Kata Empi

Kata Empi or Enpi, practised in the Shotokan style and meaning Flight of the Swallow. A fast direct and explosive kata that varies in height, tempo and lineage. The kata goes right back to early chinese boxing origins and could easily be one of the ealiest katas, prior to the name Enpi, the form at one time was known as Wanshu before it was renamed to suite Japanse customs in the 1920s.

Empi's style is Shuri-te and Tomari-te based, Okinowan but probably Chinese influenced. The motions are explosive power using the hips, long stances and center line techniques.

Empi uses the stances of zenkutsu dachi, kiba dachi and kokutsu dachi. Kosa Dachi, the reverse cat stance is also used at points as well as the crane stance. Punches of Chudan Tsuki and Jodan Tsuki are used alongside Shute Knife hand strikes or blocks, Gedan Barai's and the traditional Jump or throw at the end of the kata round off this fast paced multi level kata.

This version of the kata is demonstrated by the Blind Sensei Mark Brown, who pitches in a pretty amazingly fluid version of this advanced level kata.