The way I taught
Isshinryu karate, was based on the way I was originally taught.
Karate class was
never a history lesson, there were simply too many other things to do.
Never enough
time to do everything the instructor wanted in karate.
Following the
same vision of my art, I only very briefly touched on Isshinryu history.
When a student
was preparing for sho-dan examination I did share what I considered relevant
history with them at that time for study. But there simply never was enough time
for the actual practice of their karate.
Of course when
you browse this blog you find a lot of articles on Isshinryu (and many other
things of personal interest). I read all of them during my years, and in more
that some of them I doubt everything is completely accurate.
But the actual
way Isshinryu history was really transmitted, to understand that possible less
than accurate transmission of some things, was what occurred. These articles
are shared to allow you to understand how Isshinryu material was transmitted at
different times. You need to understand what was shared in order to understand
where the Isshinryu has been.
Of course time
on the floor is still more important.
I want you to
experience them just as I have and to consider what they presentas when I first read them. Then it is up to
you to understand and consider their value to your own practice. There is too
much editing of the past by others, one needs to see exactly what was being
shared and then begin to understand how that information shaped opinion.
But your study
already has shown you what reality feels like. You are well equipped to form
your own opinions.
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Years
ago I realized I had accumulated literally thousands of karate magazines, some
from all over the world. I also realized how much I would never have an
interest in reading again. I saved a few magazines. saved articles ( clipped
out) that interested me and canned the rest, piles of magazines.
The
articles interested me, not which magazine they came from. Then I scanned many
of them into my blog when I had a scanner. Then moving I totally downsized my
library and most of those saved magazines. So you are seeing what I saved.you
can always copy the articled into your own pc, and then blow up the scan to
read it better.
I realize none
of you care about this, nor will you read on. But I am doing my best to record
everything for my students. Not for the tai chi, for they are not tai chi
practitioners. Rather to understand the process I went through to analyze a
motion, any motion at all. And perhaps learn something from that.
At times things
get so entangles that I forget how many steps I went through for each discovery
I have made.
I have studied
and practice Yang Tai Chi Chaun continuously since 1979, and I know not so long
a time. When Ernest Rothrock instructed me on the form for 2 years, it was just
that form instruction. Movements were impressed into my existence. At first it
is sections, or poses, one learns.And I
remember postures that would cause a charly horse on one strand of the
quadriceps, karate did not prepare you for the study.. But quickly you learn.
So many things
which were different. Stepping, the continual flow of both hands and arms
throughout the form, use of breath to consciously slow down. The continual
movement of the head rolling through the form, the focus of the eyes over the
hands constantly changing, the realization that tai chi was not a collection of
postures, rather you entered the flow and then you left it. The constant
demands of conscious thought throughout the execution of the form to accomplish
all those things.
The study of
Yang Tai Chi Sword. Where you had to do all of the above and control a sword in
your hands as you did it.
Single Pushing
Hands, Stepping Single Pushing Hands, Stepping and Turning Pushing hands.
Double Pushing Hands, Stepping Double Pushing Hands, Stepping and Turning
Double Pushing Hands. Too often just mentioned without the detail beginning to
be discussed. Much more in depth than realized. Perhaps some day that might
make an interesting topic.
I realize there
is much more there, but this is what my studies covered. I was not interested
in the martial use of Yang Tai Chi, and except for basic description, such was
not what I studied.
Then time
passes, a lot of time, Then one day Ernest showed me the remainder of the Yang
Sword form, and of course life got more complicated.
A number of
different things intervened. For one thing I read as much Tai Chi literature as
I could find, finding the topic even interesting. I was especially interested in
Advanced Tai Chi 2 by Dr. Yang Jwing-Ming. That book concerned itself with the
martial applications of Yang Tai Chi Chaun. And while there are thousands of
varying Yang forms, what was shown was very close to what I studied. I even
showed the book to Tristan Sutrisno, who I was also studying with, in Shotokan,
Aikido studied and Tjimande Studies. He looked through the book and was amazed,
proclaiming “These were the things his father taught him.” And he did not do
tai chi.
Tris grabbed a
technique at random, and performed it on me (painfully), then technique after
technique. I believed him.
However I did
not run out an work on it, I had way too many other things I was working on.
The book just sat on the shelf and became another occasional read.
Then I reached
the point, Ernest changed my Yang practice, by dramatically showing me how
correct alignment in my tai chi chaun works.My form did notchange, but my
understanding how, why and what I should be doing became greater, understanding
how correct alignment increases the force of a gesture, or conversely how
incorrect alignment could become a weakness that could be attacked.
Back to
practice.
I was teaching Yang to a small group of my karate students who each were interested
in the topic. In a year they learned the form, then the Sunday morning group
became more fun, getting deeper into the study. At times, for fun, I would randomly
select a technique from Dr. Yang’s book and every time I made it work. It was
an interesting time.
