TANREN KATA: THE KATA FOR FORGING THE BODY

Not all Karate kata have the same purpose. These forms, which represent the backbone of our martial art, can be cataloged based on their use. We have, for example, the kihon kata 基本形 / 基本型, that is, fundamental kata whose purpose is to help beginners learn the basic movements; the fukyugata (fukyu kata) 普及形 / 普及型, introductory kata, created to spread Karate further in schools, and to raise awareness of the basic characteristics of the Traditional Okinawan Karate styles; the kaishu kata 開手型, kata that teach the use of open hand techniques; etc. etc. However, few know the term tanren kata, although these kata are widely spread and practiced!

 

Tanren can be written 鍛練 or 鍛錬, and in both cases it means forging, referring to one's body, spirit, mind, or to a some technique. So a tanren kata is a kata whose main (this adjective is important, as we will see later) purpose is to shape the karateka. What does it mean, however, to forge the karateka?

 

As we have seen in this last point, therefore, it is both a training aimed at strengthening certain muscles (such as exercises with weights, or free body exercises), and a training whose aim is to improve their management, as well as certain skills.

 

There are mainly three tanren kata: Sanchin, Naihanchi and Tensho. The first is the most widespread, since it is practiced mainly in the Goju-ryu and Uechi-ryu styles, as well as in various Chinese martial arts, where there are many varieties of this kata. The second is typical of Shorin-ryu and, although it can also be found in derived styles (e.g. the Tekki of Shotokan / Shotokai, the Naihanchi of Shito-ryu, the Naihanchi of Wado-ryu, etc.), it has fully maintained its role only in this style. Finally, Tensho is a typical kata of Goju-ryu, and is characterized by a peculiar breathing technique.

 

If you remember, I mentioned earlier that forge the body of the karateka is only the main purpose of tanren kata. In fact, some of them can be used for other reasons too. For example, the Tensho kata introduces the use of several open hand techniques. But the most significant example is given by the Naihanchi kata. It is no coincidence that in the past this kata had also been introduced into Goju-ryu (probably by Miyagi Chojun sensei, in the period in which he taught Karate in the schools of Okinawa. We will return to the topic in the future...), only to then be almost totally discarded. According to Anthony Mirakian sensei, it was still taught by Yagi Meitoku sensei in the 1950s (Meibukan magazine N°4, February 2005). In fact, this tanren kata is a concentration of fighting techniques, the applications of which are excellently suited to medium and short distances, hence the so-called "extra gear". However, it doesn't end here, since the Naihanchi kata was then joined by two other kata created by Itosu Anko sensei, the Naihanchi nidan and the Naihanchi sandan, another stroke of genius from the famous master (we will return to this topic in the future too...). So here we have a tanren kata, which is also an excellent practical combat tool (the first extra gear compared to Sanchin and Tensho...), and which is part of a set of three kata that share the same "base", although with different techniques and applications (...and here's the second gear too!).