Kata Focus - Enpi

A poet, calligrapher and Chinese Sappushi (diplomat) named Wang Ji (Wanshu or Wansu in Okinawan) was a Chinese Boxing expert who served China in Okinawa during the 1680’s. 

He was based in Tomari Village and taught many people his fighting style there. It is said that much of his fighting style involved throwing and jumping on the opponents.

Some people even interpret the word ‘Wanshu’ to mean ‘dumping form’, this may just be a case of twisting fact to suit a hypothesis. 

It is unclear if the Kata that became known as Wanshu was created by himself or by his students as a way of remembering what he had taught after he left Okinawa.

What we do know is that two slightly different versions of the Kata emerged through history:

Matsumura Wanshu and Itosu Wanshu. 

It was Itosu’s version of the Kata that was taught to Gichin Funakoshi. It was Funakoshi that renamed the Kata to Enpi (or Empi), he renamed many Kata in order to make them sound more poetic and meaningful for the mainland Japanese.

The meaning of the name ‘Flying Swallow’ as given by Gichin Funakoshi in his book Karate-Do Kyohan states: “The distinctive motion of the Kata is an upper level attack following which one grasps the opponent and draws him inward, simultaneously jumping and attacking again. The movement resembles the up and down and flipping away flight of a swallow.”

Although Enpi exists within systems of Shuri origin and there are some Kata that bridge the gap between Shuri and Tomari, Enpi can be thought of as mainly a true Tomari-te Kata.

Shotokan

Shito Ryu

Isshin Ryu

Shorin Ryu

Comment below to share any thoughts or opinions you might have.  :)

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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