My own studies
into Isshinryu application potential were progressing. No small part of it was
something I learned from Dr. Yang’s book ‘Advanced Tai Chaun 2, the martial
applications.’ For every movement he demonstrated there were at least 3
possible applications.
Downing the Opponent meaning using the technique as a
takedown of throwing technique.
Chin Na controlling techniques which could also project the
attacker.
Cavity Strikes or where the technique strikes into the body
for effect.
I explored this
far more in my karate research.
Tai Chi Chaun
for the group was more focused on those aspects I had studied.
I also was studying
with Sherman Harrill and his incredible wealth of Isshinryu applications. That
would continue for a decade.
After some time
I started to get creative. At times on the conclusion of the tai chi class, a
karate application would come to me, and of course I grabbed someone to try it
on in slow motion, and of course most often damaging them in the process.
Then at times an
the conclusion of an adult karate class a tai chi application would cometo me, and of course I grabbed someone to try
it on in slow motion, and of course most often damaging them in the process.
Very quickly
everyone suggested I stop mixing the arts at their expense. And for quite some
time I did.
I was getting
deeper in to the arts in which I had been trained, deeper into my own Isshinryu
studies, deeper into those things I was learning from Sherman Harrill. So
whether intentional or not, I began thinking about the tai chi possibilities
too.
The reason I was
practicing tai chi was not for martial purposes. But I clearly saw they were
there too.
One of the
things I saw was articles explaining the Yang practice of Da Lu. This was
before youtube. Among the early explanations for DaLu was this one by Earl
Montague
In no small part
a portion of my mind was thinking about my Tai Chi.
I realize these
musings are going all over the place, Of course this was what led up to what
followed next. My discovery of the actual nature of the tai chi press.
When you learn
the Yang Long Fist Tai Chi Chaun, in the beginning there are 4 postures that
are very famous. Meaning tons has been written about them.
The Tai Chi
opening postures
* Peng – ward
off-intercept and control opponent’s advance upward {1 of 4 straight
directions}
* Lu -rollback-
deflect opponent down and back {1 of 4 straight directions}
* Ji (chi) –
follow-apply force forward {1 of 4 straight directions}
* An – press
weight into opponent, downward {1 of 4 straight directions}
One of the
things I had learned was that even the most insignificant motion in karate
could have devastating application potential.
So one
day I decided to focus on the tai chi press, A very small motion within the
Yang form. After you have rolled or drawn away from an attack, both hands
beginning from the waist, have the left palm touching the right wrist and then
both hands press into an opponent, done as the hip shifts to the right,
supporting the strike.
Done slowly
seemingly the slightest of motions. In fact the two hands hardly travel 1 foot,
surely not for much impact.
So one day in
tai chi practice, I ‘borrowed’ Dennis Driscol and asked him to strike at me in
slow motion, for having an idea I wanted to see what it was like.
Dennis came in
with the strike. It was a standard linear stepping punch.
I remained still
and then stepped slightly towards him and performed the press movement exactly
as in the Yang form. My right hand struck into his chest,
Dennis was most
soundly struck and went down to the driveway.
I rushed to help
him up and of course apologized, for I never intended to strike him so hard.
But still
curious about what had happened, I asked Dennis again to step in and strike,
Promising to go even slower.
Again he struck.
I moved ever so much slower this time, And I hit even harder, almost to the
point of caving in Dennis’s chest. That was not my intention. Enough for that
day.
That being the
first thing on a Sunday morning the remainder of the day I tried to work out
what was happening.
Later that day I
called Rothrock Laoshi, and explained to him what had happened.
Laughing he replied,
“Victor, don’t you remember I told you never do that to
your students.” Which was even privately funnier as we had not explaord
tai chi as for martial application.
Of course I very
quickly worked things out. And it was
supported by many things he had taught me about the use of alignment in tai
chi.
There were a
number of things happening at the same time.
1.
When you use the ‘press’ your left palm touching the back of your right wrist
in the execution of the movement, automatically aligns the left side of your
body with the right side. This becomes a very powerful force enhancer.
2.
Whey you execute the ‘press’ your hip (or core) rotation rolls toward where the
press is intended. That rolling motion is another force enhancer.
3.
Those two force enhancers working together make a more powerful strike.
I then began to
work on just that subtle motion, rolling my hip into that press, using smaller
and smaller motion. Quicker and quicker execution. I did learn how to control
myself not to damage my students, but there was another key force enhancer in
play. I knew my form, I trusted my form.
It was something
I worked on for myself. A slight subtle movement with with I could surprise as
opponent, coming seemingly out of nowhere.
