Mabuni Kenwa on the applications of Seiunchin

To explore Seiunchin a bit further let us look at the beginning of the kata from Mabuni Kenwa’s book, both the kata presentation and the kata Bunkai.

From my translation of the French edition of

 

Kaishu-gata (Open Hand Kata) Seienchin

 


The Open Hand Kata

Several techniques of defense and attack combine themselves to constitute the <empty hand> and the trajectories of these kata are varied.

With the help of these kata we can learn the principles of the passage of tension to its release in the changing movements which allows efficient deployment of vital energy and physical force.

Its the objective of this technique.

There are about thirty sorts of empty hand kata.

I will explain with the aid of diagrams of the kata Seienchin.



Kata Seienchin

1. Put yourself in musubi-dachi position, like for kata Sanchin,  put the two hands in front of the groin with the left hand above the right.


Lower the shoulders, pull in the chin, and put your force in your ‘tanden’.


The beginning of the kata is the same as that of Sanchin:  open the two feet parallel and at the same time squeeze tight the two fists which are placed to the right and the left.

 

2. Advance the right foot diagonally into the shiko-dachi position, as shown in kata diagram 2.


The two hands open, while lowering the shoulders, then raise the two open hand as if lifting something to the height of the solar plexus while joining the back of the hands as on the diagram.

 

 

3. When the two hands touch themselves, strongly close the fists, then lower them slowly following the trajectory of the parry ‘harai-uke’. (kata diagram 3)

 
4. Open the right hand, turn it in order that the palm is towards the top, then advance it.

Next, immediately return it, back, from the top.

Place the left hand on the left hip, with the palm up.

Slowly bring back the right hand as far as the hip while at the same time effect a ‘tsuki’ (strike) with the fingers of the left hand while the palm stops turned toward the top (cf. kata diagram 4 and 5). 

Kata Diagram 4.

 

5. Advance the left foot one step diagonally while taking the position ‘shiko-dachi’ and as before, raise the two open hands while joining their backs.

As soon a the backs of the two hands touch, close the fingers with force, then effect a defensive movement towards the bottom (kata diagrams 2 and 3).  After that the same way shown on kata diagrams 4 and 5, advance the left hand and at the moment where you return it to the rear, effect as strike with the fingers of the right hand.

 
Applications of Kata Seienchin

                 

1. Application (Bunkai) Kata


The Kata diagrams 1 and 2 shows the opening.


When the opponent attacks you with a punch to the solar plexus, you back up the left foot a step and parry his downward parry with your right fist.


This is shown in bunkai diagram 1.
                 

2.  If the opponent attacks you again to the solar plexus with their right fist, with the arm that as done the downward parry, you parry in kake-te to the joint of their arm, while bringing the parrying arm up from the bottom.


The position is illustrated by bunkai diagram 2.

 

 

                 
3. You can then attack with the left fist to the chest of the opponent, as on bunkai diagram 3.

Note, a tsuki is used instead of a nukite as in the kata. VS

Repeat these same techniques 3 times.

 

 

 Some context - At the time Mabuni wrote this, both he and Funakoshi were revealing the existence of karate, not for Okinawan students, but to educate the Japanese martial arts community of the existence of karate, and some context for its worth.

There is no real answer, were the 'bunkai' for those kata movements was what was actually being taught by his instructor K. Hiagonna? Or were they simplified answers for that Japanese martial arts community who did not have access to the actual training to make the original 'bunkai' work.

 

It could just be simple answers for simple Japanese minds. Or perhaps they were hiding the actual answers.