This is obviously a very popular kata, judging from the number of versions that can be found. Passai originally came from China, but it is no longer practiced there. There are at least 17 versions which can be placed into three groups: 1) Itosu-Ishimine 2) Tawada-Chibana 3) Matsumura Orthodox-Kyan-Oyadomari. The Passai kata of Shimabuku Village (Matsumura Orthodox version) may be the oldest version of this kata, dating back in village records over 400 years. There are Passai Sho and Passai Dai versions of this kata. There is, of course, great disagreement about who created the Passai Sho kata. Once again credit goes to either Bushi Matsumura or Itosu (with most authors favoring Itosu). One author refers to Passai Sho as the "meditation" version of the two kata. Passai literally means To breach a Fortress, indicating the ability to penetrate any defense. The older versions of this kata complete the first move with the left leg leading; this has been switched to the right leg in most modern versions. The various versions are:

• Matsumura Passai, named for Bushi Matsumura (1797-1889) of Shuri
• Matsumora Passai, named for Kosaku Matsumora (1820-1898) of Tomari
• Oyadomari Passai, named for Peichin Oyadomari (1831-1905)
• Itosu Passai, named for Yasutsune Itosu (1832-1916)
• Funakoshi Passai, developed by Gichin Funakoshi
• Kyan Passai, named for Chotoku Kyan (1870-1945), teacher of Zenryo Shimabuku
• Motobu Passai, named for Choki Motobu (1870-1942)
• Chibana Passai, named for Choshin Chibana (1887-1969), founder of Kobayashi-Ryu
• Ishimine Passai, named for the martial artist Ishimine
• Tawada Passai, Tawada was an old kobudo master and Fumio Demura says that the Passai Sho of Shito-Ryu appears to have descended from a bo kata
• Tomari Passai, named after the village
• Ichigina Passai
• Shimpaku Passai, named after Motochiro Shimpaku
• Ishiro (or Sekiryo) Passai
• Teruya (or Shoya) Passai
• Anzato Passai (possibly Yasutsune Azato)
• Oshiro (or Ojosan or Daijosan) Passai

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