Homegrown

Sanchin is often described as being the most important kata taught in Naha lineage based styles such as Goju-ryu, Uechi-ryu, and Tou’on-ryu. In the styles that trace their lineage back to Higaonna Kanryo, authors have stated that Higaonna brought this kata (along with others) back from China (e.g. Higaonna Morio, Kinjo Akio, Toguchi Seikichi, etc.). In contrast, Chito-ryu founder Chinen Gochoku (Chitose Tsuyoshi) writes that he learned sanchin kata from Aragaki Seisho (the original teacher of Higaonna Kanryo).

This would suggest that sanchin kata was in existence on Okinawa before Higaonna traveled to China. In the Higa Seko lineage of Goju-ryu and Tou’on-ryu lineage of Kyoda Juhatsu, both schools state that Higaonna originally taught sanchin kata with the hands open. Indeed, in the Tou’on-ryu lineage, Kyoda was reportedly told to do it the way he felt most comfortable (closed fist or open hand). Kyoda's experience is very similar to that of Shiroma Shinpan in Mark Bishop’s book “Okinawa Karate”.

This information to contrasts Miyagi Chojun and his closed fist and dynamic version of sanchin. According to Kinjo Akio, upon his return from China, Miyagi questioned Higaonna about which version was correct. While in China, Miyagi had seen versions that were very loud and vibrant. Higaonna apparently replied that both versions were correct.

It is important to clarify that sanchin is not so much a “kata” in the classical sense (in terms of a fixed number of steps or repetitions) but a method of strengthening the body for proper karate technique. I was told many times by Kanzaki sensei that, “whether I took one step or one hundred steps, it was still sanchin kata.”

Additionally, we know that the kata sesan, and suparenpei were also practiced on Okinawa before Higaonna left for China thanks to the surviving record of the 1867 demonstration for the last Chinese envoys to Okinawa. Would this suggest that the kata that compose Nahate are “home-grown”?