While I understand the desire to maintain the link and tradition (I've made some choices, myself, for that reason), doesn't that mean that if application continues to evolve - as it should - that kata will become less and less pertinent, since it becomes more distant from application?Martinez Sensei's interpretation of IR katas is that most every technique is a joint lock. I applaud him for recognizing that the old katas were always more than just blocks and strikes (a fact lost to popular karate for many decades), although I agree with Punisher that his locks are more elaborate than the original Okinawan intention. That said, Martinez Sensei's joint locks seem well executed.
I agree with those of you who prefer that Soke's (meaning Tatsuo Shimabuku, not the several other IR "sokes") katas should not be modified. Doing so fractures the style. But that horse has left the barn. I think it's OK to slightly change a hand position to emphasize the oyo, but as I have expressed before - Use the applications that well fit the kata, don't change the kata to fit one's applications.