A good move is a thing of beauty.

 

On Karate Dancing

 

Iha Fuyu and Higaonna Kanjun were probably the two most well-known researchers in Okinawa studies in the early 20th century – essentially founding this field of study. One of their projects included the Southern Islands Study Group which looked at the anthropology of the Ryukyu island chain from the north in Amami Oshima to the south in Iriomote. What readers may not be aware of is that these researchers were involved with local Karate teachers, such as Funakoshi Gichin and Miyagi Chojun, in shaping the history of Okinawa and consequently the history of Karate-do.

From the left: Toguchi Seko, Yamashiro Seichu, Miyagi Chojun, Itosu Shoun / Kuniyoshi Masayoshi (?) (From Onaga Yoshiaki’s collection). January 1, 1935 “Okinawa Daily” (Sourse: Ryubun21.net)

One of the lesser known members of this group was an named Shigeno Yuko. In 1927 he published the book  An Ethnography of Amami Oshima (奄美大島民族誌 茂野幽考 著 岡書院, 1927) covered the history and culture, old songs, ancient funeral customs, myths and superstitions, folk dances, shamisen music, tales and legends of Amami Oshima. The book contains an intriguing chapter on what Shigeno titled “Karate Dance” and I thought I would provide a partial translation of that chapter.

The chapter itself presents very little new information in terms of the history of Karate-do, but does provide an interesting window of how the history of Karate-do was being shaped in the early 20th century. I personally find it a bit peculiar that a book dedicated to the history, customs and folklore of Amami Oshima includes a chapter on Karate and yet it in my previous post on the Nanto Zatsuwa, it would seem that presence of Karate on Amami Oshima is unclear. Its also intriguing that Shigeno included the word “Dancing” in his description of Karate.

———

Karate  (boxing) dancing is one of the martial arts of the Ryukyu Kingdom that is widely known and is one type of classical Ryukyu dance. The origins of Karate dancing are around the 14th century during the time of King Satto of Chuzan who established ties with China and the Ming court during the reign of Hongwu. Martial arts similar to boxing (pugilism) were reportedly transmitted from China.

Usually Karate is done by pulling the right leg back slightly, bending the waist, and bending the left arm in front of the face to defend against an attacker’s fist. The right elbow is pulled back with the right fist held at the side of the waist. He is thus ready [to defend] against a punching attack.

The defender will measure the rhythm and breath of his opponent [standing] in front of him. As they glare at each other, the opponent will let out a yell and punch at the defender who will, with his left hand, deflect the attack within a hair’s breadth and counter-attack with his right fist. Although you may think that this is a simple martial art, it contains a wide variety of secret techniques, ways of forming the fist and using the legs that give  you the upper hand.

Karate practitioners wrap a rope around a round piece of wood that is sunk into the ground and when they have free time during the morning and evenings they strike it with a spirited yell to harden their fist and improve their strength. After many years of training like this a man becomes a so-called Karate master with a fist like iron and seemingly like lightening. If someone is unlucky enough to be punched by such a master of this frightening martial art on a vital point, it would stop his breathing and he would collapse.

Some of the unique methods of Karate include bassai, naihanchin, kusanku, pinan, and free-fighting with many of the kata named after the Chinese men who created them, but among these kata only the pinan kata was created by a Ryukyuan in the modern era (1). Free-fighting is the application of boxing methods in real-life circumstances.

Long ago, during the time of King Shoshin, warriors were forbidden to wear swords and therefore Karate began to flourish among them. This mirrors what happened to the warriors on the Japanese mainland during the Shogunate era who would sometimes have to face an adversary wanting to test his blade. The warriors of Okinawa would be attacked from out of no-where by someone on a whim who would then runaway.

Today, Karate is taught to students at the Prefecture Middle Schools and the Teachers’ College as a martial art. Among the famous masters of Karate-jutsu are the author Tominakoshi Gichin, who knocked-out a Russian boxer in Kyoto in 1925, Motobu Choki and others.

Through struggle they were encouraged to develop a method of self-defense and just as the Japanese art of the sword gave birth to the dance of the sword as a form of Western physical education, from the bygone art of Karate-jutsu of the Ryukyu Kingdom emerged Karate dance.

(1) The author uses hiragana to write the names of these kata. He does not use kanji. This is interesting as hiragana a phonetic script of Japanese is used to write native words. In contrast another phonetic script, katakana, is used to write foreign words.

Originally published in An Ethnography of Amami Oshima by Shigeno Yuko. 1927, pp. 240-242,  Oka Shoin (奄美大島民族誌 茂野幽考 著 岡書院, 1927). The book covers the history and culture, old songs, ancient funeral customs, myths and superstitions, folk dances, shamisen music, tales and legends of Amami Oshima.

 

It matters most that you try!

 

Long ago when I was a competitor I competed against or rather with many individuals. Some of them were missing a limb, some without legs, some blind or with shaking palsy. It taught me one thing, we are just karate-ka, Everyone is disabled in some way from others,

 

In my case time revealed my disability. The most important thing is that we do not let what is different from others define us, we are karate-ka. That is all. That is enough.

