Kanku Dai, meaning "looking heavenward" or "viewing the sky", is derived from an old kata and is practised by students of both Okinawan and Japanese karate. Two versions of the original kata developed, Kanku Dai (greater) and Kanku Sho (lesser). However, in Okinawa students usually practise the original kata known as Kushanku or Kosokun.
It is believed the original kata developed in Okinawa around 1761 from the martial techniques and teachings of a Chinese envoy and diplomat named Kushanku. Like most old karate katas its history and evolvement are not entirely certain. However, it is known that Kushanku was a very effective fighter so his teachings and methods would have been studied thoroughly by karate students. It is these original teachings that have evolved into the kata Kanku Dai.
Kushanku worked and studied in Fukien, China and so like most of old Okinawan kata and karate methods, Kanku Dai has strong ties to Chinese White Crane. Due to its geographic position, Okinawa enjoyed strong trade and diplomatic relations with China. Many Okinawan masters would travel to China to study and further their martial and cultural knowledge, and likewise, Okinawa was visited by many Chinese envoys who would pass on their knowledge. One such envoy was Kushanku who traveled to Okinawa together, it is believed, with several of his students.
Tode Sakagawa, an old inspiring Okinawan karate master, studied under Kushanku for a number of years. Sakagawa formulated the kata as a mnemonic to record the teachings of Kushanku. The methods and teachings that Kushanku passed to Sakagawa were extremely effective and this physical mnemonic of the principles became the kata Kushanku.
Tode Sakagawa passed on his knowledge to a long term student Soken Matsumura which would of, without doubt, included the teachings of Kushanku. This knowledge and the kata Kushanku was, in turn, passed to Matsumura’s student Anko Itosu. It is Itosu who created the "sho" (lesser) of Kushanku. The long time student of Itosu, Gichin Funakoshi renamed the Kushanku kata to Kanku Dai and Kanku Sho during his time of introducing Okinawa karate to the Japanese school system.
The old original principles and methods found within Kanku Dai reveal very effective fighting methods for use within a civilian environment. It is therefore well worthwhile the time and effort spent in studying this marvelous kata. As we do not know the original teachings and bunkai behind the methods that Kushanku passed to Sakagawa, we should strive to study and unlock the katas secrets. I believe with time and effort, and an understanding of civilian habitual acts of violence, we can form some ideas and opinions, if not any conclusions.
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