Kūsankū (クーサンクー), also known as Kōshōkun (公相君), kanku or Kushanku, was a Chinese martial artist who is said to have visited Okinawa during the mid-18th century Ryukyu Kingdom.
Kūsankū was dispatched to Okinawa as a diplomat from Fujian province around 1750. He arrived in Okinawa around 1756 and is believed to have died around 1762.
It is said that Kūsankū studied quanfa with a monk of the southern Shaolin Temple in Fujian province, though this particular piece of folklore is considered to be of dubious validity.
Kūsankū’s most significant impact on Okinawan martial arts is through the karate kata named after him, Kūsankū/kanku. While it is widely believed that he taught this kata, there are no primary historical documents to definitively prove this; the evidence relies solely on the kata’s name and oral tradition.
During his time in Ryukyu, Kūsankū performed a martial art called kumiai-jutsu (組合術), which is believed to have contributed to the later development of karate.
The Kūsankū kata is considered a cornerstone of many karate styles. It is characterised by:
- Flowing techniques that resemble those found in White Crane Kung Fu.
- A wide variety of open-handed techniques.
Variations of the Kūsankū kata exist across different traditions:
- In Matsubayashi-ryū karate, the kata is known for its flying kick and a “cheating” stance called ura-gamae. This stance involves extending one leg along the ground and squatting as low as possible on the other, allowing a practitioner to escape a bear hug from behind by twisting and dropping, while simultaneously blocking the head and striking the groin, knee, or foot. Due to its technical complexity, Kūsankū is the highest ranking and most complex kata in Matsubayashi-ryū, with mastery reportedly taking more than ten years.
- In Shotokan karate, the kata is known as Kankū-dai and consists of 65 movements performed in approximately 90 seconds. Its equivalent minor form is Kankū-shō. Kankū-dai was Gichin Funakoshi‘s favourite kata and is considered representative of the Shotokan system. Funakoshi performed Kankū-dai during his demonstration for Crowned Prince Hirohito in 1922.
- Kūsankū-dai is also a part of Shitō-ryū, with its founder, Kenwa Mabuni, having learned the kata from Itosu.
- The original Kūsankū kata practiced by many styles today was likely invented by Kanga Sakugawa, one of Kūsankū’s notable students.
- Chōtoku Kyan‘s favourite kata included Kūsankū, which he modified to suit his smaller physical stature and evasive training methods, giving them a unique style. Chōtoku Kyan learned Kūsankū kata from Sōkon Matsumura’s student.
- The “Tachimura no Kusanku” version, preserved in the Kishimoto Di tradition, was passed on by Bushi Tachimura, a student of Kanga Sakugawa, and remains unaltered by Ankō Itosu. This version contains many techniques not found in modern systems.
Kūsankū’s notable students include Kanga Sakugawa and Chatan Yara. Kanga Sakugawa, a pivotal figure in Okinawan karate, studied with Kūsankū for about six years. Kūsankū’s name is universally linked to Sakugawa’s lineage.
Kūsankū’s legacy is primarily sustained through the eponymous kata, and its derivatives (including the Heian/pinan kata), which continue to be a fundamental and are practiced in numerous karate styles worldwide. The widespread variations and interpretations of the Kūsankū kata across different schools underscore its deep historical roots and lasting influence on the evolution of Okinawan martial arts.
Karate Kata Step By Step 