Japanese Terminology Question - Namphaken

[Jimmy]

Good Afternoon All,

I want to first say that while this is my initial post I've visited your forums quite a few times previously while researching Kenpo history and lineage, and I've found it quite enlightening.  The information and discussions exchanged on these boards have been quite helpful, so thank you for that. 

Given the level of expertise found here I was hoping someone might be able to assist me with a term we use for some of our Goju Ryu forms at my dojo.  Thus far in my reasearch I've been unable to track down the translation for the term "Namphaken", but I thought perhaps someone here might have some insight on it.   If anyone is familiar with the phrase and is available to translate for me it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks Again.

Jimmy H.

[Wado]

Good Afternoon All,

I want to first say that while this is my initial post I've visited your forums quite a few times previously while researching Kenpo history and lineage, and I've found it quite enlightening.  The information and discussions exchanged on these boards have been quite helpful, so thank you for that. 

Given the level of expertise found here I was hoping someone might be able to assist me with a term we use for some of our Goju Ryu forms at my dojo.  Thus far in my reasearch I've been unable to track down the translation for the term "Namphaken", but I thought perhaps someone here might have some insight on it.   If anyone is familiar with the phrase and is available to translate for me it would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks Again.

Jimmy H.

Jimmy, the term is not familiar to me and I studied Okinawan Goju-ryu karate for about ten years. However, when you say "term we use for some of our Goju Ryu forms", do you mean that the phrase describes a group of kata or do you mean term is used for a specific movement within a kata? If it is related to kata, then perhaps the name of the kata would help track down the context that someone may be able to help better.

[Jimmy]

Thanks for your reply Wado.  In this context the term Namphaken is actually referring to the forms themselves (as in Namphaken 1, 2, 3).  They are rather short and straight forward block and strike forms taught at low rank. 

[Wado]

Thanks for your reply Wado.  In this context the term Namphaken is actually referring to the forms themselves (as in Namphaken 1, 2, 3).  They are rather short and straight forward block and strike forms taught at low rank. 

Interesting. They might be kata specific to your school lineage, which means the name could be anything from a Japanese term to a person's name or the name of a place. I see why it could be hard to track down a translation.

When I was training in Goju-ryu, the first official kata, other than Sanchin, was Gekisai Dai Ichi. However, I started under Chinen Sensei and he had included three kata that were taught before Gekisai Dai Ichi. We called them Kihon Kata Dai Ichi, Ni, San...

The Kihon Kata Dai San was a lot more complex than the first two, but I did find an example of it on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgONdnl_2jE

Does the above kata resemble Namphaken 3?

[kcerda]

Never heard of that name for any form in the different lineages or branch from okinawan and japanese Goju I know (trained til brown belt for many years), but there are also a lot of offshoots, specially from american (Urban) goju that added a lot of non-traditional material or made their own. I would be helpful to track it down if u posted the name of ur instructor and the branch or organization he belongs.

[Wado]

I wonder if it could be a person or a place rather than a Japanese term.

I looked up Naha-te, which is what Goju-ryu karate came from, and found a nice article about katas:

http://yushikan.blogspot.com/2011/03/koden-and-shinden-kata-of-naha-te.html

I had forgotten that the Kihon Kata Dai Ichi kata I learned was really called "Fukyu Kata Dai Ichi"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbzGLSVyzik

The kata was developed by Shōshin Nagamine.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fukyugata

Is there a chance that these kata in your school Jimmy are not "Namphaken" but are "Nagamine"; named after the karateka that created them?

Just a theory.

