The Kata of Meibukan Goju Yagi Meitoku

Meibuken Kata

• Tenchi
• Seiryu
• Byakko
• Shujaku
• Genbu

Tenchi’s name is taken from the first line in a poem in the Bubishi, "Jin shin wa Tenchi ni Onaji." This means "the mind is one with heaven and earth." Originally, Tenchi was composed of two kata, Fukyu kata ichi and Fukyu kata ni. They were eventually combined, and now Ten no kata represents the first half, while Chi no kata is the second half.

The kata are named after Chinese constellations: Seiryu means azure dragon, Byakko means white tiger, Shujaku means vermillion bird and Genbu means black turtle. Meitoku Yagi got the idea after seeing these names bannered on war flags during the Tsuna-Hiki (Tug of War Festival) held each year in Naha.

 

Tenshi- Heaven and Earth 

 

Seiryu- Blue Dragon 

 

 

Byakko- White Tiger

 

Shujakku- Red Sparrow

 

Genbu – Black Turtle

 

Other Kata

As well, Taikyoku patterns are practiced. They can be done alone; as well as with a partner (Renzoku kumite), which is done in a straight-line pattern; or with three or five people altogether (Kakomi kumite), in which one karateka is surrounded by the others. There are no traditional Meibukan weapons forms; however, Yagi did adapt some Meibuken Kaishu kata to bō and sai, and are commonly referred to as Meibuken Kobudo. They are as follows.

• Geki Sai Ichi Bo
• Geki Sai Ni Bo
• Saifa Bo
• Geki Sai Ichi Sai
• Geki Sai Ni Sai
• Saifa Sai
• Shisochin Sai

There are several maxims used in Meibukan—some are particular to the style, while others are common to other styles of Goju-ryu and karate. The following are some of the more common sayings.

• Oku myo zai ren shin. "Practice with a good heart."
• Oku myo zai hyaku ren sen tan. "Train a hundred times, train a thousand times."
• Nangi go gokui. "The secrets of training are revealed through hard work."
• Ryu su fu sen kyo. "Running water in a stream faces no barriers."
• Kan chiku fu sho. "The pine tree bends in the wind. The bamboo is hard in the cold."

Information from Wikipedia and the Journal of Asian Martial Arts November 4 2005 “The Five Kata of Yagi Meitoku” by Perry Campbell