My tai chi
students were very good students, but the day came each of them for their own
reasons moved on, leaving the flow so to speak.
I never did
stop.
And of course I
now had a new toy…. One among thousands of others.
Here is a demonstration I once did using the opening of the Yang form. You can see the press as I studied it.
When I face
reality in the eyeball, for most purposes my active years in Isshinryu are
over. I continue to practice, study and everything else, but no one comes to me
for training. I am mostly left with my memories and my quests to understand,
uninterrupted.
That does not
imply that the future ends, however a realistic evaluation of what Isshinryu
participation is left for me.
Since at least
1870 that which became known as Okinawan Karate as been in a constant state of
change.
I am aware of
only a few books which talk about the earlier arts. Though I am sure there are
probably more, just that I am unaware of them.
“Ryuku
Oke Hiden Bujutsu: Karate, Bukijutsu” translated
by Joe Swift
What emerges is
that things had been in flux as to what became karate
Come the 20th
century:
1. Itosu proposes karate should be
shared in the schools, and it was many times.
2, Okinawa, a small island, began to
have karate trained individuals move into Okiawan communities around the world.
Japan, other east Asian locations, Hawaii and South America. Though their
teachings remained within those Okinawan communities.
3. Okinawan instructors began
migrating to Japan, and began teaching Karate there. Especially in the Japanese
universities.
4. Okinawan instructors in Japan
began writing books about what karate was and sharing their curricula.
5. Okinawans were sharing their
karate between themselves. This could have been an older tradtion, I can’t be
sure about that.
6. Okinawan instructors began a
wider sharing of karate than done with the previous arts.
7. WWII occurred. A huge percentage
of Okinawans were killed.
8. Control of Okinawa shifted to USA
hands.
9. About the time Okinawa became
aware that the American control would end reverting control of Okinawa back to
Japan, a wide variety of changes were made to Okinawan karate to resemble what
the version of karate in Japan was doing.
9.. There were changes many times
from those who became instructors. That change, IMO, became more of a constant
for a variety of reasons.
10. I have heard most became an
instructor, when the desire was there, on the death of their instructor. As a
result of WWII, that was sadly too frequent an occurrence.
11. The impossible occurred, some
instructors began teaching American soldiers, and with little training time,
when they returned to their homes continued to practice and then teach karate
for their lifetimes.
12, Karate became a world wide
phemona, with no oversight what karate would become from what remained on
Okinawa. Thus constant, continual change became the norm.
I could go on,
however I believe you can see what I am getting to.
Styles of
karate, now formed, but from friends who trained on Okinawa, each dojo for the
most part was doing different things, no matter which grouping they belonged
to.
The reality of
the transmission of karate, you really only had what your instructor told you
about it. From Kyan a number of different instructors formed different styles.
Each one sharing some commonality and differences. Of course perhaps they
trained atdifferent times, and in
different places. But each had their own logic behind what they taught.
When Shimabuku
Tatsuo created Isshinryu, he had training from a number of different
instructors. Among them Kyan, Miyagi and Motobu. Different amounts of time,
different places, etc. He based his style on part of what he trained in, part
of his own analytic efforts from what he experienced, and at that, at different
times for different reasons, he shared differently. Of course there is much
more involved. When he formed his system, his instructors had passed and he
followed his own conscience as to what he taught. Apparently always trying out
to better his system.
He was a agent
of change. He consciously choose to train USMC members, during their tours on
Olinawa. Of course it was for money, the depression Okinawa experienced was
severe. No one on Okinawa would have considered that such short time students,
with so little training would go on to spend their lives with their karate.
Of course others
on Okinawa, paid attention, and they too began to teach the Americans.
Then Shimabuku
Sensei did as he was trained, Observing Kyan working out different things, he
followed as he was trained, and continued to adjust what he shared with his
students.
So different
versions were received by his students, and they followed the version they had.
I am but a
simple student of Tom Lewis and Charles Murray, most of what I am is just what
I experienced from them. I am not the source of everything Isshinryu, just what
my own Isshinryu has become.
But from what I
have observed Isshinryu today is a powerful universe that descended from that
single force, Shimabuku Tatsuo.
Perhaps very far
from one thing, but by its existence, it proved so many different things
Okinawa probably thought impossible.
. One man could
teach a system of karate to short term foreign students, and they in turn would
become a world wide system of karate.
. The original
standard that what an instructor taught, died with him, The idea that what an instructor shared could
be a system to pass down to future generations, that was a new thought on
Okinawa, not tradition. Shimabuku’s work proved that could occur.
It always
interesting to remember Shimabuku Tatsuo was also an adapt of the I Ching, the
Chinese book of Changes, used for divination. Which used the idea of change as
the one constant to interpret the now.
In that is one way is life was so very
much caught up in Change as was all Okinawan karate.
