Wankan (王冠) (Japanese: "King's Crown" or "Emperor's Crown") (also called Okan) is a
kata practiced in many styles of
Karate. Not much is known about the history of this kata. It originates from the
Tomari-te
Okinawan martial arts refers to the martial arts, such as karate, tegumi and Okinawan kobudō, which originated among the indigenous people of Okinawa Island. Due to its central location, Okinawa was influenced by various cultures with a long hi ...
school and in modern karate is practiced in
Shorin-ryu,
Shito-ryu,
Shotokan
is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" throug ...
,
Genseiryu and
Matsubayashi-ryu.
It is often considered an advanced kata, despite its brevity. Karate master
Shoshin Nagamine considered ''wankan'' to be his favorite kata. A quote from his book describes the kata as "Being characterized by unitary sequences of attack and defense".
About Wankan, Nagamine Shōshin (1978: 240) said: This kata is said to be the creation of a master in ancient times, but the creator is unknown. Wankan belongs to the old kata. It was handed down by the warriors from the Tomari area and has been handed down to the present day. Its characteristics are many passages in which defense and offense are performed in one single action, that actions are formidable, and that it is a kata of medium length.
Wankan is also known as
Matsukaze
is a play of the third category, the woman's mode, by Kan'ami, revised by Zeami Motokiyo. One of the most highly regarded of Noh plays, it is mentioned more than any other in Zeami's own writings, and is depicted numerous times in the visual art ...
(松風 or "pine tree wind") in some schools of karate.
[''Essential Shorinjiryu Karatedo'', First Edition, Charles E. Tuttle Company, by Masayuki Kukan Hisataka, p. 151, ]
References
External links
Wankan kata diagramThe Significance of Wankan
Karate kata
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