The following description of Wansu (or Wanshu) is from Wikipedia:
Wanshu is a name borne by several katas in many systems of karate, including Isshin-Ryu, Shotokan (under the name empi), Wadō-ryū and others.
Wanshu is also the Okinawan-adapted name of Sappushi [Jp. 'diplomat'] 'Wang Ji' (1621-1689), the leader of a large ambassadorial mission from China sent by the Qing government to the village of Tomari, Okinawa in 1683. A poet, calligrapher, diplomat, and martial artist in the Shaolin tradition of Fujian White Crane, he is often credited with teaching chu'an fa to the gentry of Tomari.
The Wanshu kata was either a creation of Wang Ji's, or composed by his students and named in tribute to him. Regardless, many karate traditions include a kata bearing the name of Wanshu or a variant (Ansu, Anshu) which vary in schematics but carry certain distinctive similarities. One translation of the word "Wanshu" is "dumping form" for the dramatic grab-and-throw technique seen in most versions.
The two main versions are Matsumora-Wanshu and Itosu-Wanshu; though Itosu Anko trained with Matsumora Kosaku, it is uncertain whether Itosu adapted his version from Matsumora-Wanshu or whether he acquired a separate Wanshu kata that would have developed in parallel to Matsumora's. Itosu-Wanshu, while still bearing this name in certain karate styles, was renamed Empi by Gichin Funakoshi for use in Shotokan.
Here's a video of Patrick Callahan performing the Okinawan Kenpo version of the kata:
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them.
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