Meaning of the name Destroy, Disrupt Moves: 32

Saifa

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Medium

Shisochin

Meaning of the name Four fighting monkeys Moves: 44

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Medium

Seienchin

Meaning of the name Silence before the storm Moves: 54

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Medium

Sanseiru

Meaning of the name Thirtysix Moves: 50

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Medium

Seisun

Meaning of the name Thirteen Moves: 56

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Seipai

Meaning of the name Eightteen Moves: 47

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Kururunfa

Meaning of the name Hold and Destroy Moves: 52

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Suparimpei

Meaning of the name Onehundredeight Moves: 108

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Sanchin

Meaning of the name Three phases Moves: 48

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Tensho

Meaning of the name Turning palms Moves: 44

Classification Shorei-Ryu

Style Goju-Ryu Shito-Ryu

Level Advanced

Saifa   is   a   hard   Kata   and   the   techniques   teaches   how   to   brake   the   oponents   attack   and to destroy his grip or grabbling. For   to   use   this   techniques   it   demands   a   strong   will   to   do   it.   Muscles   and   the   strenght of the body is not as important as the right mind. The   used   techniques   are   also   effective   and   painful   with   less   power.   The   Kata   also demands high skills for balance and for to be able to create explosivity. Movements   to   the   side   for   to   escape   the   oponents   technique   and   a   method   to   walk around the oponent for to get behind his back are special parts of the Kata. Some   techniques   allows   the   suspecion   that   the   Kata   is   from   crane   style.   Because   of the concept and principles it has a strong realtionship to the Kata Seienchin.

The   name   Shisochin   can   also   be   translate   to   the   meaning   "fighting   in   four   directions". These   is   also   a   philosophic   meaning,   because   of   the   fact   the   Kata   includes   also diagonal movement so it have more than four directions. Shishochin   is   from   the   tiger   style   and   has   powerful   anc   calm   parts.   It   shows   only   two single    techniques,    all    others    will    be    repeat    two    or    four    times,    which    shows    a relationship   to   the   concept   of   Suparimpei   and   Sanseiru.   Shisochin   is   probably   a   very old   Kata.   The   training   demands   endurance   and   speed   and   also   the   skills   to   create explosivity. It   includes   very   direct   attacks,   release   techniques   against   attacks   from   behind   and several techniques against lever techniques and some for to brake joints. Done   in   the   right   way   the   Kata   shows   self   confidents   and   superiority.   This   is   especially to   see   in   the   Shito-Ryu   version.   The   middle   part   of   the   Kata   is   sometimes   very different done by the schools Goju-Ryu or Shito-Ryu. It   is   difficult   to   do   the   Kata   with   the   right   kind   of   speed.   With   too   much   speed   the Kata   shows   hectic   and   loses   her   spirit.   Funny   that   this   effect   works   also   in   the   turn   for the slowly movements.

Seienchin   is   maybe   the   favourite   Kata   of   the   Naha-te.   It   is   a   very   harmonic   Kata   and it’s   name   which   has   the   meaning   silent   before   storm   is   the   best   one   to   tell   the   spirit of   this   Kata.   In   the   first   part   we   find   6   techniques   which   will   be   repeat   3   times   done   in a   beautiful   way   of   calmness   and   majesty.   Unexpactable   and   suddenly   the   following techniques are like a storm build from strong movements with different speed. Because   of   this   properties   Seienchin   is   known   as   the   typical   Kata   of   Goju-Ryu.   In   no other   Kata   we   find   the   counterparts   of   hardness   and   softness   as   good   to   see.   Unusual it   is   that   the   Kata   has   not   Keri-Waza   (Kicking   techniques).   There   are   different   opinions if   the   Kata   is   to   count   to   the   crane   or   the   tiger   style.   A   sharp   look   to   the   typical   crane Kata   like   Nipaipo,   Rohai,   Chinto   or   even   Hakutsuru   makes   it   clear   that   Seienchin   isn’t a   typical   Kata   of   the   crane   style.   Maybe   it's   influenced   by   tiger   and   crane.   In   any   case the concept of the Kata shows a relationship to the Kata Saifa.

