Enpi (kata)

Nihongo|"Enpi"|燕飛, also frequently transliterated as "Empi", is a "kata" practiced by Shotokan and other karate styles. Enpi means "Flying Swallow".

"Enpi" comes from the Okinawan martial art of Tomari-te, where it first appeared in 1683. It is believed to have been influenced by Chinese boxing. It was originally called "Wansu". Funakoshi Gichin changed the name to "Enpi" when he moved to the Japanese mainland in the 1920's. Funakoshi changed the names of many of the "kata", in an effort to make the Okinawan art more palatable to the then nationalistic Japanese. The most commonly accepted theory about its creation and development is that a Sappushi Wang Ji, an official from Xiuning, transmitted the "kata" while serving on Okinawa. Legend has that Wang Ji had the habit of throwing and jumping on his adversaries. Because of this dynamic form of combat, this "kata" resembles a swallow in flight.

Others suggest that "Enpi" was a product of the interaction between Okinawans and the so-called "36 Chinese Families" that immigrated to the islands in the late 1300s. Still other teachers believe that it was based upon Sasaki Kojiro's sword techniques, because they were also said to resemble a swallow. Although "Enpi" is generally known as a black belt level "kata", "Empi" is often first taught at 2nd or 1st "kyū".

See also

* Bunkai
* List of shotokan techniques

External links

* [http://www.karate-psv-hattingen.de/images/Kata/Empi_g.jpgEnpi/Empi kata diagram]