When karate came to the Americas

[Same Trick]

Interesting article on the earliest records on Karate in the Americas.

I note that Pinan kata is just noted as that and not Pinan 1-5 as Naihanchi katas are noted 1,2,3.



The Two Pioneering Overseas Okinawa Karate Demonstrations 1927 & 1951 Honolulu (Hawai’i) & São Paulo (Brazil) | BUDO JAPAN - Ttraditional Japanese martial-arts

 

[isshinryuronin]

Nice bit of karate history. Contemporary accounts are so rare that any bits and pieces, regardless of content, imparts valued knowledge. Yabu Kentsu was a student of the mid to later 1800's masters, so learned the "original" form of Okinawan karate. Too bad there's no film of his Hawaii demonstration. It would have been enlightening. The photos in the article were interesting in terms of stance.

I wouldn't place any significance on pinan kata not detailed 1-5. Perhaps just one of them was demonstrated and simply referred to as "pinan." The spectators would not know there were others in the series. Or it could just have been a collective term for all five being demoed. Could be all three naihanchi kata were demoed and were so noted. Elsewhere in the article, though, naihanchi was used as a collective term as well. Anyway, nothing of import, IMO.

Glad you posted this.

 

[Same Trick]

Yes, I thought so too about the Pinan, however there are accounts(elsewhere) on a single “Pinan” kata also named Channan(spelling?)
Choki Motobu supposedly witnessed Pinan 1-5 during a visit at Itousu’s house an asked his teacher what kata those where they liked similar to a one(longer) he previously had learned, Itousu answered Motobu was right in his observation and the 5 Pinan was for the modern era(or something like that )
In the article its mentioned that the karate in the early days at least in Brazil used the old characters writing Karate that might suggest the whole karate curriculum was of the older school too, it’s also known that Yabu was not a fan of the 5 Pinan katas.
Anyhow hope more info comes forward, and yes absolutely, a film recording from the Hawaii exhibition would hav been have been so cool and informative

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Life magazine, 1947.

 

[Bill Mattocks]

"Ryukyu (Loochoo) Islands
By United States. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations · 1944"
Ryukyu (Loochoo) Islands

 

[Same Trick]

Life magazine, 1947.

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That’s very cool, getting such early recognition in such a magazine