Enpi Kanji

New Version of Kata Performed by Sensei T. Asai JKA

An early Kata, formally known as hanshu, the form we have today owes much to the revisions made by Yasutsune Itosu. The Name was changed by Master Funakoshi following his introduction of Karate into the Japanese martial arts ethos. He chose the name Empi (also sometimes written as Enpi due to the idiosyncratic nature of Japanese pronunciation) as being descriptive of the erratic flight of a swallow, reflecting the up-and-down, forward and back, pattern of moves within the Kata.

This Kata is also unusual in that it contains feinting techniques, inviting an opponent to attack supposed weaknesses in defence.

 


Enpi  -  Flight of the Swallow


Click Box To View Katas