About This Kata
| Name | Anan [阿南] |
| Translation | Peaceful South (likely a reference to Annam/Vietnam) |
| Style | Ryūei-ryū / Shitō-ryū |
| History | Anan likely refers to the region of Vietnam historically called Annam. The kata emphasises practical self-defence applications with close-quarters fighting techniques and joint manipulations. It is thought to date to the 19th century, originating from village fighting traditions of northern Okinawa. Okinawan martial artist Norisato Nakaima is credited with bringing the kata to Naha after learning it during his study in China. An Anan Dai version (also sometimes called Anan Sho for the basic version) represents a more advanced form of the same material. The kata is practised in the Ryūei-ryū system and adopted into Shitō-ryū. |
| Lineage | Possibly Vietnamese/Chinese → Norisato Nakaima → Ryūei-ryū lineage |
Shito-ryu / Ryuei-ryu Kata
