Hiden Ryukyu Kenpo, Part 30
Old Style Tomari-te: Wanshu Part 1
by Hirakami Nobuyuki
Hiden Magazine, August 2003
pp. 122-126
tr. Joe Swift
- Many Versions of Wanshu
We have looked at and analyzed the fundamental characteristics of Tomari-te. Let us now turn our attention to the kata passed down in this tradition. The first kata of Tomari-te is Wanshu, which is relatively short compared to many other kata of Ryukyu Kenpo.
However, there are many versions of Wanshu in Ryukyu Kenpo, each with variations. Let us look at the major versions and some issues surrounding each one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rv1ixuLMWH8
(1) Funakoshi no Wanshu
This is the version brought to mainland Japan by Funakoshi Gichin, who is often refered to as the father of modern karate-do. It is also the most widely practiced version.
The problem is, we do not know who Funakoshi learned this kata from. In his autobiography, "Karate-do: My Way of Life," Funakoshi lists his teachers as Asato Anko, Itosu Anko and Arakaki (believed to be Arakaki Seisho, but this remains uncorroborated). It is difficult to find anyone else in the lineage of these three teachers who passed on Wanshu.
One theory is that he learned it from Itosu, but the only other teacher in the Itosu lineage who taught Wanshu was Mabuni Kenwa, and the versions are very different. There is also no clear evidence that Mabuni even learned his version from Itosu anyway.
Another possibility is that Funakoshi learned this kata from Iha Kodatsu while he was stationed at Tomari Primary School. I would like to look at this theory in more depth later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBWUbrUTbts
(2) Shito-ryu Wanshu
The technical content of the Wanshu practiced in Shito-ryu is very unique, and its lineage is unknown.
There is a misconception that besides the Naha-te kata of Shito-ryu, all other kata in that style were learned by Mabuni from Itosu, so some may think that the Shito-ryu
Wanshu came from Itosu. However, no one else in the direct Itosu lineage teaches this kata, so perhaps Itosu didn't teach this kata originally. He may have studied this kata along with his student Mabuni in his later years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCoMWHkiyyM
(3) Matsubayashi-ryu Wanshu
There is also a version of Wanshu in the Matsubayashi-ryu of Ryukyu. It also is rather unique but it has technical similarities to the Funakoshi version, so we can deduce that they came from the same root kata.
The lineage of this version is not completely known, but looking at the founder's history and making a comparative analysis with the Funakoshi version, we can deduce that it came from Iha Kodatsu. However, the characteristic of this version is its extensive use of the natural posture, which contradicts the author's opinion that Tomari-te is based on the extensive use of Zenkutsu. I would like to tackle
this problem later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FoGMPqBIFg
(4) Kyan no Wanshu
This version was passed on by the patriarch of Shorinji-ryu, Kyan Chotoku. He is said to have learned this from Maeda Pechin. Although there are many Maeda's in
the Tomari-te lineage, the time frame points to Maeda Gijo.
Again, the content is rather unique, but shares many commonalities with the other versions as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nx8T6Xj3RU
(5) Shimabuku no Wanshu
Shimabuku Taro, a direct student of Iha Kodatsu, also taught this basic Tomari-te kata.
It is the simplest of all of the versions, but it is still a good kata with many unique meanings. Shimabuku also learned from Kyan, so there may be some Maeda influence in this version, as well.
The kata itself shares many similarities with the Kyan version. In Murakami Katsumi's "Karate-do & Ryukyu Kobudo," Shimabuku's kata and their lineages are listed. According to Murakami, Shimabuku learned Wanshu from a certain Iha-gwa, which is assumed is Iha Kodatsu.
Japanese Kata "Enpi" vs Okinawan Kata "Wanshu"
【Shorinji Ryu Karate】
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HopPBrIFO4c
- The Characteristics of Wanshu
Each version of Wanshu is unique in its own right, thus making it hard to determine the original version. However, each version also shares many similarities. Let us take a look at these similarities now.
The first is the opening salutation, where the right fist is covered by the left palm. One of the interpretations is that this is a philosophical teaching of Kenpo, whereby the deadly fist is being held back by the palm, much like a sword in its sheath.
This posture is also seen in the Jitte series, but the Wanshu version of the gesture has the elbows out to the sides.
- Relationship with the Chinese Salutation
It has been stated by many that the opening of Wanshu is very similar to the opening posture of many Chinese boxing forms, and from this fact, many make the argument for the connection between the two. The other Ryukyu kenpo kata
that use this posture is the Jitte series. This brings us to the surprising truth that only Tomari-te kata have Chinese movement patterns (*). What does this fact mean?
The posture is used in many Southern Shaolin forms, and has many interpretations. One of the most common is that it was a salutation among secret societies who looked to overthrow the Qing rulers and revive the Ming dynasty.
Of course, this meaning is not applicable to the Ryukyu versions, and is often interpreted as a philosophical lesson as described above. At any rate, the fact that only Tomari-te makes use of this gesture is very interesting, and I feel as if it hides some great truth. I would like to return to this point when it comes time to wrap up the history of Tomari-te.
* NOTE: Some lineages of Passai and Chinte also use this position. The original Passai version is not held up, though. Differences among lineages are unavoidable in
Kenpo culture.
- Down-Block from Crossed Foot Posture
The next characteristic of Wanshu is the lower level block from the crossed foot stance. This is found in all major versions of Wanshu, and can be assumed to be one of the features of the original version of this kata. It is unique to Wanshu, and we can probably say that Wanshu exists in order to transmit this technique.
