Saifa

Tear and Destroy (砕破) Traditional kata of Chinese origin brought to Okinawa by Kanryo Higaonna.  This kata is thought to be derived from White Crane Kung Fu in China. Saifa kata introduces tai sabakitai sabaki (body evasion) and open handed palm-heel blocks and strikes (haito uchi).  It mixes swift, light stances (neko ashi dachi & sagi ashi dachi) with solid, grounding stances (shiko dachi).  Saifa contains a vast number of techniques like hammer fist strike (tettsui uchi), back fist (ura uchi), morote tsuki (double fist punch), ashi barai (foot sweep), haito uchi (ridge hand strike) etc. Watch Higaonna Sensei perform Saifa: