Developing The Senses – from Shimabuku Tatsuo

 

 Hi Rich,

In private communication Sensei Norm Losier was kind enough to share
the following from Sensei Advincula.

2-15-93 Interview with Shinsho Shimabuku at his house in Kinaka (Chan)

There are "gokui" in Sunsu.

Training the five senses:

l Sense of Hearing: Hiza-geri (30 minutes to one hour)
l Sense of Smell: Nukite is for training the nose
l Sense of Sight: Elbow training
l Sense of Taste: Grab with both hands, curl the foot and kick in a
downward direction.
l Sense of Touch: The ura-uchi of Seisan is for training the sense of
touch..

My father was looking for gokui from his four teachers. Ganeku Sensei, Kyan Chotoku Sensei, Miyagi Sensei and Motobu Choki Sensei.

Sunsu kata has 70 percent of the gokui and the other 30 percent is found in  he other kata My father made sunsu to bring out the gokui.

 

My father didnt like several kata . One was a saki (drunk style) kata  (gojushiho) and another was a bent wrist kata (tensho). He thought these kata were not necessary so he eliminated them. Im not sure what the names were.

My father created sunsu kata not only for fighting but to help the five senses (gokan ŒÜŠ´) Seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching. All of the following techniques are found in sunsu kata.

Eyes: Elbow strikes in sunsu kata develop the eyes.

Ears: The knee strikes (Hiza-geri ) in sunsu kata help the ears. The knee strikes help the nerves in the ear. The knee must be relaxed and the foot should not be tightened.

Nose: Grabbing in sunsu kata helps the nerves of the nose.

Taste: Toe ripping technique develops taste. The toe ripping technique is used to destroy your opponents stomach muscles. The fat in the lower
abdomen is generally soft and easy to destroy.

Touch: This is found in seisan kata and is the set found in the back fist (ura-uchi )strike to the bridge of the nose, cross stepping and kicking, down blocking, counter punching and blocking. This sequence must be fluid and practiced over and over once a week for at least 30 minutes at a time.This is called Shokaku ŠŠ´ .the sense of touch

When you teach, you must teach the basics of karate first, then gokui
last like my father. ---------Shinsho Shimabuku

Regards, "Michael Pokriefka