Wankan
Wankan (王冠, ワンカン, Wankan) is a kata trained in Genseiryu and must be performed for the 2nd kyu examination (adults) and 1st kyu examination (children).
Genseiryu Karate-do Kyohan 2[edit]
- Translated to English and included here with explicit permission from Kunihiko Tosa.
- This text and image is protected under copyright.
Wankan, originating from Tomarite, which is one of the other roots of karate, was handed down in most styles except for the Goju-ryu style. The essence of this kata is to develop techniques that include both attacks and blocks by changing one's posture without changing place.
The characteristics of Wankan are to change from Shuto-uke to hooking block. With the use of Neko-Ashi-dachi, a practitioner can increase the distance to the opponent and then use Mae-geri as the opponent loses his balance during the practitioners' use of the hooking block.
Blocks are to foresee the opponent's kick and upper straight thrust. The postures of these blocks enables you to use the Sokuto-geri and the Mae-geri, as well as the upper straight back-fist strike and the middle straight back-fist thrust.
There are two books that contain articles about Wankan. I will quote these for the readers' information:
"Since long time ago, it has been said that it [Wankan] was created by an unknown master. This kata belongs to the old katas. Warriors (bujin) in the Tomari area in Okinawa has passed it down traditionally. And it developed to where it is now. This kata is characterized by frequent attacks and blocks in one movement. Movements look hard and strong. The total performance time is not very long." --- Shoshin Nagamine, "Okinawa no Karate-do", Shinjinbutsu-Ouraisha, 1975.
"This kata belongs to the Matsumura style that was handed down in the Tomari area. It is characterized by a thrust that, right after, is successively drawn to the underarm and shoulder positions. In the later part of this kata we make a kick and a thrust in one movement, and this three times, which is on itself a basic technique." --- Ryusyo Sakagami, "Karate-do Taikan", Nichibou Syuppansha, 1983.