai/Kwanku was his favourite kata and the kata that all the hein katas are based on

but IMHO the Pinan/Heian kata are partially formed from Kusanku kata, but there are elements from other kata also. If I remember correctly the Pinan and Kusanku correctly, elements from e.g. Jion and (maybe) Chinto are included in them also.