The   names   of   the   Kata   Sanseiru,   Seisun,   Seipai   and   Suparimpei   has   there   meanings in   numbers,   which   shall   include   some   kind   of   mystic.   So   the   13   (Seisun)   is   known   as the   lucky   number   in   chinese.   In   case   of   Sanseiru   it   es   more   complicated.   Basic   for   the interpretation   of   the   name   is   the   summary   of   the   muliplication   6   x   6,   which   makes 36. The   first   6   stands   for   Eyes,   Ears,   Nose,   Tong,   Body   and   Mind.   The   second   6   are   for Colour,   Voice,   Taste,   Smell,   Touch   and   Justify.   Divid   with   2   we   get   18   what   is   the meaning   of   Sepai.   The   muliplication   of   36   with   3   makes   108   what   is   the   meanining   of Suparimpei. It's   possible   to   read   a   lot   of   important   things   out   of   numbers,   as   well   as   from   bones (according   to   some   predicter),   but   maybe   before   thinking   36   times   about   the   mystic of a name of a Kata, we should prefere to exercise this Kata 36 times. Especially   as   we   don't   know   if   the   names   of   the   Kata   are   still   authentic.   A   lot   of   Kata has   got   new   names,   or   the   name   has   been   translate   from   chinese   to   the   okinawa language. Nobody knows if the interpreation of the meaning was the correct one. Much   more   interest   is   that   the   Sanseiru   shows   a   concet   which   is   similar   to   the concept of Shisochin and Suparimpei. These   are   the   only   Kata   of   Okinawa   where   parts   will   be   repeat   four   times.   In   all   other Kata   the   techniques   will   be   repeat   two,   three   or   five   times.   And   some   technical combination   in   Sanseiru   will   be   done   also   four   times   and   includes   four   movements.   In Suparimpei   there   are   two   times   four   movements   and   one   time   two   movements   which will   be   repeat   four   times.   In   Shisochin   we   find   one   technique   in   four   times   repetation. These   allows   to   suppose   that   all   three   Kata   has   been   created   with   the   same   concepts and ideas. And maybe they did come from the same chinese school. Allthough   Sanseiru   is   been   count   to   the   dragon   style.   Shisochin   to   the   tiger   style.   And Suparimpei   could   have   some   influence   of   both   styles.   All   three   Kata   begins   with Sanchin   Dachi   doing   Morote   Yoko   Uke   (in   Shotokan   style   called   as   Uchi   Uke),   only Shisochin shows the technique with open hands. Sanseiru   seems   to   be   an   advanced   Kata   with   strong   attacking   techniques,   especially Kansetsu   Geri   to   the   knee.   It   includes   a   lot   of   throwing   techniques   and   diagonal     movements and 7 kicks at all.

13   is   in   china   known   as   the   lucky   number.   If   it   is   a   lucky   thing   to   ruptor   the   larynx   of the   opponent,   like   Seisun   in   old   versions   teach?   Probably   Seisun   is   the   oldest   Kata   of Naha-te.   In   Shuri-te   a   Seishan   (Sesan)   is   known.   But   Seishan   is   as   much   differen   to Seisun that it is a own Kata. Seishan is also the source of Shotokan Kata Hangetsu. Seisun   is   an   advanced   Kata.   Watched   from   outside   it   seems   to   be   an   easy   Kata   with no   much   expression.   But   whoever   takes   the   Kata   serious   is   able   to   discover   the   inner dynamic   and   probably   will   like   it.   Allthough   it   begins   with   Morote   Yoko   Uke   in   Sanchin Dachi,   like   Sanseiru,   Shisochin   and   Suparimpei,   but   after   the   beginnin   it   has   a     different   concept.   Some   techniques   of   Seisun   we   can   find   in   Seienchin,   Suparimpei and   Sanchin.   Also   it   has   Kansetsu   Geri   like   Sanseiru.   It’s   not   for   sure   if   Seisun   is really an old Kata or maybe a new Kata created in Okinawa. In any case the founder of the Kata is, like in many cases, unknown. But   for   the   value   of   the   Kata   this   has   no   menaning.   And   because   of   the   techniques   I suppose   that   it   comes   from   the   tiger   style.   But   in   some   schools   the   attack   to   the larynx is hidden or done in a way which don't show the true.