A discussion on Isshinryu Kata Changing

 

Jan Blacha  Why are the katas different from Shimabuku Tatsuo to Uzeu Angi to Tsuyoshi  Uechi different? Was this due to Angi?

 Christopher Matsumura Rozek It goes even further than that. There are sooooo many variations out there.

 

Jan Blacha You are correct. I just wanted to addtesd the katas.

 

Christopher Matsumura Rozek Oh yeah. I am talking about the kata. Beyond that.... even more differences.

 

Brian Esposito It may even go back to Tatsuo Sensei, himself. I seem to remember reading that Tatsuo kept improving/modifying the kata, so that what people brought back from studying with him in later years, was different than his earlier students.

 

Robert Ramos yes i have gone to diff dojos and each one tells me im doing kata wrong what is the right way? I was told that we were doing kata the way A.U taught it

 

Bri-yan Koh-vax And that's the fault of the instructor for not recognizing that the katas morphed. It's the "my way is the only way" mentality, which I believe is the antithesis of Isshinryu...

 

Jan Blacha I do them as taught to me on the 1960s. But joined Uechi’s organization and see that they are a bit different. No issues, I can do them both wąys..

 

Robert Ramos i understand what your saying B -Y K-V but some of these guys were taught by some of the early masters and say their way is the only way you cant tell someone with a 7th dan and above they arnt keeping up with the times they get vary upset

 

Robert Ramos yes i was asked to lead the clases in basics and i was taught to do them forward and backwards i was told vary loudly that they dont back up or run if each dojo do things their way that would mean that you could never be 100% if your lucky enough to stay with one dojo for traininng life you will fine but for some reason you have to change dojos one or a few times you will always do things diff from what you firvp learned someone need to make all things standard io isshin ryu

 

 Bri-yan Koh-vax Robert Ramos standardization is next to impossible. There are so many associations and so many schools that do things "their way" because they either don't know any other way or don't care to know any other way. Don't let it bother you and just do your best

 

Christopher Matsumura Rozek One thing I have said a few times in the past is the variations are, even though frustrating, can shine new light on kata. Different ways to look at things help you dig even deeper. My biggest issue, is when I see a technique added that was never there. Kills me. lol

 

John Lemuel Actually Uezu sensei did change the kata . Uechi sensei saw the 66 films of soke and wanted to do the kata the original way. He then broke away and used the films as a guide line . He now does kata pretty close but there are still a few things he does differently . All of the original pioneers did kata very close. Mitchum , long , Nagle , and Armstrong .

 

Craig Ross TS changed the kata over his career in teaching for one reason of another. He used to change the Kia points all the time. My Sensei who was one of his students used to say the master used to tell people "Kia twice anyplace ok except nihanchi". He used to evolve they kata as he saw it required it. Uezu Sensei changed some parts of the kata but mostly just over emphasizing certain subtle moves. I do not believe he added anything completely foreign to any kata (citation needed?). Uechi Sensei learned from Uezu Sensei so that lineage is there. When Uechi Sensei would teach me Siesan, he would show me a different ankle break in the end from what my other Sensei taught. Both are correct just slightly different. Same with most of the other kata.

 

Robert Ramos i was always told that Master.T.S.   Taught new katas to Master A.U. ?  And that is what i was taught

 

John Lemuel Jan asked a question.. I knew the answer and replied to help her out .. any changes Uezu made on his own..

 

Mike Oliver @john how do we know that?

 

ERozmin-Sensei Lakan Dalawa I am in agreement with Brian Esposito, and would like to add that not everyone is the same physically and intillectually,It is known that not only Tatsuo but many "Masters" altered and modified thier carriculum based on a students particular attributes and abilities. Also as a result of liniage interpretation and source variance base lines with wide variation would develop, however I also believe Tatsuo understood that there would be change and variation from his studies and experiences. I believe that his famous quote " All Bottles are good" refers to this. My Shihan has stated to me many times that he believes if Tatsuo where still alive the Kata ( and Techniques) of Isshinryu would look profoundly different. Tatsuo was an innovator years prior to ,but in the spirit of , the famous Martial arts Innovators Including the likes of Bruce Lee and others like him. Those who interpret and represent thier Isshinryu as the True liniage, only way or the "True Way" in my opinion are not only wrong but are not practicing in the spirit in which Tatsuo meant for Isshinryu to exist.

John Aiello Because Shimabuku taught each of his senior students to his strengths. He that Armstrong things that he didnt teach Long, or Uezu,etc and vice versa

 

Sherman Harrill used to repeat something at every clinic I attended with him. “What we have in common is far more important than our differences” I believe that. And he backed that up by taking whatever version you were using and showing you how to better use it. We all can continue to learn something from that.

