Kusanku- Originally called Ku Shanku, Kosankun, or a variety of other spellings (depending on the dialect and the translator), purportedly after the Chinese military leader on whose fighting approach the kata is based. Shotokan founder Funakoshi Gichin renamed the kata Kanku, which means "looking at the sky". This name refers to the first movement of the kata. The original Okinawan Kusanku is a main source of the moves of the familiar Pinan kata, with three advanced moves (grappling holds and escapes, and a jumping front kick combination) at the end that were not included in the Pinan. The Seidokan version is from the Kyan Chotoku lineage through Shimabuku Eizo. Having it’s roots in China, there are many movements that are similar to those found in the Shaolin arts of China. Exactly where the direct connection lies is obscured in history, but most of the Okinawan arts of the Shorin (Shaolin in Okinawan) Ryu line have this as one of their most advanced kata.
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