kata

Thought to be from the mid to late 18th century. The author is probably the Chinese Shang Kusanku. This kata is the last or highest kata found in many shorin-ryu systems. Our version is essentially from Shugoro Nakazato’s Kobayashi Shorin ryu and is known as Chibana Kkusanku-dai. Watch on YouTube

Final hands (or 108 hands) form

A difficult victory

It is possible that the name comes from the Southern White Crane kata named by the Chinese characters “nohanchin” referring to the sweeping foot motions and therefore was devised by an unknown Chinese martial artist.

Breaching the fortress

Eye of the storm or nature’s first heavenly form

Vision of a white heron form

Holding the ground form