Naihanchi

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内歩進 (内畔戦, 内範置, 鉄騎)
Japanese: naihanchi (ナイハンチ?) ,naihanchin (ナイハンチン?), naihanchen (ナイハンチェン?)
Ryukyuan: naifanchi (ナイファンチ?) ,naifanchin (ナイファンチン?), naifanchen (ナイファンチェン?)
Shotokan: tekki (鉄騎?), old:kiba-dachi (騎馬立ち?)

Naihanchi (ナイハンチ?) (or Naifanchi (ナイファンチ?), Tekki (鉄騎?)) is a karate Kata, performed in straddle stance (naihanchi-dachi (ナイハンチ立ち?) / kiba-dachi (騎馬立ち?)). It translates to 'internal divided conflict'. The form makes use of in-fighting techniques (i.e. tai sabaki (body evasion)) and grappling. There are three modern kata derived from this (Shodan, Nidan and Sandan). Some researchers believe Nidan and Sandan were created by Anko Itosu, but others believe that it was originally one kata broken into three separate parts (probably due to constraints of space). The fact that only Naihanchi/Tekki Shodan has a formal opening suggests the kata was split.

It has been suggested the kata was originally developed when fighting against a wall / ledge / narrow confined space which is unlikely; however it could be used for this purpose. Whilst the kata is linear, moving side to side, the techniques can be applied against attackers at any angle. The side to side movements in a low stance build up the necessary balance and strength for fast footwork and body shifting. The kata are intricate strategies of attacking and defensive movement, done in the kiba dachi, for the purpose of conditioning the legs to develop explosive power. If one rotates one's torso a few degrees to one side or the other while performing Naihanchi/Tekki, the result is the Hachi-monji, or figure eight stance. This has been called the basics of all karate[citation needed]. Some researchers believe the form is a non-ballistic two-man grappling exercise.

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[edit] History

Itosu is reported to have learned the kata from Sokon Matsumura, who learned it from a Chinese man living in Tomari. Itosu is thought to have changed the original kata. The form is so important to old style karate that Kentsu Yabu (a student of Itosu) often told his students ‘Karate begins and ends with Naihanchi’ and admonished his students must practice the kata 10,000 times to make it their own. Before Itosu created the Pinan (Heian) kata, Naihanchi would traditionally be taught first in Tomari-te and Shuri-te schools, which indicates its importance. Gichin Funakoshi learned the kata from Anko Asato. Funakoshi renamed the kata Tekki (Iron Horse) in reference to his old teacher, Itosu, and the form's power.

Motobu's Naihanchi
Motobu's Naihanchi

The oldest known reference to Naihanchi are in the books of Motobu Choki. He states the kata was imported from China, but is no longer practiced there. Motobu learned the kata from Sokon Matsumura, Sakuma Pechin, Anko Itosu and Kosaku Matsumura. Motobu taught his own interpretation of Naihanchi, which included te (Okinawan form of martial arts which predates karate) like grappling and throwing techniques.

In the earlier days of karate training, it was common practice for a student to spend 2-3 years doing nothing but Naihanchi/Tekki, under the strict observation of their teacher. Motobu Choki, famous for his youthful brawling at tsuji (red-light district), credited the kata with containing all that one needs to know to become a proficient fighter.

The Tekki series of kata were renamed by Funakoshi from the Naihanchi kata, which were derived from an older, original kata, Nifanchin.[1] Nifanchin was brought to Okinawa via Fuzhou, China, at some point in the long history of trade between the two kingdoms. It was broken into three distinct segments, possibly by Anko Itosu, Tokumine Pechin, or Motobu Choki. The kata are performed entirely in Kiba dachi ("Horse stance"). The name Tekki itself (and Nifanchin) translates to "Iron Horse." Tekki Shodan (鉄騎初段), literally meaning "Iron Horse Riding, First Level", is the first of the series, followed by Tekki nidan and Tekki sandan.

In the 1960’s a kung fu practitioner, Daichi Kaneko, studied a form of Taiwanese White Crane Boxing, known as Dan Qiu Ban Bai He Quan (Half Hillock, Half White Crane Boxing). Kaneko, an acupuncturist who lived in Yonabaru, Okinawa, taught a form called Neixi (inside knee) in Mandarin. This form includes the same sweeping action found in the nami-gaeshi (returning wave) technique of Naihanchi. Neixi is pronounced Nohanchi in Fuzhou dialect, which could indicate Neixi is the forerunner to Naihanchi.

[edit] Analysis

  • Perfectly symmetrical katas
  • Generous use of kiba dachi trains legs and knees well
  • Nami ashi is difficult to master.
  • Proper use of hips and body is important and is difficult to master when in kiba dachi.
  • Has the simplest embusen of all katas

[edit] Embusen

The embusen is a straight line, running horizontally to the karate-ka.

[edit] Bunkai

Bunkai is an interpretation of a set of techniques within a kata which may be applied in practice.

From naihanchi/tekki shodan, use the uchi uku to block an oi zuki coming from about 45 degrees of your kiba dachi and then stagger with the intermediate hand of nagashi uke to minor counter with the ura zuki to face.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Advanced Shotokan Karate Kata, John van Weenen, ISBN 0-9517660-1-5

[edit] Sources

  • Akari-ki Karate: Naihanchi
  • Joe Swift - Roots of Shotokan: Funakoshi's Original 15 Kata; Part 2 - Pinan, Naihanchi, Kushanku & Passai Kata [1]
  • Nathan Johnson – Barefoot Zen: The Shaolin Roots of Kung Fu and Karate, Weiser, York Beach, 2000.
  • Shoshin Nagamine – The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do, Tuttle, Boston, 1998.
  • Mark Bishop – Okinawan Karate, Tuttle, Boston, 1999.
  • Shoshin Nagamine – Tales of Okinawa’s Great Masters, Tuttle, Boston, 1999.
  • Bruce D. Clayton - Shotokan's Secret: The Hidden Truth Behind Karate's Fighting Origins, Black Belt Communications, 2004.