NAIHANCHIN

This kata is named after the city Naha. Legend has it that master Choki Motobu performed this kata as many as 500 times a day. He claimed that mastering the Naihanchin kata was all that was required to become a karate expert.      The kata was brought to Okinawa from China by Sakagawa. Master Sakagawa studied under Master Ku San Ku for six years in a small Chinese community near Naha. Sakagawa then went to China and studied under some of Master Ku San Ku's teachers. He later taught Bushi Matsumura who founded Kobayushi Ryu, one of the three branches of Shorin Ryu. Matsumura taught Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan. Master Shimabuku studied under both of these masters.

Naihanchin Kata is called the second backbone of Isshinryu. This kata is very popular in other styles of karate including Kempo and Tae-Kwon-Do. The Shotokan and Shuri Ryu styles practice thress different versions of Naihanchin Kata, but in Isshinryu, only one is practiced.      Naihanchin translates to sideways fighting, fighting on home ground, surreptitious stepping and fighting within. Naihanchin Kata teaches a student to defend against four to eight opponents, attacking from the sides and the front. It is recommended that you practice this kata standing against a wall and in a narrow hallway.

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