 

 

Romney Taylor Kata change because the understanding of them changes.
Unless simply teaching movements , our (as a sensei) understanding
will influence the kata practice of our students.

Kata are where the differences in understanding manifest in
a noticeable form, the real differences are systemic throughout
the training program.

This is not new in any method or lineage.
Goju-ryu, and Shorin -Ryu have at least as
Many variations , and differences.

 

Romney Taylor To me if I bow differently then someone else
as I begin the kata it is not a difference in kata.
These differences are window dressing,
symbols of organizations and leadership ,
The same as flags and standards of an army.

We need to look beyond these distractions to
See the difference in understanding, in strategy
And tactics.

Once we have analyzed the difference in understanding
manifest in the teachings of the various students of Tatsuo
Shimabuku, we will have a better understanding of what
was really being taught, and not just the perspective of
a students who often was only exposed to the direct teaching
of Tatsuo Shimabuku for a short period of time .
Can we really expect that all aspects of the system could
Be imparted in a short window of exposure?

I think we expect to much of most of these early students
and pride in our teachers and lineage
Etc make us stubborn , and thin skinned.

In the end or lineages many have different badges, banners, and
Pennants , but we are all under one flag, we should not forget this.

 

Joe Lembke Funny, This question seems to come up periodically regarding differences in kata between Master Shimabuku and Master Uezu and now master Uechi. I train in the Uezu lineage as my instructors taught me, but I don't argue whats right and wrong, I just enjoy training. My question is who taught Sensei Kichiro the kata? The IWKA is a rather large organization and I have seen variations in the kata within this group.

 

Victor Donald Smith One of the guys who trained with me and Charles Murray attended Penn State and trained with the Isshinryu group there, It seems each time Kichero Sensei would make his annual visit, he changed many things, like the type of striking used and kata changes as well. He told them his thinking was evolving. Of course this is second hand, but Dave David always told it as he saw it.

 

Dan Jason Price In summary... from above - I believe Shimabuku Tatsuo Soke understood there would be change and variation from his studies and experiences. I believe that his famous quote " All Bottles are good" refers to this. Some have stated many times that he believes if TS where still alive the Kata ( Techniques) of Isshinryu would look profoundly different. TS was an innovator years prior to ,but in the spirit of , the famous Martial arts Innovators (Bruce Lee) and others like him.

Sherman Harrill used to repeat something at every clinic, “What we have in common is far more important than our differences” I believe that. And he backed that up by taking whatever version you were using and showing you how to better use it. We all can continue to learn something from that.

I seem to remember reading that Tatsuo kept improving/modifying the kata, so that what people brought back from studying with him in later years, was different than his earlier students.

Standardization is next to impossible. There are so many associations and so many schools that do things "their way" because they either don't know any other way or don't care to know any other way. Do your best

Master A Uezu sensei did change the katas. Uechi sensei saw the 1966 film of Soke and wanted to do the kata the original way, and then used the films as guide lines . He now does kata pretty close, but there are still a few things different. All of the original pioneers did kata very close to. Mitchum, Long , Nagle , and Armstrong .

In the end or lineages many have different badges, and banners, but we are all under one flag, we should not forget this. It's the "my way is the only way" mentality, which I believe is the antithesis of Isshinryu...

 

 

Karamidi

 

The following post was originally

On Mario McKenna’s old blog.

Karamidi

I thought I would post photos of Tomarite master Nakasone Seiyu demonstrating karamidi - locking and restraining techniques - on a young Tokashiki Iken (Gohakukai). This technique, and similar techniques, were apparently a specialty of Nakasone.

Karamidi is of course the Okinawa pronunciation of the two kanji Karamu (緘) meaning entangle, or entwine and te 手 meaning hand. A nice definition of Karamidi is presented on page 122 of The Secret Royal Martial Arts of Ryukyu by Kanenori Sakon Matsuo, and translated by my good friend Joe Swift: These are the secret techniques of grabbing, twisting, or bending the opponent's joints to control without serious injury. Of course the di/te kanji does literally mean "hand", but it is important to point out that this is a sort of short-hand used in Karate to refer to techniques.

My Tou'on-ryu, Gohakukai, and Kobudo teachers would sometimes use this term when teaching. For example Kanzaki sensei would say something (literally) like, Do it like that hand from Sesan kata (Ano te wa Sesan no yo ni yatte goran).

 

Yes, it can be confusing as you're not sure sometimes which specific section of a kata your teacher was referring to, but at the same time it helped the student avoid labels.

Karamidi is an integral part of a complete Okinawa Karatedo syllabus, and are rarely practiced in modern sports Karatedo. I am pleased that in recent years, more and more students are studying these techniques. My only concern is that they study them with a competent and patient teacher.

 

Dan Insanto some Indonesian Silat

 

Techniques don't work, principles do.

 

You don’t have one without the other,

the old song "Love and Marriage" describes it best.

 

When you do a deep dive, the technique or even the principle does not matter, there come the time any expression of movement inserted into an attack, concludes that attack.