Naihanchi / Naifanchi (shodan) etc. has a relatively long history on Okinawa and was practiced readily in both Shuri-te and Tomari-te lineages and by their most fiercest proponents Matsumura (shuri-te) and Matsumora (tomari-te). Unfortunately no records exist as to its origins. Kinjo Akio, in his book "The True Transmission of Karate-do", has speculated that it is a Southern white crane derived kata which was originally known in Fujian dialect as Nohanchin. The kanji (Chinese ideograms) for Nohanchin, according to Kinjo, refers to the use of the inside sweeping motion of the knee and leg. The pronunciation for Nohanchin eventually became 'Okinawanized' into Naihanchi(n) / Naifanchi(n). Naihanchi(n) ni-dan and san-dan are believed to have been developed by Itosu Anko.
It must also be noted that Funakoshi, Mabuni and Motobu all use katakana when writing Naihanchi(n) in their books which were published between 1922 to 1938.
It must also be noted that Funakoshi, Mabuni and Motobu all use katakana when writing Naihanchi(n) in their books which were published between 1922 to 1938.
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