Traditional Karate > Kata > Naihanchin

This Kata is named for the city or district of Naha. The Naihanchin Kata is also known as Tekki #1, #2, and #3. ShotoKan calls the Kata Tekki. Master Choki Motobu was supposed to have done all three of the Naihanchin Katas as many as 500 times a day (so legend tells us). Master Motobu 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 Master Sakagawa. Master Sakagawa studied under Master Ku San Ku for six years in a small Chinese community near Naha. Master 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 (Young Forest Style), one of the three branches of Shorin Ryu. Master Matsumura taught Master Choki Motobu and Master Chotoku Kiyan. 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 still practice all three Naihanchin Katas. Isshinryu has only one Naihanchin Kata.

Naihanchin translates to sideways fighting, fighting on home ground, surreptitious (performed, made, or aquired by secret) stepping and fighting within. Naihanchin Kata teaches a student to defend against four to eight opponents, attacking from the sides and the front.