Wankan - 王冠 (Okan)

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Wankan, (Japanese: "King's Crown" or "Emperor's Crown") (also called Okan) kata is practiced in many styles of Karate. Not much is known about the history of this kata. It originates from the Tomari-te school and in modern karate is practiced in Shorin-ryu, Shotokan, Gensei-ryu and Matsubayashi-ryu.

 

It is often considered an advanced kata, despite its brevity. Karate master Shoshin Namagine considered wankan to be his favorite kata. A quote from his book describes the kata as "Being characterized by unitary sequences of attack and defense."

 

Wankan is also known as Matsukaze (松風 or "pine tree wind") in some schools of karate.