When I began I was shown Seisan kata first and that is where the idea that kata technique had a use began. And back then I was not really taught that most kata technique had a specific use, I guess I just worked out possible uses for myself. Perhaps that was paradigm(0) for me, The karate I learnt under Tom Lewis was a very effective use of that paradigm. And of course at that time I had no knowledge of other potentials which were there.
Then
I started training with many others. Many of them also taught the use of the
first movement of Seisan in their system the same way I was taught.
But
some of those who shared with me had other ideas. For example I did not study
karate with Ernest Rothrock, rather Chinese forms. But during a throwaway
discussion the topic came up of practices in his Pai Lum art which were shown
to his black belts for their training. He described as Jing Do or Chinese Short
Range striking, He even gave me his students black belt manual were one page
was devoted to the concepts of his Jing Do. Reading that many times over the
years I came to see how they could become other uses within Seisan katas
opening by using them.
Decades
later I taught those drills to my black belt students as they could enhance
every basic block in Isshinryu, turning those blocks into strikes, a different
way of using the idea of blocking.
When
I trained with Tristan Sutrisno I was taught was his bunkai meant, and along
the way he showed me the first level bunkai for the opening of his Hangetsu
kata (his Shotokan version). There were a whole series of additional techniques
added to that first move, ones you could not intuit (know) from viewing his
Hangetsu kata. That was the secret of his dan bunkai studies, no one else knew
they were there, hence they could not be anticipated, and they were delivered
with precise speed.
It
was about that time I began to work out my own answers, a logical analysis of
how a technique from kata could be used. The deeper I looked at the first
technique in Seisan kata, I found more and more uses, ones that previously had
not expected were there. In 1989 I filmed some of those possible uses.
In
time I began to hear about Oyata Sensei and that he was showing a different
paradigm for the bunkai of kata too. As years passed I saw some of his YouTube
videos and they were a different use of bunkai as I came to observe some of
what he did. I never had occasion to study with him.
Then
came the decade I was able to have ongoing studies with Sherman Harrill as to
the uses of Isshinryu were from his studies for over 40 years of work. Those
studies presented a very different dimension on how kata technique could be
used. In that time I leared 800 applications for the 8 Isshinryu kata as well
as the principles behind those applications as well as a whole lot more.
After
his death I was able to learn more from very brief visits with John Kerker,
Sherman’s senior student. He demonstrated many things, ones Sherman always said
his clinics never had time to explore because there was never enough time. Of
course I did my best to learn.
Not
take all of that and overlay those different practices with what I had begun to
explore the wide ranges of what one technique from my kata Seisan might be used
for.
This provides
some context for what I see.
Most importantly it is you who define what the move is.
1,for example the use of
the stepping of the technique.
2,the use of the crossing
of the arms.
3.the use of the arm that
blocks
4.the use of the arm that
chambers as the other arm blocks.
5.the use of the right
strike.
6.the use of the step
following that strike.
7.the use of the strike
accompanying that step.
8.the use of the following
step and strike.
Each one of them
can be considered a technique, or the accumulation of them following one
another as you chose could be considered one technique and of course all 8
movements can be considered one technique.
Now it begin to
get more interesting.
First let us begin with that first move.
As
I was taught you step out executing a left side block as your right hand
returns to chamber alongside your waist. As you finish moving forward and your
block is complete then your right hand strikes out in an Isshinryu punch.
Pretty simple right.
First consider what the first technique is.
1
.it might be the effective use of a fractal of that movement.
2.
it might be defined as the use of the entire movement.
3.
it might be defined as the use of the stepping right foot as a sweep along with
the rest of the movement.
4.
I might be defined as what is thought of as the movement and also include the
two additional steps and strikes. A much longer definition of what the first
movement is.
The manner of utilization of the lower body must be considered.
1.
the stepping left foot might be an attack atop their stepping right foot.
2..the
stepping left foot might be an inner reap to their stepping right foot.
3.
the utilization of replacement stepping that begins the standard step and then
concludes with the other foot stepping back resulting with the same concluding stance
from the kata, but your retreat also shifts you
center away from the original centerline.
Some basic fractals of the motion can be considered.
1.
the crossing of the arms prior to the block might be used for striking.
2.
the crossing of the arms prior to the block might be used as an initial parry
before all the rest.
Utilization of shifting the response to the attack must be
considered
1,
shifting the entire body to enter the attack from the right on 20 degrees
2.
shifting the entire body to enter the attach from the left on 20 degrees
Consider what you want that initial block to accomplish
1.a
hard block to deflect the right strike away
2.a
softer block to deflect them but keep their arm closer to you
3.the
use of the blocking motion to the incoming strike to drive them down to the
ground.
4.the
use of the blocking motion to draw them forward for your response
5.the
use of the block as a strike to their shoulder
6.the
use of the block as a strike to their incoming arm 6” before their armpit.
7.the
use of the block as a strike to their face
Then you must consider which line of defense you are to use
1.the
use of the motion (as you define it) on the interior line of defense.
2.the
use of the motion (as you define it) on the exterior line of defense
Or the use of the side block in many different ways
1.slashing
the face and then continuing the motion to block the incoming punch
2.use
of the block to become a slashing strike across the incoming arm
Another option is how you use the crossing arms after they cross
1.after
the arms cross and the left blocks (whatever) the chambering motion of the
right arm becomes a viscous slashing strike to the ribs as it goes back to
chamber.
2
after the arms cross and the left blocks (whatever) the chambering motion of
the right arm becomes a viscous slashing strike to the side of the face as it
goes back to chamber
3
after the arms cross and the left blocks (whatever) the chambering motion of
the right arm becomes a viscous slashing strike into the opponents 2nd
strike with their left arm as your right returns to chamber
4.after
the arm cross and the left blocks (whatever) the chambering motion of the right
arm becomes a viscous rearward elbow strike to a 2nd opponent from
the rear.
The manner of breathing must also be considered
1.should
the entire technique be done with inhalation and exhalation on each technique.
2.should
the entire technique (as you define the technique) be done with one continuous exhale
to then rapidly exhale before the next technique.
3.should
the entire technique (as you define the technique) be done with one continuous
inhale to then rapidly inhale before the next technique.
4.
should the entire technique be done with no respiration.
The type of attack must be considered
1.a
simple grab or punch while they are stepping forward with the right foot.
2.a
simple grab or punch while they are stepping forward with the left foot.
3.a
rushing grabbing attack.
4.a
boxing type of attack.
5.a
front kick attack.
Then it gets hinky
1.extra
movements such as Ernest Rothrocks jing do can be added increasing the ability
of the block to become additional striking to the opponent.
2,
Or the veering of Sutrisno Sensei where the stepping side block then reverse
punch becomes 1 stepping side block with the left 2 followed by a rising right wrist
strike to the opponents jaw then 3 the right reverse punch followed by 4 a
right descending back fist strike into the opponents chest and more.
I
believe you begin to get what I am talking about and this is not a complete list of choices.
Of course this is NOT a complete list….
Each
of these technique possibilities can end an attack once you understand the
application potential for that attack and you have trained to application
realization against that attack.
You
want to work for the maximum unpredictability in your response, so whatever
they use against you, you take charge by your response.
I
do not find anyone approach to the use of kata technique without value. It is
after all each instructor to develop the students capabilities within the frame
work of their training.
This video is where I was in 1990, 5 years before I met Sherman Harrill and had my mind blown. Sherman often did that to me.
It just seems to
me that I often see more than others speak about.
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