Matsumura Soken's Kata
Naihanchi kata is taught in a series of three forms. It is a rather old kata practiced by most styles of Shuri and Tomari lineage. Soken Sensei said in the 1972 interview that Naihanchi was the name of a Chinese man who was living on Okinawa. The kata was most likely either made by him, or made from techiniques and concepts taught by him. Some have attributed the origin of Naihanchi with a Chinese man named Ason, who Matsumura Sokon is known to have trained with. Perhaps this is the man Soken Sensei was referring to. Some say that Naihanchi Sho and Ni were originally one kata. After learning this kata from Matsumura Sokon, Itosu Yasutsune split it up into two forms and added the third variation. It utilizes the Kiba Dachi (horse stance) and the movement is side to side. There are a few different reasons given for the side to side movement of the kata; fighting on a rice patty dike fighting with your back against a wall, or simply that it's a basic pattern that is easy for beginners to learn. All of which are probably correct. Also, change body concepts are contained in the side to side stepping. The name has been translated to mean either "Iron Horse" or "Holding Your Ground", both names referring to the rooted stance. When Funakoshi Gichin introduced karate to mainland Japan, he changed the name to Tekki, which means "Horse Riding", also referring to the horse stance used in the kata.
Pinan
The Pinan katas, 3, 4 and 5 were divised between the years 1900 and 1907 by Itosu Yasutsune, a student of Matsumura Sokon. Some say that Matsumura developed Pinan Sho and Ni from a series of two old Chinese forms called Channan, and later, his student Itosu developed Pinan San, Yon and Go from movements from the Channan series and the Kusanku kata. Others say that Itosu made all five of the kata from the Channan and Kusanku kata. In any case, Soken Sensei taught at least four of these kata and probably the fifth one too. The name translates as "Peacefull Mind". When Funakoshi introduced karate to Japan, he changed the name to Heian, which is the Japanese rendering of the same name.
Passai
Passai kata is taught in two variations, Sho and Dai. It is a very old kata of many different versions. It was originally one form and later split into two kata for teaching purposes. The form is taught in most Okinawan, Japanese and Korean styles that are of Shuri and Tomari lineage. The name translates as "To Penetrate a Fortress" or "To Breach or Break Through". Funakoshi changed the name to Bassai, which is the Japanese rendering of the same name. Bassai is also the name used in most Korean styles. This is the first of the katas to have three time variations within kata. Instead of steady no pace change. Great KI awareness concepts evolve from soft slow motion forms.
Chinto
Chinto is an old kata, reportedly introduced by Matsumura Sokon. Legend has it that many, many years ago, a Chinese man named Chinto was shipwrecked and washed ashore on Okianwa. He took refuge in a cave and began to steal food from the local villages so he wouldn't starve to death. When the king got word of this he sent Matsumura Sokon, his greatest warrior, to dispose of the thief. Afteralready sending 2 village samurai unsucessfully. Matsumura searched for him and found him. They engaged in battle but were matched. Neither of them could gain an advantage. Supposeably lasting almost an hour duration. Chinto fled back into his cave. Matsumura returned to the king and told him that the thief had been dealt with. Later, Matsumura returned to the cave with some food and befriended Chinto. They began to train together and exchanged concepts and techniques. Matsumura later developed a kata from the concepts he learned and named the kata Chinto in honor of his friend. The Japanese call this kata Gankaku, which means "Crane standing on a rock".
Gojushiho
Gojushiho is an old kata that is mentioned in the Bubishi (Old Chinese martial arts text). The name means "Fifty four steps" and is referred to in the Bubishi as "Fifty-four Steps of the Black Tiger". The kata really shows the Chinese influences with it's many circular hand movements, finger striking techniques and fluid nature. Some versions of the kata contain a "drunken" staggering type movement, although, this movement doesn't occur in the Matsumura version.
Kusanku
Kusanku is a very old kata. Some consider it to be one of the oldest kata of Okinawan karate. It is practiced by most Okinawan and Japanese karate styles of Shuri and Tomari lineage and is also practiced by some Korean styles. Soken Sensei has been quoted as saying that Kusanku is the most important kata of Matsumura karate, and that when he was training under Nabei, they would practice it with kanzashi (hairpins) in their hands. The kata was reportedly developed by Tode Sakugawa from concepts and techniques that he learned from a Chinese military attache named Kusanku, for which the kata was named. This kata is referred to as Kwanku or Kanku in Japanese karate, which means "To View the Sky"..obviously referring to the opening movement of kata where one places his hands together to form a triangle and raises them up as if he is looking at the sky through the triangle.
Rohai
Rohai kata is another very old kata. It's originator is unknown, but it is believed to have been developed around the area of Tomari Village. Soken Sensei is said to have taught three variations of this kata, Ichi, Ni and San. Yet none of the Yozadake Seito heard Soken Sensei say anything about ni or san rohai katas. Maybe they were Kise's addition to the Matsumura family? All very similar. The name means "Vision of a Crane" or "To View a Heron", referring to the one legged crane stance posture which occurs three times in the kata. It is called Meikyo in Japanese karate which means "To Polish a Mirror", referring to the circular motion of the hands which also occurs three times in the kata. Another interpretation of the name refers to the opening of the kata, in which the hands held in a position as if one were holding a small mirror and looking into it
Soken Sensei also taught the weapons art of Okinawa known as Kobujitsu or Kobudo. It is said that Soken Sensei did not learn kobudo from his uncle Nabei, because Nabei was not familiar with them. So he sought instruction from other teachers, namely Komesu Ushi No Tanmei and Chikin Kraka (Tsuken Mantaka). He learned the Chikin Bo kata(also known as Tsuken Bo) from Chikin Kraka, and between these two teachers learned many more weapons. The general concensus says that Soken Sensei taught Bo, Sai, Tuifa, Kama, Kusarigama, Nunchaku and Suruchin. However, from 1970-72 Shihan Charles Garrett learned Chikin Bo, Soken No Sai, Soken No Tuifa, and Soken No Naginata. In 1972 Soken began teaching Mr. Garrett basic techniques with the kama and the boken, but he wasn't there long enough to learn any kata with these weapons. Nishihira Sensei has said that the only kobudo kata that Soken Sensei actually learned was Chikin Bo, and that he never learned any kata with the rest of the weapons. Rather, he merely learned how to use the weapons. However it is known that he taught kata with the other weapons. The other weapons that he taught all bear his name, so what Nishihira Sensei probably meant by this is that he only learned Chikin Bo kata, and the other kata he taught were originated by him. In the 1972 interview Soken Sensei comments on his weapons kata. He says that when he first started teaching, he would teach someone a weapon kata such as tuifa. They would say "Sensei, what is the name of this kata?" Soken Sensei would say "No name just tuifa kata". After many occurances of this Soken Sensei finally decided to just attach his name to the kata so that they would have a name.