Ananku

Ananku (安南空) is a kata from Okinawan karate. Its history in Okinawan martial arts is relatively short in comparison to other kata as it was composed by Chotoku Kyan ^[1]. Its meaning is "Light from the South"^[2] or "Peace from the South", as it is thought to originate when Kyan returned from a trip to Taiwan ^[3].

What makes this kata special is its techniques of offense and defense while in zenkutsu dachi and Naname Zenkutsu Dachi (otherwise known as front leg bent stance or bow stance and Slanted Front Stance) This kata also introduces the aforementioned Naname Zenkutsu Dachi in Shorin-Ryu and Matsubayashi-Ryu. It is also the first Shorin/Matsubayashi-ryū kata to start with a centered movement blocking to both sides of the body. One could argue that this kata introduces Double Downward/Lower Forearm Block.

Sources

^ Seibukan Lineage, [1] Retrieved on 2009-02-08
^ Annanku - 'Light from the South' - Wellsphere [2] Retrieved on 2011-04-27
^ Ananku Kata, The Central Pennsylvania Martial Arts Academy [3] Retrieved on 2009-02-08

Shōshin Nagamine, The Essence of Okinawan Karate-Do (Hardcover reissue) (1991), ISBN 0-8048-1163-6

[1] Seibukan Lineage, [1] Retrieved on 2009-02-08

[2] Annanku - 'Light from the South' - Wellsphere [2] Retrieved on 2011-04-27

[3] Ananku Kata, The Central Pennsylvania Martial Arts Academy [3] Retrieved on 2009-02-08

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