Memory on Isshinryu Vertical Punching

Another aspect to consider is the development by Kyan of the vertical punch.  from the book 'Tales of Okinawa's Great Masters by Shoshin Nagamine,' on page 89 has a nice section on the life of Kyan.

 

"Because of his tiny size, Sensei spent considerable time and effort developing his jodan-tsuki (rising punch). Never having altered this technique, Kyan's jodan-tsuki represented his own interpretation of using the strike in a practical way for a person of his size. It can be said that his unique jodan-tsuki exists in no other ryuha and must therefore illustrate his own understanding of karate-do."

 

On the vertical punch I remember someone once suggested to me Shimabuku adopted it because no matter what punch people trained in when almost everyone did kumite they used vertical strikes.   I have no confirmation of that story but I can see some reality in it.

Additionally Sherman Harrill made a point that the vertical strike could cant from 11 o’clock to 12 o’clock to 1 o’clock because the human torso is not a single shape rather that would permit to strike appropriately as required.

Before Shimabuku adopted vertical striking he taught the ‘standard’ twisting punch. It was about the time when he began teaching American students that he switched to the vertical punch. But his Okinawan students preferred the way they were originally taught, so he permitted them to keep the twisting punch and taught the American student’s his vertical punch.

Then in the early 60’s he switched back to the twisting punch, reportedly at the suggestion of his Okinawan students.

Sherman explained to me that he taught Issshinryu to his brother, who later entered the Marines and was stationed on Okinawa. When there he went to Agena in 1964 and asked Tatsuo if he could be a student, explaining Sherman had been his brother, trained in Agena and taught him Isshinryu.|

Tatsuo asked him to demonstrate his kata, he did so and of  course used vertical punches as  Sherman had taught him.

When he finished Tatsuo said he could become his student, but made a request. He told him that he would have to change to twisting punched, for that was the way he was then teaching. Explaining that they were not wrong just that things had changed.

Later in 1964 when Tatsuo went to Pittsburgh to train there, he was teaching the twisting punches. Video record from that visit supports this.

Returning to the USA in 1966 he observed the American students were all using the vertical punches. On seeing that he decided to switch back to the vertical punch.

I would maintain that while I prefer the vertical punch, as my instructor's taught me, each of those punches work with Isshinryu.