Practicing Naihanchi Shodan

With Shorin-Ryu being one of the earliest styles of Okinawan Karate, the fighting element is still a major part of the syllabus.  Choki Mobotu is quoted as saying  “The only kata that was necessary for one to be a good fighter was Naihanchi” (Naihanchi Shodan, Niedan and Sandan being originally all one Kata), so it is no susprise that the three Naihanchi Katas are the first to be learnt in my style.

Naihanchi Shodan isn't needed until my third grading, for blue belt, but we start practicing it from the very beginning, so that by the time we get to grading we are reasonably proficient.  It also forms the basis for the main drills we are taught, to explain the techniques encapsulated in the Kata.

My Senseis have told me that my performance of this Kata has much improved from my first attempts, with elements such as posture and stepping being big plusses.  This might be because I practice this the most frequently of all elements of Karate, both to improve my technique and as a form of Cardio-Vascular exercise.

For the record, I have included my earliest and most recent training videos I've done here for comparison.  These include both the ways I practice. Please feel free to comment

First video (February this year)

Slow style (Tai Chi - Cardio-Vascular workout)

Naihanchi Shodan - recording 1

Naihanchi Shodan - recording 2

There is still plenty of room for improvement, not least in consistency, but I trust my Senseis, and believe I am improving 😊😊😊