Dear Folks:
I have been doing an on-going study on the manner in which Korean MA have developed and, because there is a better "paper-trail" through Okinawa I have been reviewing the manner in which materials were transmitted from Southern China to Japan through Okinawa.
I mention this because I find myself coming back to the same three books over and over again and wonder if anyone has some thoughts about these. The goal is to identify the most representative kata proceeding from MATSUMURA Sokon through Itosu or Kyan.
Now I know this is a little like comparing apples and oranges but all the same both of these gentlemen seem to have set the stage for the development of the lion's share of SHORIN practices such as SHOTOKAN and SHUDOKAN, yes?
So far the sources that I am using are
a.) CLASSICAL KATA OF OKINAWAN KARATE by Pat McCarthy
b.) THE ESSENCE OF OKINAWAN KARATE-DO by NAGAMINE Shoshin
c.) tHE ESSENCE OF BUJUTSU KARATE by USHIRO Kenji.
Again, the challenge is to examine PRE-Shotokan and Shudokan practice.
Thoughts?
BTW: If anyone has a resource that they think would be particularly valuable your comments would be very much appreciated.
Best Wishes,
Bruce