The Katas of Hakuda Ryu Kempo Jutsu at the present time are:
1. Sanchin (9th Kyu Yellow)
2. Seisan (8th Kyu Orange)
3. Naihanchi (7th Kyu Red)
4. Hakuda Ryu Naihanchi (6th Kyu Green)
5. Takemura Naihanchi (5th Kyu Blue)6. Ryufa Sho (4th Kyu Purple)
7. Ryufa (Takemura Passai) (3rd Kyu Brown)
8. Chinto (2nd Kyu Brown)9. Passai Dai (1st Kyu Brown)
10. Kusanku (1st Dan Black)
1. Sanchin (Three Battles) Kata is practised and there are a number of variations of this Kata, one of the more common versions is shown in the moving image to the left below, the photograph shows a lesser known version called Moto Te Sanchin versions which are practised in Motobu Udun Di and at the Higa family Bugeikan in Okinawa:
2. Seisan: The name Seisan means 13 hands, prior to 1903 this Kata was taught in the Shuri and the Naha villages of Okinawa. The Kata is generally regarded as the oldest of the Shorei Ryu or Naha Te Kata. There are some differences between the various versions taught with the Shorei styles of Goju and Uechi Ryu making use of Sanchin stance and the Matsumura Shorin Ryu version not using this stance at all. The Uechi Ryu version is probably the most unique and differs substantially from the Goju and shorin versions. In Shotokan the Kata is known as Hangetsu or Half/Crescent (Han) Moon (Getsu) mainly because of the stance and stepping movements used which are similar to Sanchin kata stance and steps. The first version of Seisan taught is based on the Shinseido Shorin Ryu version and does not emphasise the Sanchin posture or stepping at all.
3. Naihanchi Kata, also known as Naifanchi and Tekki. This Kata was believed to have been a favourite of Choku Motobu and features in the two books written by him. The kata is believed by some to have original come from Soken Matsumura, but generally the originator of the Kata is in fact unknown, though it is clear that it was practised in the Shuri and Tomari districts. The Naihanchi Kata was until 1907 when Ankoh Itosu created the Pinan Kata's, the first Kata that a Karateka would be taught. We practise 2 versions of this Kata, a basic version and one which emphasises the principles of this school.
4. Hakuda Ryu Naihanchi Kata: This Kata advances the principles of naihanchi bu=y applying teh specific principles of this style to the Kata and provides the basis for learning the Takemura Naihanchi Kata.
5. Takemura Naihanchi, this is a variation of the Kata Naihanchi Shodan, whilst the basic movements of the Kata are the samethere is a difference in the way of moving and some slight alteration of technique. This Kata is believed to have been taught by Bushi Takemura (a Kohai of Soken Matsumura) to Soko Kishomoto and onto Seitoku Higa (Bugeikan) and Shukumine, the creator of Gensei Ryu and Taido and a form of it is still practised in Gensei Ryu today. The Bugeikan is believed to have preserved the Kata in its original form.
6. Ryufa Sho: The Ryufa Sho is a short kata developed within our school in order to teach some fundamental principles of the Kata Ryufa. The Kata is very short and focuses on hikite, stepping and Yama Zuki techniques that are seen in the main kata of Ryufa.
7. Ryufa, sometimes spelt as Rufua, has been in various derivatives known by other names, it is believed to be a version of Takemura Passai. A version of Ryufa/Rufua is taught in Gensei Ryu where it is known as Shukumine No Passai. The term Ryufa is preserved in Ken Shin Kan Goju of Seiichi Akamine, who had studied under Seitoku Higa and had been a friend of Seiken Shukumine. The Kata is called Rufua at the Bugeikan and is more comonly known as Ryufa in Ken Shin Kan Goju Ryu. The origins of the Kata are believed to be from Bushi Takemura to Soko Kishomoto to Seitoku Higa and Seiken Shukumine and then to Seiichi Akamine. The version practised in Hakuda Ryu kempo Jutsu is similar to the Ken Shin Kan Goju version of Seichi Akamine.
8. Chinto: This Kata is often known as Fighting to the east, is said to have come from a Chinese sailor who was shipwrecked on Okinawa and taught it to Bushi Matsumura, who used a forward and back embusen. There are two other versions of this Kata which differ in theor embusen. These versions of Chinto are by Kosaku Matsamora of Tomari version which uses a side to side embusun and the version practised by Chotoku Kiyan which has a diagonal embusen. This kata contains dynamic movements and kicking techniques and a nidan mae tobo geri (Jumping double front kick). This kata has a Japanese version which is practised in Shotokan and which is known as Gankaku. Hakutsuru, or what is called White Crane Chaun Fa (Gong Fu) has numerous different branches throughout China all of which incorporate Qi Qong and have a grappling aspect known as Chin Na, many of these techniques may also come from the San Shou (Chinese Wrestling). In Okinawa a form of what can be termed Hakuda was Hakutsuru (White Crane) which was to be combined with the Native Okinawan Fighting arts of Mutuo, Tegumi and Te or Ti in order to create Toudi Jutsu, an early form of Karate Kempo. Hakutsuru as a form of Hakuda had an important influence on early Okinawan Kempo and village Te styles. The Kata Sanchin, Seisan and Chinto show the influences of the Crane:9. Passai Dai: like Naihanchi, the origin of this Kata is unknown and it was popular in the regions of Tomari and Shuri, again many believe that this Kata originally came from Sokon Matsumura. The name means to breach or penetrate a fortress, it is sometimes called the night kata, because of its constant reaching out and searching with the hands and feet. The Kata is said to be a fighting Kata one which emphasises anti grappling (tuite) moves included within it. This Kata is also more commonly known in Japanese Karate as Bassai Dai, the name is often interpreted as to Breach or penetrate a fortress or even to thrust asunder. This Kata is said to teach night fighting,grappling techniques and defences against grabbing and grappling techniques. The Kata is a very old Kata and was historically practised by Chotoku Kyan, Bushi matsumura, the Oyadomari family of Tomari, Choki Motobu and Choshin Chibana. There are many different versions of this Kata even within one particular style. Ankoh Itosu, who was Funakoshi's teacher developed his own version of this Kata, one assumes for introducing it into the Okinawan Schools system, and Funakoshi who founded Shotokan developed his own version. In Hakuda Ryu Kempo Jutsu we practise the Shinseido Matsumura Shorin Ryu version.
10.Kusanku: Kusanku is the name of a Chinese Kempo exponent who in 1762 demonstrated his style to some Okinawans, the style was known as Kumiai Jutsu. It is believed that Kusanku was one of the teachers of Sakugawa. This along with Naihanchi and Passai makes up the trio of what are believed to be the oldest of the Shorin Ryu Kata. These Kata equivalents are also found in Kishomoto Karate as Takemura Naihanchi, Ryufa and Takemura Kusanku.