Seisan Kata Toolkit

from 1991

I am quite sure there are innumerable ways in which he study and practice our Isshinryu.

One tool I find useful is to break a kata down into drills for the different sections. This can be useful in several different ways. (1) If a student is having difficulty learning a section of the kata, a drill on that section may help them bind it in their memory. (2)If a student has a weakness in kata performance the drills can be used to strengthen the weak section of the kata.  (3)If one is working the application potential the most important goal is to be able to execute that section correctly.

In my experience, just kata performance alone doesn’t necessarily make the best use of the tools in the kata. So I’ve tried to list some of the drills I use from time to time in my own training and with our students.  As the manner in which I break the sections of Seisan Kata down, there is no one ‘right’ way to do so. These are the ones that I more frequently use.

Victor

Seisan
Technique	Drill	Technique description
2	1.1	Release Knees and cross hands right on top
		Release Knees and cross hands left on top
	1.2	LFF and cross hands right on top
		return
		RFF and cross hands left on top
3	2.1	LFF cross hands right on top
		left side block while right chambers
		right reverse punch while left chambers
		return
		RFF cross hands left on top
		right side block while left chambers
		left reverse punch while right chambers
	2.2	LFF cross hands right on top
		left side block while right chambers
		right reverse punch while left chambers
		return
		RFF cross hands left on top
		right side block while left chambers
		left reverse punch while right chambers
		return
		RFB cross hands right on top
		left side block while right chambers
		right reverse punch while left chambers
		return
		LFB cross hands left on top
		right side block while left chambers
		left reverse punch while right chambers
3-4	3.1	LFF cross hands right on top
		left side block while right chambers
		right reverse punch while left chambers
		RFF
		return
		RFF cross hands right on top
		right side block while left chambers
		left reverse punch while right chambers
		LFF
	3.2	LFF cross hands right on top
		left side block while right chambers
		right reverse punch while left chambers
		RFF
		left reverse punch while right chambers
		return
		RFF cross hands right on top
		right side block while left chambers
		left reverse punch while right chambers
		LFF
		right reverse punch while left chambers
4-5	4.1	RFF Left reverse punch
		LFF right reverse punch
		return
		LFF right reverse punch
		RFF Left reverse punch
6	5.1	LFF skip up
		double rising blocks
		return
		RFF skip up
		double rising blocks
6-10	6.1	LFF skip up
		double rising blocks
		Turn to the left (pivoting on the left)
		while LFS cross hands high (left on top)
		double side low strikes
		RFF skip up
		double rising blocks
		Turn to the right (pivoting on the right)
		cross hands high (right on top)
		double side low strikes
		* repeat *
9-10	7.1	LFF with double high cross hands
		double side low strikes
		return
		RFF  with double high cross hands
		double side low strikes
11	8.1	RFF (hands cross in front left on top)
		right middle bent ridge hand block
		while the left does an open low side block
		return
		LFF (hands cross in front right on top)
		left middle bent ridge hand block
		while the right does an open low side block
	8.2	RFF (hands cross in front left on top)
		right middle bent ridge hand block
		while the left does an open low side block
		turn the right hand over, grab and pull back
		return
		LFF (hands cross in front right on top)
		left middle bent ridge hand block
		while the right does an open low side block
		turn the left hand over, grab and pull back
	8.3	RFF (hands cross in front left on top)
		right middle bent ridge hand block
		while the left does an open low side block
		turn the right hand over, grab and pull back
		LFF (hands cross in front right on top)
		left middle bent ridge hand block
		while the right does an open low side block
		turn the left hand over, grab and pull back
		return
		LFF (hands cross in front right on top)
		left middle bent ridge hand block
		while the right does an open low side block
		turn the left hand over, grab and pull back
		RFF (hands cross in front left on top)
		right middle bent ridge hand block
		while the left does an open low side block
		turn the right hand over, grab and pull back
19	9.1	RFF turn head to left
		double stack hands on right side
		return
		LFF turn head to right
		double stack hans on left side
20-21	10.1	Step RFF turn head to left, both hands chamber right
