If you had asked me this same question 10 years ago I'm not sure which Kata I'd pick. Now I have spent much time deciphering Naihanchi-Shodan. Last time I looked at my list of applications there were 52. and the list keeps getting longer. So my answer at the present is Naihanchi-Shodan.
Bottom line here is it is not as important which Kata you know or teach as it is to teach the deeper hidden applications. Without a strong understanding of what is hidden in your Kata they have very little use.
Edit: Why not just one Kata? Because each Kata has different applications hidden in them. Knowing the Bunkai for more than one Kata gives you more possible ways to deal with an attacker.
Just to be clear, I do not believe that Kata is meant to be taken as fighting multiple attackers. Instead it is many different possible real life applications to use against different possible attacks (but only one person attacking).
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The "why not" is that a kata or form is not just about the technique, but also the expression of the core principles. An analogy would be a language such as English where there are several types of sentence patterns and structures. You could conceivably have only one simple subject verb/predicate pattern, but it would be very stilted and confining. You would lose the flexibility and spontaneity of a living language whose purpose is to convey your thoughts efficiently and maybe poetically.
The same applies to a martial art. Although a kata is the building block of your style, the goal is to both teach the technique AND help you understand the idea that created the technique. The idea is actually more important because one technique could have many applications and it is the idea that is central to all the applications for those techniques. And sometime (perhaps often times) it is much easier to understand this idea if you had several examples.
I think I would scale this to my student's ability. For some I would choose Kusanku Dai, others Gojushiho and maybe some students Chinto. I have actually taken Kata from other styles to help some students if they had issues with something and that Kata had a stronger emphasis on what they were struggling with.
I think the reason we have several different Kata is because one size does not fit all but a complete martial arts style should have something in it that does fit everybody.
I know that some of my Chinese martial arts form simply won't flow no matter how hard I try. Some of the other students do really well with them but I'd be in deep trouble if those were the only forms. Other forms just fly and are downright a lot of fun in their movements and then application come easier too. Applications for different techniques are always to make the body do something it is not meant to do and there are many ways to get there. Depending on a person's strength the different Kata do it differently. For someone who does not know martial art it all looks the same but to the person applying the technique the little details make all the difference in manipulating your opponent's balance.
In some styles, or for some stylists, there WAS only one kata.
But in my opinion, one kata to rule them all, to coin a phrase ("and in the darkness bind them..."), would be a reach for some people - I'm guessing that's one reason (of many) why many kata were created.
In Taekwondo, we have a great many techniques that are not seen in forms, I guess that's a product of the sport aspect of taekwondo.
As such, while I have favorites, I don't necessarily see a single form that espouses more or better techniques than any other. So for technique variety's sake, or application's sake, I have no favorites.
But there are some whose difficulty level is fairly high, and watching someone do these forms with skill and precision is cool. But, you can't teach a beginner the difficult forms, that would be counter productive to their learning. So my answers are from an asthetics standpoint only.
I would teach WTF Chong Kwon, which is a highly advanced form and many mysterious techniques not often taught or explained.
Each kata is a septate, if you eliminate the basic ones anyway. Each one offers new tactics and techniques
Now a days I see many people in a kata race. Its more about quanty and not understanding. If you don't understand kata it loses all meaning a purpose.
there are many great kata. I have always leaned towards kusanku, naihanchi and gankanku
I guess if I had to pick one it would be gankanku. Its got some nice tactics for unevan terrain such as stairwells and such and some interesting grappling techniques
I would not like having just one kata. Reason being I belive there should be a progression from beginner to advance. That make for a good building block and you start by laying the foundation.
But if I would choose one it might be kusanku. I say that because it has every technique in it. But I would say one kata has every application or strategy.
I believe that the basic kata or forms are the best. The reason I say this is because they teach you the basic blocking and punching techniques - anything more than that just whilst been more technical is also quite flashy.
I would choose the Lau Gar Kung Fu First Set Form (kata)
I would have to say Kanku Dai. It has most the elements of our first five kata ( Heians 1-5) in it, not necessarily all of the applications though.
It was like that originally from my understanding. One kata was the style.
Can it count as one if you do them all without stopping? I could probably eliminate five or six of what I've learned because they're only minutely different to others but for the most part I'd struggle to drop it down to one.
I would have one pattern made up of all 10 color belt patterns and teach them 1/10th of the pattern every time they went up a grade.
For those that actually see the use in kata, if you could choose one to teach to your students and it could only be one, what would it be? Why? Note, it's not necessarily your 'favorite' kata, but the one you see the most applications for.
In Uechi-Ryu it's said "All's in Sanchin" so that would be easy. The Uechi Ryu version of Sanchin therefore would be my choice as it covers feet positioning, movement, blocks, and strikes.
I don't know but that is why alot of people don't want to know the word Black Belt.
