Home » Sports » Martial Arts History » Tracing Kata History

Tracing Kata History

© Mark W. Swarthout

Investigating the origins of the Passai, Bassai, or Patsai kata is used as an example of tracing the origins of kata. From the times of Chibana Sensei through Itosu Sensei on to Zenpo and Iha Sensei we try to identify the origins of this Okinawan Karate form. Returning to the origins of a kata is one thing that those that study the martial arts that have forms often do. It is felt that finding the history of the kata and getting back to its origins will help one understand the techniques the kata was created to teach. Given the difficulties in language translations, the lack of written history and conflicting memories makes this a very difficult challenge.

As an example, let's look at the history of the Passai kata. (Note that the plural in Japanese is not indicated with an 's' at the end of the word. In most cases this is derived from the context.) Given the linguistics challenge, this kata also referred to as Bassai and even Patsai. For my sanity, I will use the spelling most common in my style, but that is not to say it is more correct.

In the majority of Shorin Ryu styles, there are two Passai kata taught, Passai Sho and Passai Dai. I have been taught to refer to them as Itosu Passai and Matsumora Passai. Recent conversations on some message boards have brought out a third Passai and attempted to thread together the history. This kata is called Passai Gwa or Koryu Passai. Gwa is the Okinawan word for koryu. I first encountered it at my very first National Training Seminar, when several of the visiting instructors from Okinawa introduced it to us. It was demonstrated to us again at the 2004 NTS along with a bunkai.

So what is the history of this kata? Well in conversations with a number of my internet connections, this is what we believe is accurate. Originally, Passai Sho was what was known as Passai Dai. Supposedly in the early 1900s Chibana Choshin Sensei learned a kata from his brother-in-law, Tawada (a sai proponent). Tawada was married to Chibana's sister. Chibana then demonstrated the Tawada Passai kata to his teacher, Itosu Anko. Itosu stated that this was an 'original' patsai and that Chibana should include it in his teachings. Chibana then retired the first Passai and renamed the second one. He then added the Tawada Passai into his teachings referring to it as Passai Dai.

The copyright of the article Tracing Kata History in Martial Arts History is owned by . Permission to republish Tracing Kata History in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.