About This Kata
| Name | Yantsu [安三] |
| Translation | Safe Three / Three Refuges |
| Style | Kyokushin |
| Level | Intermediate |
| History | Yantsu is believed to have Southern Chinese origins, likely from the White Crane tradition (unconfirmed). It was introduced to Okinawa in the early 20th century and is associated with the Naha-te tradition. The kata found its way into Kyokushin through Masutatsu Ōyama’s training connections to Gōjū-ryū masters, particularly through the lineage of Chōjun Miyagi’s students. A version of this kata exists in Shitō-ryū called Ansan/Hansan, and it is possible that Ōyama’s Yantsu is a derivation of that kata. |
| Lineage | Chinese White Crane → Okinawan Karate → Shitō-ryū → Masutatsu Ōyama (Kyokushin) |
Kata steps and diagrams to come. If you would like to help completing this page, please contact me (mark.loftusuk@gmail.com).