Many styles have a beginning kata, (form) or kata series, which is the best? Why?

Question

Many styles of Kung Fu and Karate have a beginning form, like Siu Nim Tao in Wing Chun, Goju-ryu's Sanchin, Isshinryu's Seisan, Shorinryu and Shotokan's Pinan series, and some styles use Naihanchi Kata. In Isshinryu, which I study, it seems the founder was moving toward "charts" which are sets of exercises. Many more non-traditional/eastern styles like boxing, MMA, and Ed Parker's Kenpo are formated with series of techniques. I think the primary kata of any system plays a big role in what the entire system looks like.

Answer 1

I love doing the heian kata's for a lot of the deep stances and strong movements it shows off the traditional side of karate. The advanced forms are more in depth and vary in difficulty with the side to side movements of the teki forms to the most advanced formes like hangetsu and empi to name a couple.

Answer 2

I can tell you about Okinawan Karate that the Pinan kata and the Gekisai/Fukyugata were created for school aged kids as a physical ed curriculum.

However, the techniques were all taken from the advanced kata, which is obvious. Knowing this, what do you think? You are learning advanced techniques that have been modified, and in some cases not.

In the Goju Ryu Kata, which are of the Naha-Te styles, there is no "Jodan Uke" or Upper level receive, commonly misnamed "high block". Miyagi Sensei adapted it from the Shuri-Te styles. He wanted to bring variety and completeness.

So, if you studied the Pinan kata and the Gekisai kata, you would have advanced techniques from both styles.

Concerning Sanchin, it is an advanced level kata but it's taught prtty early because it is actually the first form you learn in the Old Naha-Te arts, before the creation of Gekisai. It is the foundation training for Naha-te and develops "iron body". It is Hard Internal. It comes from the White Crane Fist developed in Fujian China.

Answer 3

SANCHIN is rarely taught as a begginers kata geki sai ich and ni are the usual begginer katas in goju and fukiyu for some styles of shorin.
You are right about basic kata get them right the rest is easy.

Answer 4

While it is not my primary style, I have always liked the heian / pinan katas of shotokan and the other Okinawan karate styles.