Also   the   number   18   has   a   mytic   meaning.   In   this   case   the   muliplication   3   x   6   makes 18   and   like   in   Sanseiru   the   6   stands   for   Eyes,   Ears,   Nose,   Tonge,   Body   and   Mind.   The 3   itself   stands   for   Good,   Bad   and   Peace.   This   interpretation   is,   like   in   Sanseiru,   Seisun and Suparimpei, not without doubts. Seipai   is   an   extraordinary   Kata   with   very   strong   techniques   for   self   defence   expecially against   grabbling.   It   is   very   versatile   and   no   technique   will   be   done   more   than   two times.   It   starts   with   a   difficult   combination   of   techniques,   which   shows,   done   in   the right   way,   a   lot   of   majesty,   power   and   brake   through   power.   The   change   between   the calm   and   dynamic   techniques   is   obvious.   A   calm,   flowing   and   soft   techniques   follows like   an   explosion   the   fast,   and   powerful   one.   The   Kata   teaches   a   kind   of   wild   an powerful   fighting   style   for   the   direct   infight.   Also   it   includes   a   lot   of   lever   and   throwing techniques. The   footwork   with   Tai   Sabaki   and   the   turns   demands   a   lot   of   skills   for   coordination and balance. Seipai   is   count   to   the   crane   style   and   shows   a   highly   advanced   level.   Concept   and integration of some techniques reminds to the Kata Kururunfa.

The   Kata   is   in   many   parts   similar   to   the   Kata   Niseishi,   a   Kata   which   was   done   in   the Aragaki school of Niigaki (a village between Tomari and Naha). Kururunfa   is   the   only   original   Kata   of   Goju-Ryu   which   don't   start   to   the   front   but   to the   left   side.   In   former   times   it   did   start   with   Kote   Uke   and   Otoshi   Empi   and   more Hiraken   was   used.   This   allows   to   suppose   that   the   Kata   comes   from   the   chinese   style of   Leopard.   Some   the   techniques   will   be   done   flashlight,   similar   to   the   praw   of   a   cat. In   the   rhythm   of   changes   of   speed   (from   slow   to   fast)   we   see   a   advanced   skills   and explosivity. The   relationship   to   the   Nijushiho   (Nisesihi)   is   not   only   by   the   concept   and   Enbusen   of the Kata, but also to see in the include techniques especially the combinations. And   this   is   even   more   to   see   in   Nijushiho   than   in   the   original   version   Niseishi. Kururunfa   is   known   as   the   bone   brake   Kata.   A   lot   of   it’s   techniques,   including   the throwing techniques, are for to brake bones or joints. It's    not    good    to    have    a    wrong    impression    in    view    of    some    slowly    and    mooth movements. The Bunkai will show the painful true.

It’s   chinese   name   is   Peichurin.   Suparimpei   is   the   longest   Kata   in   Naha-te.   Four difficult    technical    combinations    will    be    done    four    times.    Furthermore    it    includes versatile   combinations   with   turns   until   to   360   degrees   and   a   difficult   to   perform   Nidan Geri. The   speciality   of   the   4   times   repeatment,   which   is   similar   to   the   Sanseiru   and Shisochin, allows to suppose that all three Kata are from the same chinese school. Also   for   Suparimpei   the   meaning   of   the   number   108   is   a   question.   One   opiion   is   that     108   master   was   included   to   create   the   Kata.   Some   think   that   the   name   tells   that   the Kata   have   108   different   techniques.   Unother   theory   says   that   the   name   stands   for   the 108 bad human properties. Depend   on   the   version   the   Kata   has   108   movements   and   only   the   old   version   of Hakutsuru has more. Suparimpei   includes   a   lot   of   different   techniques.   Some   are   very   complicated   to   use, other   demands   a   strong   will   for   to   attack   without   any   doubt.   For   the   first   view   it   isn't difficult   to   learn   the   Kata.   But   it   is   very   difficult   to   do   the   techniques   in   the   correct way.   Some   demands   a   special   softness   and   flexibility   of   the   hips   used   in   synchron movement with a powerful use of the arms while doing a special kind of breathing. In   counterpart   to   some   fast   and   acrobatic   Kata   like   Unsu,   the   difficulty   of   Suparimpei in the details but they are not easy to see for the untrained eye. In   fact   the   older   versions   of   the   Kata   even   more   difficult   as   the   today   vesions,   which we see in tournaments.

