More on the Male and Female hand

There are two terms in Japanese Karate, no longer extensively used, OTE (male hand) and YÔ-TE (female hand). The first was the active and the second the passive hand in a karate action, obviously relating to the IN-YO (yin-yang) theory of waxing and waning cycles. Japanese karate tends to apply this idea to an extreme, in my opinion, tending to manifest the idea in pumping actions to and from the chamber area. But the IN-YO system is always represented in a circle.

In my opinion, the Chinese martial arts tend to apply the idea more fluidly and perhaps more accurately. Funakoshi writes that IN and YO are the “cardinal principles” of his system. Could it be that we Japanese-style karate-ka have overemphasized a beginner’s sort of alternation of energies and robbed ourselves of a more advanced fluidity?,

 
Victor Smith

 

Dante Da.

Dante Victor,

Thank you for the email.  

Thank you for sending me the post. As I stated before, as I  learned the kata Kururunfa from my teacher, he stated that this kata is called the husband and wife kata. The posture of the hands is where the front hand is the husband and the back hand is the wife. However, the back hand in this reference does not mean a chambered hand but the hand that is near the xiphoid process. Here is what my teacher said about the husband/wife hands.

"The husband is allowed by the wife to go out and play and explore the world. The wife knows that because he is out there and careless at times he is bound to get in trouble but she does not go out with him. Instead, when the husband gets in trouble the wife comes out of the house and then helps or rescues the husband which then she again returns to take care of the house.

In Kururunfa, there are many parts where the wife hand stays back then moves forward but returns. This indicates that the wife hand is assisting the husband hand due to being captured or helping him to be released but then returns to the position of protection sometimes bringing back a souvenir. "

This is quite an interesting story but when I was taught this kata and things that were contained this story really came to life. Things such as releases from holds, assisting with holds, and even using the husbands position as an advantage for the wife to strike.

As far as I can tell there is no direct Okinawan equivalent to the term INYO or 陰陽. This does note mean that this concept does not exist in Okinawan but it is interesting to point out that this is a Japanese term.

Respectfully,

Robert Orozco
 

Dante Robert,
 
Always interesting on hearing your thoughts.
 
The art of Tristan Sutrisno at 3rd degree black belt (Their system only has 5 degrees) completely changes many of the adept's practices.

 
One of them is the chambering hand uses the center line for the chamber point. The kata practice of chambering isn't changed, but in drills, kumite etc. they no longer chamber. The result is quicker reaction time, just exploding into their technique (strikes of 'blocks).
 
Similar movement can be seen in the video I shared with you by Hiroshi Kinjo.
 
Also using that chamber can support 'blocks' through just touching the other arm, or gripping defense by also touching the hand.