Nai Hanchi Kata - Instructional
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'Stealth stepping', 'inside moving'. A Kata practised within the Wado school of Karate, based on the original movements of Naifanchi, which was developed by Motobu-Choki. The original version of this Kata has links with the White Crane system of Fukien, China. The Kata was created to practise techniques designed to protect from frontal attack. Known as Tekki in some styles of Karate, namely Shotokan. The Itosu-Yasutsune series of Naifanchi include Naifanchi-shodan, Naifanchi-nidan, and Naifanchi-sandan. Also known as Naifanchin, Naifuanchin, and Naihanji.
The Kata Naihanchi comes from a set of three Kata, of which the Kata Naihanchi trained in Wado-ryu is the first, Naihanchi Shodan. Although Ohtsuka learned all three of these Kata, he only considered it necessary to learn the first. Ohtsuka learned the Kata from Motobu Choki, an Okinawan who relocated to Japan. Motobu was famous for his desire to test his karate in real life combat and his enmity towards Funakoshi Gichin, the creator of what became known as the Shotokan style of karate. Ohtsuka added to and altered slightly the Naihanchi he learned from Motobu, as he states in his Wado-ryu Karate book. Funakoshi Gichin changed the name of this series of Kata to Tekki, and so to Shotokan stylists, this Kata is known as Tekki Shodan.
In the Wado-ryu syllabus, Naihanchi is learned after Ku-Shanku and before Seishan.
Whereas Ku-Shanku can be considered as a summation of the Pinan Kata, then Naihanchi
represents the first Kata in the next series which goes Naihanchi, Seishan, and Chinto.
Naihanchi introduces a new stance, the eponymous Naihanchi-Dachi, and with it different
methods of movement and power-generation. In Wado Kata Nai-hanchi the opening moves
reflect Ten-Chi-Jin, which in Okinawan translates to 'Heaven and Earth power'. Ten-Chi-Jin
refers to the ability embody and harness the universal energy towards the Tanden. Indeed
Ohgami Sensei says that 'In short, Nai-hanchi Kata is to train Nai-hanchi stance'. Nai-hanchi
dachi is the first of the 'inner circular stances' (Uchiwa-dachi). The others of these are
Seishan Dachi, Tate Seishan Dachi and Chinto Dachi, from Seishan and Chinto Kata,
respectively.
In the Shotokan version of this Kata, Tekki Shodan, the stance used is Kiba-dachi or 'horse
straddle stance'. The use of this stance completely changes the dynamics of the Kata, and so
much of the discussion that accompanies Naihanchi does not very well apply to Tekki Shodan
however similar the movements (particularly the arms) may appear.
The feet in Nai-hanchi dachi are slightly wider than shoulder width apart, with the toes turned inward. This inward-turning of the toes is very important and lies at the heart of the stance and the Kata itself. The twisting of the body is one of the most important elements of acceleration in karate.' Up until this stage, one has generally created power by large body movements, e.g. stepping to punch Junzuki, or with a large twist of the hip in a long stance with Gyakuzuki.
This is useful when there is time and space to utilise these movements, and provide an
excellent way to learn the basics or fundamentals of a technique (kihon-waza). However, in
the more cramped conditions usually encountered in martial encounters, there may be neither
the time nor the space. Indeed, some people treat the Kata a set of techniques for when one
is up against a wall.
Nai-hanchi dachi is a 'close-up' stance in that it allows one to create power from a relatively
small area. The inward-pointing of the toes allows one to direct the power toward a target very
close by. It also allows the knees to protect the groin, if required, with very little movement.
Nai-Hanchi Dachi-waza.
Yohi (heisoku-dachi, left open-hand covers right), after preliminary hand & head movements,
step to the right, nai-hanchi-dachi (tate-shuto-uke-chudan, hidari-empi-uchi, horan-gamae
(preparation), hidari-gedan-barai, migi-kagi-tsuki), step to the left, nai-hanchi-dachi (migi-sotouke-jodan, migi-gedan-barai, hidari-ura-tsuki-jodan, hidari-morote-soto-uke-jodan, look left,
avoid foot sweep by raising left foot to supporting leg), nai-hanchi-dachi (hidari-morote-sotouke-jodan, look right, avoid foot sweep by raising right foot to supporting leg), nai-hanchidachi
(hidari-morote-uchi-uke-jodan, horan-gamae (preparation), awase-waza (hidaritetsui/migi-kagi-tsuki), arms draw back, migi-empi-uchi, migi-ho-ran-gamae (preparation),
migi-gedan-barai, hidari-kagi-tsuki), step, nai-hanchi-dachi (hidari-soto-uke-jodan, hidarigedan-barai, migi-ura-tsuki-jodan, migi-morote-soto-uke-jodan, look right, avoid foot sweep by
raising right foot to supporting leg), nai-hanchi-dachi (migi-morote-soto-uke-jodan, look left,
migi-morote-uchi-uke-jodan, ho-ran-gamae (preparation), awase-waza (migi-tetsui/hidari-kagitsuki)),
yamae (heisoku-dachi).