Rules about the Embusen (Line of movement).
First, we need to define the term “Kiten”. Wikipedia says: .. “Nearly all Japanese-influenced Kata start and end on exactly the same Embusen point (Kiten)”.
We conclude that the Kiten is the starting and ending point of the Kata. … Great!
However, was it originally the intention that Kata should start and end in the same spot?
In recent times, and especially within sport karate, there are most often rules about the Embusen. You can read on Wikipedia; “Japanese Kata are mostly arranged to start and end on or around the same point. Many were modified from their original Okinawan versions to accomplish this feat. The purpose of this is simply to allow the movements to be practiced in a small training space. The rule of Embusen is that any movements in one direction should be symmetrical and countered by an equivalent number of movements in the opposite direction. In Okinawan karate, the maximum number of steps in any direction is normally three. “
“.. Kata are mostly arranged to start and end on or around the same point”.
That a Kata should start and end in the same place was mentioned in the book Karate-Do Kyohan by Gichin Funakoshi. It was also mentioned by Funakoshi’s student Nakayama (founder of JKA Shotokan) in the book Best Karate Vol 1, but beyond this, I have not been able to find information that can confirm this.
Gichin Funakoshi writes: (Karate-Do Kyohan 1973, Page 41)
“Whatever goes must come back”: in karate, the points at which one starts and completes the kata must coincide, and failure in this indicates either that an incorrect step has been taken or that variation in the lengths of stride has caused deviation from the correct positions.
Masatoshi Nakayama writes: (Best Karate Vol 1, Page 94)
The first movement of the kata and the last movement must be executed at the same point on the performance line.
Let us look at the creation of Kata.
The evolution of Kata unfolded across various times and locations, shaped by diverse individuals throughout history. The notion that masters from different eras and regions unanimously agreed on a Kata’s initiation and conclusion occurring at the same spot seems quite implausible to me. There were no explicit rules dictating that a Kata must commence and conclude at a fixed point.
I am sure that the creation of Kata was to remember the techniques, landing in the same place or not was probably not the primary goal. One must also keep in mind that times were different; at the time Kata where created. It was not about using Kata for competition purposes, but about techniques to be remembered in connection with self-defense and survival. The cosmetic has certainly not been a deciding factor.
The simple fact is that the Chinese forms were changed by the local Karate masters, in connection with their introduction to Okinawa.
Concerning the Chinese roots of Karate, it is very reasonable to believe that
