The prototype of Naihanchi?

 Motobu Ryu March 19, 2024 5:47 AM

I introduced it the other day Motobu Asamo Motobuchomo(Asa Yu Tsuna) has left a few other types besides Tomikun. Mr. Asamo moved from Osaka to Wakayama before the war and then to the South Seas and returned to Osaka near the end of the war, where he was killed in an air raid. During the Nanyang period, Yasuichi Uchima, the uncle of Yasuyuki Uchima, whom I introduced the other day, studied under Mr. Asamo, and that is how Mr. Asamo's style has been transmitted.

 

Motobu Asamo

Among these katas is the Naihanchi, which is very unique and very interesting in terms of karate history. Some of them are shown in the video below.

As you can see in the video, when the crab walks sideways, it makes waves. Also, when thrusting to the side, one arm is usually a key thrust, but in this naihanchi, it is a two-handed thrust with the elbow extended.

The wave is usually turned back at the same time as the side reception to the left and right, but it is rare to put it in the middle of the luck like this. Looking at this part, I wondered if this was the prototype of Naihanchi. The places where you can put it are different, but another example of a lot of wave return is Isshin-ryu Naihanchi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUWgI3h5J8o&t=2s

This Motobu Asamo's Naihanchi was also demonstrated at the Kobudo Demonstration Tournament (sponsored by the Okinawa Kobudo Association) in Showa 36 (1961), and was introduced in a newspaper article at that time, but it is written that it is the prototype of Naihanchi.

Yasuyuki Uchima (23 years old) was born in Kita-ku, Minami-Daito, in the 13th year of the Naihanchi Showa era. Mr. Uchima is the only performer from a remote island, and he has been waiting for his appearance at the house of Chairman Higa. He is the youngest performer to play Naihanchi. Mr. Uchima's Naihanchi is different from the type of the main island, but it is believed that the prototype of the Naihanchi is still intact. It is said that he was instructed by his uncle Yasuichi, but before the war, Yasuichi spent his karate training in Nanyang while sleeping and eating with Toraju (commonly known as Toraju), the son of Motobu Asasuke (a misprint of Asao).

Okinawa Times, November 26, 1961

 

At this time, Higa Kiyonori Sensei, who served as the president of the Okinawa Kobudo Association, expressed the opinion that this was Matsumura Soto's naihanchi, but Motobu Asaki said that Matsumura Sensei extended his elbow during the key thrust -- not a two-handed thrust but a single key thrust -- but this Asamo's naihanchi did not extend the elbow. Therefore, it is not Matsumura's Naihanchi as it is, but it may be a type of old-style Naihanchi of the same era or earlier.

In the newspaper article above, it is written that this Naihanchi was transmitted from Motobu Asao, but it is possible that it is different from the Naihanchi of Asaki. Uehara Sensei said, "Asao Sensei knew about 30 katas," and "There was no one else who could compare to Asao Sensei in terms of martial arts knowledge at that time." Looking at this Naihanchi, I think that Dr. Asao knew not only the number of katas, but also a large number of valuable old styles that were closer to the original type. Some of these katas have spread to other schools through the Okinawa Karate Research Club (see "Headquarters no Sochin").

The other day, Mr. Yasuyuki Uchima said that the type of Tomikun may have been the type of the family tradition of the Motobu Palace, but I wonder if this Naihanchi was the same. There are several Naihanchi that are referred to as the Matsumura lineage, but they are different from all of them. If this is the case, why did the Motobu Palace preserve such an old-fashioned style?

Uehara Sensei speculated that Motobu Goten may have been a royal martial arts instructor or that he had a special mission regarding martial arts. It is not known whether the head of the Motobu Palace served as a close apprentice or guardian (yaka) of the king or the prince of the world, but it seems certain that he was particularly enthusiastic about martial arts.

Source:

"The prototype of Naihanchi?" (Ameblo, March 17, 2018).