Nijushiho

Nijushiho is yet another kata that Funakoshi sensei changed the name of from the original Niseishi. In this case the new name stuck, though both words mean 'twenty-four' and describe the number of movements (not techniques) in the form. This number is reported to relate to the number 108, which is important in Buddhism as it represents the number of afflictions to the soul, as 108 can be divided by both '2' and '4' (though not 24 itself). I would go further than this however and suggest that the number 24 is related to the precession of the equinoxes, the prime number of which is 72 which indicates the number of years it takes the earth to 'wobble' one degree (24 x 3 = 72). The number 108 is itself first and foremost a precessional number (72 + 36 = 108) and had significance a long time before Buddhism emerged. The number 108 is found in various martial arts, such as in the 108 moves of the wing chun kung fu wooden dummy form.

This form entered the Shotokan syllabus via Master Nakayama, Funakoshi sensei's successor. He learned it from the Shito ryu master Kenwa Mabuni (along with Gojushiho). This kata does not appear therefore in Karate Do Kyohan and was a later addition.

Some hold that the pattern was created by Aragaki sensei (1840-1920) while Patrick McCarthy notes that it is used in an least one school of Fujian Crane kung fu. What does seem credible is that the Okinawan version of this kata was created by Aragaki sensei, though who he learned the original from is unknown. Aragaki sensei is also said to have been the source of the kata Sanchin, Seisan and Sochin and was a teacher of Mabuni sensei (Shito ryu) and Kanryo Higaonna (Goju ryu).

Anko Azato is also known to have performed a version of this kata which is less linear. What is strange is that Funakoshi sensei studied with Azato sensei but didn't apparently learn this form from him or, if he did, he didn't teach it. Shotokan employs the more linear version from the Aragaki line. Historian Harry Cook speculates that Funakoshi may have studied this kata and then later forgotten it.

Master Kanazawa performing Nijushiho