Kata Focus - Kururunfa

Kururunfa is unlike most other Kata, it is very practical with only a few of the established basic kihon techniques within it. This leads many people the conclude that it is more 'advanced' than kata that have more commonly used techniques.

This kata serves as a good example that Karate wasn’t originally a 'striking art' and I believe it is a mistake to describe it as such. 

While there are some ‘striking’ techniques, they are used primarily to unbalance or distract the opponent. 

This is evident in Kururunfa, as all bunkai in this kata involve grabbing or restraining the opponent then unbalancing them, without actually striking them. 

This is the meaning of the Kata’s name, 'to restrain and suddenly destroy'. 

Many of the bunkai in Kururunfa are straight from of the Bubishi's 48 self defence techniques.

 

The techniques in Kururunfa most likely originate in Mantis style Kung Fu.

The Kata was introduced to Okinawa by Kanryo Higashionna after he learnt the techniques in the Fujian Province of China from Ru Ru Ko.

Chojun Miyagi’s student Ei’ichi Miyazato was a Master at this Kata. 

         

 

 

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

Thanks for reading.
Derm

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Information Sources:
Web:
http://www.wuweidao.com/karate_kururunfa.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C5%8Dj%C5%AB-ry%C5%AB#Kaishugata
http://shitokai.com/archives/474
https://karateunderground.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/being-negative-about-kururunfa/
https://karateunderground.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/kururunfa-decoding-the-singular-hands-up-technique/

Books:
Bubishi: The Classic Manual of Combat by Patrick McCarthy