Naihanchi Kata

by Patrick Callahan, edited for the blog by Matt Jones

THE CHINESE CONNECTION to Naihanchi

It is speculated that the kata Naihanchi (Naifanchi, Naifanchin, Naihanchin) is derived from a Chinese TamTui (Northern Mantis) form called Dai-Po-Chin (Dai-Fan-Chie in Cantonese, Dai-Fan-Chi in Mandarin). Tradition has it that the "Dai-Fanche" was part of sixteen sequences systemized by the Shaolin Monks at their prime. Later is was perpetuated into the Northern Mantis style. If Naihanchi is NOT derived from it, it is at least similar to it, and the similarities in the name and form are hard to overlook.

Historical Implications of Naihanchi

This section is based on the writings of Mark Bishop and John Sells. Most of the information is direct phrasing from their works or slight modifications. Both authors mention that Choki Motobu only knew two kata; Naihanchi and Passai. Mr. Bishop said that Motobu's interpretation on Naihanchi included ti-like grappling and throwing techniques.

Naihanchi is one of the reference kata that identifies Shuri-te styles, from which Okinawa Kenpo is derived.

Shigeru Nakamura learned Naihanchi from Choki Motobu as well as his fighting style. After college, he moved to Nago where he continued his karate training learning kata and kobudo from Shinkichi Kuniyoshi. He open his first school and called his style Okinawa-te. Unfortunately it burned during "the war" but was rebuilt in 1953 and he then named the style Okinawa Kenpo. His kata were essentially Chinese based kara-te and kobudo kata.

Because of his powerful punch he was given the name Chikki Bushi (Punch Knight).

In John Sells's Unante, pg.77, he writes that G. Funikoshi and a student of Yabu Kentsu, Gima Shinkin, performed 2 kata before the esteemed Kobukan at the request of the head of Judo, Kano Jigoro. Funikoshi chose Kusanku and Shinhen perfomed Naihanchi Shodan.

On pg. 230, Sells writes that Chotoku Kyan published a series of forms under the heading of, "Seven Original Kata of the Ancient Style." Those were Wanshu, Ananku, Kusanku, Chinto, Passai, Useishe and Naifanchi.

On pg. 260, he continues with: Incorporated into the bunkai...are sweeps, joint locks and grappling techniques, little apparent in their simple, surface execution. It is obvious that kakushite permeates this kata.

BUNKAI AND KAKUSHITE

Bunkai - general explanation of a movement
Kakushite - Contained within bunkai, but are hidden hand techniques.

They are the "secrets" handed down from teacher to qualified students.

Hidden in the movements are the inner-most secrets (gokui) locked within the kata postures and techniques. The full realization of the idea behind gokui is called "oyo", which literally means "practical applications". They are more than just explanations of movements. Oyo stresses the follow-through, secondary and complete techniques to "finish off" an opponent.

NAIHANCHI - The Deadliest Kata? by Ian Abernethy

HE says - the Naihanchi kata is practiced within the majority of karate styles and finds it unfortunate that the distinctive floor pattern creates the "sideways fighting" description.*

It was often the first kata taught but today most don't teach it until brown belt (originally it may have been considered the most important kata and now a higher level of understanding is needed before teaching this kata? Mr. C)

When performed, most see a simple, unimpressive kata that won't win any tournaments. He believes this is a shame because this kata has a great deal to offer.

Historically he found that Bushi Matsumura taught "Anko" Yasutsune Itosu. Itosu specialized in Naihanchi and said it was both, "...the easiest and hardest kata to learn." Itosu created the Nidan and Sandan forms to teach to the school children without all the deadly secrets (this doesn't mean they don't exist in those two kata). However, the founder of Wado-ryu, Hironori Otsuka, believed the Nidan and Sandan versions to be 'almost useless' and that is why they are omitted from the Wado-ryu syllabus.

Otsuka's dislike of them contrasted to him saying that Shodan was his favorite kata.

Significant - In 1901, Itosu placed karate on the physical education program for all Okinawa schools. He believed karate was far too dangerous to be taught to children and set about disguising highly effective techniques, as a result, the kata taught mainly punching and blocking. This is significant when looking at Naihanchi, and other kata, as the majority of modern karate styles uses Itosu's terminology; hence the label given to a technique has no baring on it's intended application.