[kcerda]

Speculating... I've heard some schools called nifanchin or  nainfanchin (sounds nanphancheen in english) to Naihanchi kata (that also is the root of Palama 11 or Death Dance). Naihanchi isnt a goju or naha te kata, but a shuri/tomari te one, but there are some goju schools that practice it.  Does ur "namphaken" looks like this?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEniiQqw0nM

[Jimmy]

Thanks for providing more feedback Wado and Sifu Kristov.  I took a look at the videos and those are actually more involved than the forms I am referring to.  They are definitely termed namphaken as that is how Shodai Soke has spelled them out in our belt guidelines.  We also have the pinions and kenpo forms from traditional kenpo, however these are always referred to as Goju Ryu forms by the Senseis.  With the lack of information on them it is quite possible that they were termed this way specifically by the school, or could come from Professor Garron who is my Soke's teacher.  The only hints I've been given thus far has that Ken at the end refers to fist (as in Kenpo), which leaves me trying to translate the Nampha part (so far rather unsuccessfully).

[kcerda]

U mean Larry Garron? One of the man supposedly teach jujitsu to Nick Cerio?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Garron

Holding so many ranks in so many styles, and since u also call ur teacher "shodai soke" (thats japanese for first generation founder of an art), i can suppose what u are learning is not really goju ryu but a blending of styles. So maybe the whole form (and its name) is as blended as the style.

[Jimmy]

Sifu Kristov,

That is correct, I was referring Professor Larry Garron.  Your comment on the blending is accurate as well, as the system is a mix of Kenpo, Jui Jitsu and Goju Ryu (though all instructors make a clear distinction when they are presenting Kenpo vs. Juijitsu vs. Goju Ryu techniques and forms).  You make a very good point on how the form (and thus the term) could have been created for the system.  While we do also have more standard Goju Ryu forms I have not been able to find these forms presented anywhere online.

I'm also not sure with whom Shodai Soke studied under prior to Professor Garron (if anyone), so there could even be another entire lineage behind the term Namphaken.

[punisher73]

"Ken" means "fist" or "sword" as in Kenpo or Kendo.  The hard part is that terms are used in martial arts that aren't translated literally.  For example, in non martial arts terms.  "Ken" can also mean "tendon".

As to the "Nampha" part, I tried to look at both martial arts dictionaries and japanese dictionaries and couldn't find anything for either "nampha", "nanpha" or "namfa/nanfa". 

If you use "pha" as a phonetic for "fa" and use a chinese translation, "fa" means method or law (as in Chuan fa or fist law/method, which in japanese becomes ken/mpo).

The term "nan/m" can mean several things
Trad. Simp. Pinyin English
?  n?n  one's daughter; to filch; to secrete
?  nán  south
?  nán  mumble in repetition
?  nán  name of a country
?  nán  Machilus nanmu
?  nán  Machilus nanmu
?  nán  male
?  nán  mumble in repetition
? ? nán  difficult (to...); problem; difficulty; difficult; not good
?  n?n  stand in awe
?  n?n  immature locusts
?  n?n  blush
? ? nàn  disaster; distress; to scold

If I had to guess, this is NOT an actual word, but one that Sijo Garron created for his kata.  You would have to ask your instructors or him what the intended translation is, or get the kanji/ideograms used for it to attempt a translation.  I have seen this happen quite a bit when english speaking persons create an asian martial art and attempt to use and name things like this.  For example, "Geri" only means "kick" if it is used with a descriptor, such as "Mae Geri" meaning front kick.  The word for "kick" is actually  "Keri" whe used alone.  "Geri" when used alone translates to "diarhea"

[Jimmy]

Thanks for taking such a thorough look into it Punisher.  I tend to agree that it is likely a local creation specific to the school or my Soke's lineage.  I'd also just like to clarify that I actually study under Shodai Soke Paul Cervizzi who created this system.  He is a student of Professor Garron.  I'm not sure if the term is specific to my Soke's system or if it was derived from his time with Professor Garron.  The teachers at our school encourage the students to study our history and terms thoroughly, and generally don't simply give out answers since they want us to put effort into both intellectual as well as physical training (we actually get homework which I rather enjoy).  However, this may be a scenario where I may need to press for some more assistance because there is definitely a lack of information on the phrase (which of course makes perfect sense if it is specific to the system).  I appreciate everyones help in looking into this.  If I am able to find a conclusive answer I'll be sure to post it here.