It
might be interesting on looking at the technique which I first realized there
was more than one answer. Later on I realized I had found Fractals of the
movement were techniques in themselves, and openings to entire chains of
techniques. This is perhaps the simplest of answers to something much, much
more complex.
I
had be working with the opening of the Isshinryu Chinto kata, where the hands
cross. Now I had learned two different ways to perform the technique.
I
was taught the kata opening by Lewis
Sensei just prior to leaving Salisbury in 1976,
Then returning for vacation the
next summer I learnt the rest of the kata. Then in September of 1977 Charles
Murray moved into my area of Scranton.
Among the first things I noticed was his
Chinto was somewhat different from mine.
At different times Lewis Sensei taught
many variations of the kata, and people varied according to what they learnt at
the time he first taught them. All he was concerned with is you did what you
knew the best you could do.
Charles
made things simple by telling me to keep
the versions I had originally learned in Salisbury and the remaining kata I
should do his versions.
However,
regardless of the version, the opening involved both hands crossing at a high
post.
While
my instruction back then was not based on kata applications, I was told that
the crossed arms would be a block up with the upper part of the crossed
hands. And I having that answer for the
movement, I did not look further for many years.
After
training with quite a few different people in many different systems, acquiring
some knowledge, eventually I started to apply my questing and knowledge to
explore Isshinryu Karate potential.
The
thought came to me that perhaps there was more to discover about the rising “X”
block.
I
began simply. The hands formed an “X”, logically focusing on the top of that “X”
structure. What were the other potentials to the “X”? There was a “V” but there
was also an “<” and a “>” formed on the sides, and then a “^” on the
bottom. All of which seemed to have application potential.
From
the idea the “V” of the “X” could drive a striking arm up, then that left hand
could parry that strike out and the right could strike into their groin.
I
began with the Exterior Line of Defense
using the “<”. Using the right side of the “X” formation became a parrying
block to the outside. Then the top hand could continue the kata section and strike into the groin of the attacker. The concluding
left backfist could then strike over their arm into their face.
Next
logically I began to consider the Interior Line of Defense, using the “>”.
The left side of the X” formation also could be a parrying block in the other
direction. Likwise the top hand could continue the kata section and strike into the groin of the attacker. Followed with the left backfist either pressing into their
upper arm to drive them backward, or to strike into the side of their face.
For
the potential of the “^” I borrowed some knowledge I acquired from the form Pai
Lum Kuen. In that form the “X” is formed by moving from above down, and you are
striking down with the “^”. I saw that a srike could be knocked down by that “^” and then that left hand could parry downward as
the right struck into their groin.
Of
course there is much more to consider, For example the variations of breathing
(inhalation vs. exhalation. Or the manner of setting into the movement of the
stance as a power enhancer, and the different moments that this can be used. Or
you could consider the other technique chains that might be useful. There are
no end of the variables within the movement to study.
Also
realize that exploring the Application Potential within the move is not the
same as the work required to find Application Realization, where it actually
works for you. A larger study.
On
the surface they seem similar opportunities. As long as you are restricting
yourself to the kata. But the value resides into you can pick the variation that
fits the space their attack offers. Much more than one answer.
Then
starting to think outside of the box. You might consider that from any of the
answers you could use them for an opening to draw the opponent into the ground
using the a parry and a grab and a downward pull.
This
is but one movement and some of the potentials fractals offer.
Other
posts I have made on the topic follow:
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