Secondary Kata Videos

Primary Wado Kata Demonstrations

1. Pinan Shodan (Itosu’s order)
2. Pinan Nidan (Itosu’s order). I do think he opens his hands when setting up for the gedan barai techniques, suggesting further that this is a grab and throw.
3. Pinan Sandan
4. Ohtuska doing Kushanku. Note that Ohtsuka has his left, not his right on top after the wrist release and turn down into zenkutsu dachi prior to the tobi mae geri near the end. Also, his “nekoashi dachi” stance is edging towards ko kutsu dachi.
5. Ohtuska doing Niahanchi in 1965. In the “kamae form”, Ohtsuka does extend it, as if to punch, before retracting, just as Iain does.
6. Seisan
7. Ohtuska doing Chinto in 1965. Notice that Ohtuska bobs a fair bit during the “throwing” sequences in the middle of the kata, and that he turns out at the end the opposite way that we do.
8. Wansu. This is interesting. I find this version much closer to what we perform than what Sensei Iain demonstrated for me last June. Yet, of all the katas Ohtsuka performs, it is the most different from how we perform it today.

Shotokan Interpretations of the Pinans (Heians)

1. This is a video from 1982 of senior JKA members doing the Heians. Their form and focus is impeccable. Very solid kata to watch. Note that nekoashi datchi is often replaced with Kokutsu dachi. In Heian Shodan, I find the releasing and opening of the hands interesting, and the end as Shuto vs. Nuki te interesting. This squares more with the idea that the strikes are downward and not inward thrusts. I also find it interesting how there is a rising hand prior to the execution of age form. In Heian Godan, there are some interesting differences with Pinan Godan, and some obvious influences of Bassai in the parts leading up to the jump and throw. I want to study this tape further, to see what ideas it may unlock for bunkai in the Pinans. Ohtuska doing the Wado katas. These clips are from a bigger tape produced by Sensei Ajari in the 1990s.

For interest, other katas performed by Ohtuska:

1. Jion. This has some great narration about how Ohtsuka learned the katas. The influence of Kenwa Mabuni is noted
2. Jitte. Unfortunately, this clip does not start at the beginning. A full version (with an amusing misalignment of audio and video) may be found here. Suzuki’s version is here.
3. Rohai.
4. Niseishi. This would be a great kata for bunkai practice.

The Shito Ryu interpretations of the Pinans are here:

1. Pinan Shodan (Itosu’s order) – note the shallow neko ashi-like ko kutsu dachi
2. Pinan Nidan (Itosu’s order)
3. Pinan Sandan
4. Pinan Yodan
5. Pinan Godan - note no jump in Godan, and a different stance at the end of the kata.