This crossed foot posture is one expression of the unique Ryukyu Kenpo body dynamic known as Ryushin (Dragon Body). By twisting the body, various types of power can be developed. The way it is performed in Wanshu is unique and
not found in any other kata. If I were forced to make a comparison, the closest would be the way it is performed in Passai. However, although they are similar, they are not exactly the same. Twisting the body while entering
into a low posture has a deep meaning.
Generally speaking, Tomari-te is considered to be a hard, linear method of Kenpo, much along the lines of modern karate. It is notable, however, that the fundamental kata of Tomari-te also contains soft, pliable movements as well.
- Down Block from Shiko-dachi into Middle Punch from Zenkutsu
One of the typical techniques of Wanshu is this combination. All versions utilize a variation of this technique, but some styles perform it in a natural stance.
It is as we hypotheized, that this type of technique is the basis of modern karate, and cannot be found in any other ancient kata.
- Kneeling Posture
One other characteristic of Wanshu is where the performer drops to one knee. However, the only lineages that overtly express this are the Funakoshi and the Matsubayashi-ryu versions. If two separate lineages use this technique, then we can hypothesize that there was a point in time when the old-style Wanshu was performed in this manner. However, another possibility is that this is a hidden
Kuden, that the other lineages chose not to express overtly. There are not many seated techniques as performed in the ancient Ryukyu Kenpo kata*.
* NOTE: Although not considered Kenpo, there are many kneeling techniques in the kata of Ryukyu weaponry.
- Holding Posture
This dynamic technique comes towards the end of the kata. The application is often used as a frontal or rear shoulder wheel throw. This application is unique to
Wanshu, and is not found in the other Ryukyu Kenpo kata.
- Shuto-Uke
This technique is called the Dragon Tongue posture in the author's lineage, but it is more commonly known as Shuto-uke. It is found at the very end of Wanshu. It is a
unique posture to Ryukyu Kenpo, but has some issues surrounding it. Let us look at some now.
Firstly, it is not found in Naha-te kata. (Some Naha-te lineages use it from a different angle, but this author feels that this is a change brought about by mixing with Shuri-te). It is unique to Shuri-te and Tomari-te. Originally it was not used as a block, but as a method of controlling the opponent by holding his wrist with one
hand and using the other hand to lock his elbow up. In this respect, it shares similarities with certain Jujutsu techniques. Of course there are similar techniques in Naha-te, but the solo expression is different.
However, differences or similarities in technique performance is an important issue, and from this we can deduce that Tomari-te techniques are more in line with
those of Shuri-te than Naha-te. Looking at the issue from only this point, we can say that Shuri-te and Tomari-te are sister styles whereas Naha-te is a unique Kenpo
different from both of them.
- Nuki-ken
I just said that Tomari-te is more akin to Shuri-te than Naha-te, but in actuality, there is one technique in Wanshu that is unique to Naha-te, and not found in
Shuri-te. It is the Nuki-ken.
There are some differences in performance between the Naha-te Seisan version of the technique and the Wanshu version, but as they are both performed in Neko-ashi, they can also be considered almost the same. There is a similar
technique in Wankan as well.
This technique is one of deflecting and countering simultaneously. This is one of the secrets of Ryukyu Kenpo. As stated before, Tomari-te has a secret method of
blocking and countering simultaneously, called Ai-tsuki, and in this respect, it is similar to Naha-te usage. On this point, we can perhaps say that Tomari-te is a Kenpo tradition that acts as a bridge between Naha-te and Shuri-te.
- Direction
One general characteristic of Ryukyu Kenpo kata is that they move in the 4 or 8 cardinal directions. Specifically, Naha-te uses the same exact technique in 4 directions. On the other hand, Shuri-te o nly uses the same techniques in 2 directions, such as left/right or forward/back.
However, Tomari-te Wanshu uses the same technique series in three directions, and this also points to Tomari-te being between Naha-te and Tomari-te. However, not all
Wanshu versions go in three directions, as some only go in two. In either case, 3 directional movement patterns can be said to be one characteristic of Tomari-te Wanshu.
- One-Leg Stance
The one-leg stance is used throughout Tomari-te, especially in the Wanshu-series. It is a signature of both Rohai (open handed) and Chinto (closed-fists). It is also
found with an augmented hand technique in Wankan, and briefly in Wanshu. In fact the way it is used in Wanshu can be said to be a beginner's version. However, some versions of Wanshu do not adopt this stance.
There are many martial applications of the one-leg stance, but in Wanshu it is often used to generate energy for an attack, and on this note it can can truly be said to be a beginning level usage of the stance.
In this issue, we have looked at many aspects of Tomari-te Wanshu. It is a central kata in Tomari-te with characteristics of both Shuri-te and Naha-te, but it also
has its own unique techniques and it a great old-style kata. When learning Wanshu, the student is well grounded in the Shiko-dachi low block / Zenkutsu middle punch
combination, which starts him on his journey to strengthen the legs and hips for Bujutsu training. It is an excellent old-style kata which should be studied deeply as the basis for Tomari-te. The next issue will look at the techniques
of Wanshu a bit deeper.
Joe Swift
"There are hidden depths to chickens."
- Professor Christine Nichol, a scientist who has studied their behavior.
Though not included in this article I am adding the Wansu kata of Tatsuo Shimabuku for comparison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arxpvKUnd0g
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