		turn 90 degrees to the left into LFS
		left side block
		right then left punch
		right front kick
		right punch
		return
		Step LFF turn head to right, both hands chamber left
		turn 90 degrees to the right into RFS
		right side block
		left then right punch
		left front kick
		left punch
	10.3	Step RFF turn head to left, both hands chamber right
		turn 90 degrees to the left into LFS
		left side block
		right then left punch
		right front kick
		right punch
		Turn head to rear, both hand chamber left side
		turn 180 degrees to the right into RFS
		right side block
		left then right punch
		left front kick
		left punch
		Turn head to left, both hands chamber right side
		turn 90 degrees to the left into LFS
		left side block
		right then left punch
		right front kick
		right punch
		Turn head to rear, both hand chamber left side
		turn 180 degrees to the right into RFS
		right side block
		left then right punch
		left front kick
		left punch
	10.2	Step RFF turn head to left, both hands chamber right
		turn 90 degrees to the left into LFS
		left side block
		right then left punch
		right front kick
		right punch
		Turn head to right, both hand chamber left side
		Turn 90 degres into RFS
		Turn head to right
		turn 90 degrees to the right into RFS
		right side block
		left then right punch
		left front kick
		left punch
		Turn head to left, both hands chamber right side
		turn 90 degrees to the left into LFS
		left side block
		right then left punch
		right front kick
		right punch
		Turn head to right, both hand chamber left side
		Turn 90 degres into RFS
		Turn head to right
		turn 90 degrees to the right into RFS
		right side block
		left then right punch
		left front kick
		left punch
27	11.1	LFF Right punch
		roll right hand clockwise and grab
		pull back into horse stance
		left side block and chamber the right hand
		return
		RFF Left punch
		roll left hand counter-clockwise and grab
		pull back into horse stance
		right side block and chamber the left hand
28	12.1	LFF and left side block
		turn your head to the rear (clockwise)
		left foot steps across and you turn clockwise
		right foot shifts back into right cat stance
		chamber both hands on the left side of your body
		RFF and right side block
		turn your head to the rear (counter-clockwise)
		right foot steps across and you turn counter-clockwise
		left foot shifts back into left cat stance
		chamber both hands on the right side of your body
29	*.1	RFF right cat stance
		step forward with your right foot
		slide the left foot up behind the right foot
		right high side strike
		right backfist to the front
		return
		LFF left cat stance
		step forward with your left foot
		slide the right foot up behind the left foot
		left high side strike
		left backfist to the front
29 - 30	14.1	RFF right cat stance
		step forward with your right foot
		slide the left foot up behind the right foot
		right high side strike
		right backfist to the front
		step back with the left foot
		draw the right foot back and drop your right elbow
		return
		LFF left cat stance
		step forward with your left foot
		slide the right foot up behind the left foot
		left high side strike
		left backfist to the front
		step back with the right foot
		draw the left foot back and drop your elbow
31	15.1	RFF right cat stance (right hand in front elbow drop)
		left foot step across (left cross stance)
		right front kick
		return
		LFF left cat stance (left hand in front elbow drop)
		right foot step across (right cross stance)
		left front kick
		return
32	16.1	RFF Right low block
		left strike
		right side block
		return
		LFF Left low block
		right strike
		left side block
39 - 40	17.1	RFF into right angled front stance
		right high side strike
		right backfist to the front
		RF over into RF stance
		right low block
		left strike
		right side block
		return
		LFF into angled front stance
		left high side strike
		right backfist ot the front
		LF over into LF stance
		left low block
		right strike
		left side block
41	18.1	RFB into left cat stance
		left open side parry
		return
		LFB into right cat stance
		right open side parry
41 - 42	18.2	RFB into left cat stance
		left open side parry
		right front kick
		return
		LFB into right cat stance
		right open side parry
		left front kick
	18.3	RFB into left cat stance
		left open side parry
		right front kick
		right front strike
		return
		LFB into right cat stance
		right open side parry
		left front kick
		left front strike
43	19.1	RFB into left cat stance
		both hands circle up and out
		then return to hip chamber
		return
		LFB into right cat stance
		both hands circle up and out
		then return to hip chamber