Sanchin   is   known   as   the   most   important   Kata   of   Naha-te.   But   not   the   fighting principles   are   such   important,   but   the   effect   the   Kata   have   for   the   development   of   the body. The   daily   training   of   Sanchin   increase   the   poser   of   the   muscles   and   much   more   the skills   for   isometric   tension   of   single   muscles   and   groups   of   muscles   and   even   the tension    of    all    muscles    of    the    body,    what    is    very    difficult    and    needs    a    lot    of concentration.   Also   Sanchin   improves   the   breathing.   It   teaches   a   special   kind   of breathing   which   works   with   using   the   muscles   in   abdominal   area.   It   develops   skills   for to   control   the   muscles   by   breathing   and   to   learn   how   to   absorb   the   effect   of   a   punch. In   perfect   using   of   this   skills   it   works   automatically   in   the   moment   of   contact   of   the oponent techniques with the own body. There   is   the   rule   that   someone   who   can   practise   Sanchin   more   than   two   time   in   a   row don’t   use   all   his   mind   and   power   doing   the   Kata.   But   to   use   all   the   mind   and   all   the power is absolutly necessary for to practise Sanchin properly. In   former   times   and   in   some   schools   of   Uechi-Rau   the   Kata   is   used   for   to   make   the body hard against any kind of attack. For   this   during   the   performance   of   the   Kata   the   perfomer   will   be   hit   with   a   stick   or   fist to the body, to the arms and to the legs. Sanchin   is   whether   a   versatile,   elegance   nor   beautiful   Kata.   It   is   just   a   Kata   for   to increase   the   power   of   the   body.   And   though   it   looks   very   easy,   it   keeps   many   years   of training to master it. There   is   the   question   if   there   is   a   relationship   to   the   Happoren.   But   Happoren   includes also   soft   principles   and   is   very   different   to   Sanchin.   We   can   suppose   that   Sanchin   is some   kind   of   exercise   on   the   way   to   the   Kata   Happoren.   But   there   is   no   proof   for   it and   it's   possible   to   believe   that   Sanchin   is   only   there   to   be   Sanchin   and   for   to   get   a body made from steel. The   original   version   is   done   with   open   hands   and   includes   also   fast   movements   in connections with a difficult kind of breathing. Chojun   Miyagi   did   change   this   to   the   today   used   version   with   closed   fists.   The   reason was   probably   for   to   make   it   easier   to   learn   the   tension   of   the   muscles   by   doing   it   with closed fists. But   the   breathing   technique   which   is   called   Ibuki   is   supposed   to   be   not   good   for   the health.   It's   known   that   it   is   possible   that   the   technique   of   breathing   can   have   an effect   for   the   work   of   the   heart,   but   there   is   no   proof   if   any   technique   can   have   a   bad effect to the health of the heart.

These   Kata   has   been   created   by   Chojun   Miyagi   the   founder   of   Goju-Ryu.   Probably based on the Kata Rokkishu which will be not teached official in any known school. The   kind   of   techniques   is   good   for   to   suppose   that   there   is   a   relationship   to   the chinese school of Praying Mantis. Some   suppose   also   that   Sanchin   is   the   hard   part   of   Happoren   and   Tensho   the   soft part. Other theories calling the Kata Hakufa as the source of Tensho. But   much   more   we   can   believe   that   Chojun   Miyagi   did   develop   the   Kata   after   he   did study   the   Kata   Rokkishu.   And   that   Tensho   is   for   to   represent   the   Ju,   the   soft   part   of the   style   which   he   found   based   on   the   Karate   of   Kanryo   Higashionna   from   Naha-te (Shorei). And   in   fact   it   is   very   difficult   to   do   Tensho   with   the   necessary   softness.   Too   much   easy we   fall   back   into   the   concept   of   Kime   and   tension.   Too   much   far   away   from   normal imagine   of   fighting   is   it   to   believe   that   a   soft   movement   without   tension   can   have   a big effect. In   any   case   Tensho   is   the   great   counterpart   to   the   Kata   Sanchin,   though   the   last   four techniques   of   the   Kata   are   identical.   But   escpecially   this   makes   it   difficult   to   practise Tensho with softness until the end. In    counterpart    to    Sanchin    the    Bunkai    of    Tensho    is    very    versatile.    Defence    and counterattack   can   be   done   to   each   time   in   each   level.   In   this   way   the   techniques   are short and suddenly but also very painful. Tensho   will   be   done   only   in   Sanchin   Dachi   with   three   steps   forward   and   four   steps backwards. Is   there   somenone   who   don’t   find   sense   for   the   elegance   of   Tensho?   Also   it's   a   good idea   to   practise   it   in   the   beginning   of   a   lesson   as   a   kind   of   warm   up   and   as   a   cool done on the end of a lesson. And   maybe   especially   the   training   on   the   end   of   a   lesson,   where   no   much   power   is left   and   it's   difficult   to   strai,   it's   the   best   time   to   practise   the   Kata   which   don't   use   any powerful or fast movement, or strong Kime. Also it's the only Kata where we don't find a Kiai. If   Tensho   is   more   influenced   by   Happoren,   Hakufa   or   Rokkishu   has   no   big   meaning.   At least   only   Chojun   Miyagi   himself   could   give   the   answer,   what   was   his   reason   to   create Tensho.