Consider the derivation of the Naha Seisan kata

 I have always attempted to understand that so many variations of kata came from the same original training. Of course my perception may be incorrect, but consider this one example of one kata, that kata being Seisan (Sesan).

Kanryo Hiagonna
    Kyoda Jūhatsu
     Chojun Miyagi
    Kenwa Mabuni

 

Kanryo Hiagonna was said to have taught what was called loosely Naha Te. 3 of his senior students follow.

 

Juhatsu Kyoda (許田 重発, Kyoda Jūhatsu, December 5, 1887–August 31, 1968) entered the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō in 1902 and continued studying with him until Kanryō's death in 1915. One month after Kyoda started, Miyagi Chōjun (co-founder of Gōjū-ryū) entered the dojo. In 1908, Kenwa Mabuni (founder of Shitō-ryū) also joined the dojo of Higaonna Kanryō.
Apparently Kyoda knew two versions of Seisan: one from Higaonna Kanryō and one from Higaonna Kan-yu, but only passed on the Kan-yu version. By far Higaonna Kanryō had the most profound impact on him as Kyoda devoted well over a decade of his life to learning Kanryō's karate. He ultimately named his style after him: Tō-on-ryū (literally 'Higaon[na] style').

His senior student was Chojun Miyagi who later called what he was teaching Goju Ryu.
 

Another of Kanryu's students was Kenwa Mabuni.
 

One of his close friends, Chōjun Miyagi (宮城 長順, Miyagi Chōjun) (founder of Gojū-ryū Karate) introduced Mabuni to another great of that period, Kanryō Higaonna (東恩納 寛量, Higaonna Kanryō). Later in Japan he founded the System  Shitoryu (which contained many kata, including those of his friend Miyagi as well as many Shorin ryu kata).

The To'on (Tou'on) Ryu Seisan kata
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxJcnwgH_IY

 
Goju Ryu Sesan Kata & Bunkai (Morio Higaonna)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3r1EoSXjKfI

    (if you look closely at the last bunkai of the Goju Sesan
     you will see a possible inspiration for the last kick in
    Isshinryu SunNuSu kata.)

 
Sesan Shito Ryu Karate Do Kata & Bunkai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz-Qu0Zzjnw

 

* related blog posts

 
https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2024/05/mario-mckenna-visits-derry-nh.html

https://isshin-concentration.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-look-at-kata-application.html