Seisan Kata Reference

1. Rei
2. Cross hands (right on top)
3. LFF Left side block
1. Right Reverse Punch
4. RFF Left Reverse Punch
5. LFF Right Reverse Punch
6. Skip up double rising blocks
7. Turn to the left (pivoting on the left)
8. End in LFF with a double low block
9. Cross Hands (left on top)
10. Double side low strikes
11. RFF Right middle bent ridge hand block
1. Left open low side block
12. Turn right hand over, grab, pull back
13. Cross Hands (right on top)
14. LFF Left middle bent ridge hand block
1. Right open low side block
15. Turn left hand over, grab, pull back
16. Cross Hands (left on top)
17. RFF Right middle bent ridge hand block
1. Left open low side block
18. Turn right hand over, grab, pull back
19. Turn head 90 degrees to left
1. Chamber both hands on right side
20. Turn 90 degrees to the left (LFF)
1. Left side strike
21. Right then left punch
1. Right front kick, then return
2. Right punch
22. Turn head 90 degrees to the right (RFF)
1. Chamber both hands on the left
2. Turn 90 degrees to the right
3. Turn head 90 degrees to the right (RFF)
4. Turn 90 degrees to the right

                                                              i.      Right side block

1.      Left then right punch

2.      Left front kick, then return

3.      Left punch

Alt 21. Turn head right towards the rear

            Chamber both hands on the left

                        Turn 180 degrees (pivoting on your left) to the right (RFF)

                        Right side block

                                    Left then right punch

                                    Left front kick, then return

                                    Left punch

23. Turn head 90 degrees to left
1. Chamber both hands on right side
24. Turn 90 degrees to the left (LFF)
1. Left side strike
25. Right then left punch
1. Right front kick, then return
26. Right punch

27. Turn the right foot back (pivoting on the heel), drop into horse stance
1. Grab with the right hand, then pull it back to chamber as you
2. Left side block

28. Turn your head to the rear
1. Step over to the right with your left foot
2. Pivot into right cat stance chambering both hands to the left side
29.  Step forward with the right foot (then slide the left foot up behind it)
1. Right high side strike
2. Right backfist to the front
30.  Step back with the left foot (then pull the right foot back into cat stance)
1. Drop the right elbow
31. Step across with the left foot (into kake dachi)
1. Right front kick
32.  Step down into RFF
1. Right low block
2. Left strike
3. Right side block

33.  Turn your head to the rear
1. Step over to the left with your right foot
2. Pivot into left cat stance chambering both hands to the right side
34.  Step forward with the left foot (then slide the right foot up behind it)
1. Left high side strike
2. Left backfist to the front
35.  Step back with the right foot (then pull the left foot back into cat stance)
1. Drop the left elbow
36. Step across with the right foot (into kake dachi)
1. Left front kick
37.  Step down into LFF
1. Left low block
2. Right strike
3. Left side block

38.  Turn your head to the rear
1. Step over to the right with your left foot
2. Pivot into right cat stance chambering both hands to the left side
39.  Step forward with the right angled front stance (feet to 11 o’clock)
1. Right high side strike
2. Right backfist to the front
40.  Step over into RFF
1. Right low block
2. Left strike
3. Right side block

41. Step back with the left foot into Left Cat stance
1. Left open side parry (either high or low entry)          
42.  Drop left heel
1. Right front kick and return to LFF
2. Right low strike
43.  Right foot kicks back (BNT terminology perhaps) into LFF Cat
1. Both hands circle out then chamber (open hand)
44.  Drop left heel
1. both hands cross (right on top)
45.   Close and Rei