Mabuni Seipai Study 1934
Between
themselves Funakoshi and Mabuni were engaging in a pretty neat bit of social
engineering.
Look
the average Japanese were not martial artists and their books were not written
for them. The Japanese Martial establishments were not looking to replace their
arts with Okinawan ones. But the University system would have been impressed
that there were literate descriptions of these arts, even if they didn’t
understand them. Making a more reasonable case to consider adding them to their
programs. No doubt they did not research that these arts were not shared this
way on Okinawa.
Then
as Funakoshi shared a vision of Itosu’s arts, Mabuni decided to first focus on
the Hiagonna Naha traditions.
A
brief description of karate,
A
book on Sanchin and Seiunchin then one on Seipai.
The
briefest explanation of bunkai.
Mario McKenna has
explained to me in ‘Goshin Kempo Karate’ published in 1934 Mabuni Kenwa
originally uses the term "bunkai setsumei" or "breakdown/apart
and explanation". Not a serious
study of what a kata could be used for, but a simple teaser that it existed in
the training.
Funakoshi
incorporated some sections from the Bubishi, without translations, showing a
link on older traditions. With his book Seipai Mabuni did the same with other
Bubishi sections. And no explanation what they were, but some older tradition.
Not
surprising, even Japan acknowledged some Chinese roots.
Basically
a show and tell that there was a serious tradition here.
So
they could point to those books for the Martial Establishment to acknowledge
they existed. More importantly those works helped them gain University ties.
The
books while accurate, were not really intended for students. They had been
taught on Okinawa, and although changes were being made for University
students, the core value of direct experience still held sway.
As
time passed of course later generations trying to have links with their past,
incorporated these exercises as drills. That is not necessarily bad, But you
should not assume that they were more that that.
As
we look on such books we should consider them in this light. Not assuming they
have a greater place in history. We get to see what they revealed, but are left
to question what else was not said.
2 comments:
Mario McKenna has translated the work on Seipai by Mabuni.
Japanese pdf versions https://www.karatedo.asia/publications-kenwa-mabuni/?fbclid=IwAR0Y3Nj1Zb8fMzi9C8N-LFSPMg0kFoFSk0uVDe0-Gcpgr79NC4sdDd4s9Us
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