How important is Naihanchi? Itosu was one of the teachers of both Kenwa Mabuni(Shito-ryu) and G. Funikoshi(Shotokan). In his writings, Funikoshi informs us that Itosu required him to study each of the Naihanchi forms for 3 years. Considering that the first decade of Funikoshi's training was spent on the Naihanchi kata, Itosu thought this was a very important kata.

All the side steps in the kata are there in order to position yourself to strike an opponent, who is off center due to the preceding technique, or to move you inside the effective range of an opponents strike.

It must be understood that each kata was meant to be a 'stand alone'
self-defense system. Each kata records the fighting techniques and principles of the person who created it. It is probable that Itosu believed Naihanchi to be so effective that even if it were the only thing a student ever learned, they would be an able fighter.

The proposition that Naihanchi was intended to be a stand alone fighting system is supported in the writings of none other than Choki Motobu, one of Okinawa's most feared fighters. In 1926, Motobu wrote, 'The Naihanchi, Passai, Chinto and Rohai styles are not left in China today and only remain in Okinawa as active martial arts.' The key word is "styles".

Hironori Otsuka points out the amount of knowledge within Naihanchi in his book, "Wado-ryu Karate". He states that the kata would take more than a lifetime to master and that, 'there is some thing deep about it.' The interesting thing about Motobu is that the kata he emphasized in his teaching was Naihanchi.

The fact that Motobu only knew one or two kata is not unremarkable as at that time it was very common for karateka to specialize in this way.

Although the masters of old would only know a few forms, they understood them in great depth and had the ability to apply them. Today, even relatively low grades know several kata; not a bad thing as it ensures karate won't loose any of it's heritage. It would, however, be prudent to pick one or two favorite kata (tokui) to study in depth.

Motobu is said to have taught many grappling techniques extracted from Naihanchi. One technique of particular interest is the 'nami-gaeshi', or returning wave kick. The application commonly attributed to this maneuver is a blocking or deflecting movement in response to a kick, or avoidance of a sweep. Neither are effective in a real self-defense situation.

The majority of styles show the foot coming close to the knee joint.
The purpose is to show the kata practitioner exactly where the kick should be directed upon an opponent's leg.

Naihanchi provides instruction on close range fighting; the techniques are also direct and relatively easy to apply. A look at the applications from the opening sequence reveals the effectiveness of the kata. Every single move has the potential to disable an attacker and when used in combination may very well be fatal.

THE OPENING TECHNIQUE SEQUENCES

1) The first move positions the defender inside the effective range of the attacker's punch. The strike is delivered to the Carotid Sinus which should result in unconsciousness.

2) The pull on the right arm will throw the attacker's left shoulder back and hence prevent the throwing of an effective follow-up punch should the defender's initial strike fail to incapacitate. The pull will also increase the impact of the defender's strike.

3) The defender's right hand will secure the opponent's head so that an elbow strike can be delivered to the base of the skull. A powerful blow could be fatal due to the skull being dislodged from the spinal column.

4) The head is then seized and wrenched down to the left using the hair, or ear if the hair is too short. This twisting in 2 directions can result is serious damage.

5) A punch is then delivered to the jaw of the opponent if they are still functioning, which will shake the brain and knock the opponent to the floor.

6) As the opponent falls to the floor, the defender repositions themselves by stepping across before stamping on the opponent's skull.

The whole sequence takes seconds to perform and contains a number of highly dangerous techniques. Each one in itself can be effective, but in combination the effects are devastating. The first few moves give a flavor of the effectiveness and severity of the applications of Naihanchi.

Naihanchi was a part of the methods of Sakagawa, Matsumura, Itosu, Otsuka, Motobu, Mabuni, Nakamura, ect, all of whom were able fighters. If you want impress others and your kata is Naihanchi, it will bring little reward. If you require effective close range fighting skills, and your wish is to follow in the footsteps of some of karate's Greatest Masters, then Naihanchi and it's applications should be practiced relentlessly and studied deeply.

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Note from Mr. Callahan: Remember, this is a review of the literature and little is of my own creation. I have taken liberty in editing to shorten the content and still not miss the important content.