Isshinryu Karate

Wansu Kata

This kata is from Shorin-Ryu and is named after Master Wansu. This kata emphasizes use of left and right arm punches; for this reason, it is called the Strong Arm Form. It is also called the 'dumping kata' because of the throws it uses. Tatsuo Shimabuku later referred to the kata as the Dragon Boy or Dumping Form. The kata was brought into Okinawa in 1683 by a Chinese man named Wansu. It was then reformed and developed later by karateka around the Tomari village. (NAGAMINE Shoshin, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do, pg 187). The kata was composed in 1695, and is also known as Ansu, Unsu, and Unshu.

 
  • From musabi dache, LF steps to the side into shika dache. Hands thrust downward into groin block.
  • Look to left: LH leg block, RH straight punch
  • Look to forward
  • LF steps forward into LF forward seisan dache: LH leg block, RH straight punch
  • Step into RF forward seisan dache
  • RH open-hand side block
  • LH inverted nukite with RH coming to left shoulder in palm-up open hand position
  • Look to original behind over L shoulder.
  • LF crosses behind RF and pivot 180. While doing so, RH straight punch to left-forward diagonal
  • Now facing original backwards: LH leg block, RH straight punch
  • Step into RF forward seisan dache
  • Repeat: RH open-hand side block, LH inverted nukite with RH return
  • Repeat: Look behind, latin cross, RH straight punch
  • LH open hand head block, to LH head smash into RH uppercut
  • RF straight kick & kiai; land in RF forward shika dache, LH head block, RH leg block
  • Shuffle back into open neko ashe dache. LH opens into open-hand position (palm out), RH opens into palm-up nukite
  • Lunge into shika dache, RH nukite strike to groin
  • Dump: RH grabs groin/belt, shifts onto shoulder, LH (in open hand, palm up position) supports above left shoulder, and RF steps backward (180 turn) into shika dache again. LH comes down to chamber, RH dumps/throws straight down, palm down, fingers pointing to body left (original forward).
  • Look over left to behind (original left).
  • Pivot around RF into LF forward seisan dache.
  • LH open hand side block, RF knee strike, RH straight punch.
  • Look over right to behind (original right).
  • Mirror: Pivot around LF into RF forward seisan dache, RH open hand side block, LF knee strike, LH straight punch.
  • Look to original forward.
  • Shift to LF into musabi dache. Pause.
  • Step into RF forward sesian dache. LH, RH straight punches.
  • Shift to RF into musabi dache. Pause.
  • Step into LF forward sesian dache. RH, LH straight punches.
  • LF forward into heiko dache; LH catch to RH, side kick to left
  • Switch catch, side kick to right
  • LF forward into seisan dache; open hand guard slowly deploys forward
  • RF step forward; R elbow smash to temple
  • Look behind; shuffle forward into LF forward open neko ashe dache facing to original rear; straight kick
  • Look to original front: swap feet to RF forward open neko ashe dache and straight kick
  • Land in RF forward seisan dache: double shuto to throat to either side & kiai.
  • LF step forward; open hand guard slowly deploys forward
  • Finish: LF moves up to RF.