tebo
Interesting project---and good luck.
You might check what "named" kata the old timers had in common--might, MIGHT, point to a common source or common persom. Might help, although there is no way of knowing if they were the same kata or if they "looked" the same etc. Just because 2 or more groups has a "seisan" kata does not mean it was the same seisan kata.
And of course there is no way of knowing where the "in-common" person got the kata to start with.
Part of the problem is that details of exactly where and exactly what it was called often only becomes "interesting" later on in training. GENERALLY.
By the time most folks get around to wondering about the details of say exactly where a given kata comes from its likely to late to find out.
I think of it terms of my grandfather---how much stuff did he know that I never asked him about? And now its to late.
Stuff he knew as a matter of course I have to really work to find out from other sources.
Chris Thomas
"While people are entitled to their illusions, they are not entitled to a limitless enjoyment of them and they are not entitled to impose them upon others."
"Team Cynicism" MVP 2005-2006
Currently on "Injured/Reserve" list due to a scathing Sarcasm pile-up.