My Principles of Kata technique Appliction III - Applied to Kata Seisan

 

September 14, 1998

 

 

Several other techniques  Kata Seisan.

 

Seisan Kata - Beginning of 2nd Row

 

        From Left Foot Forward Double Descending Shuto Strike

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, Left inner circling descending open hand strike/block

                                              Right outer circling hook block

                                             Both hands cross in the middle, wrists facing

                   1.a.*  Right Outer Shuto Strike (optional version)

                   2. Right hand Reach out and Grab, then pull back to hip

 

 

1.       Uke, RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right foot steps forward, left hand circles down, locking palm on back of uke’s wrist

                   2.      Right hand circles up with hook block under wrist

                   3.     Left hand bends uke’s wrist, and Right hand reaches up, rolls over into small wrist

                             wrap.

                   **  As found in Sil Lum’s Peng Tsu Dune De Kuen

 

2.       Uke, RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right foot steps forward, left hand circles over and down, parrying the punch to the  outside

                   2. Right hook ridge hand strike into uke’s neck

                   3. Right Shuto Strike into uke’s neck

4. Right hand hooks behind uke’s neck, pulling forward and down

 

5*Take the next step in the kata as a knee strike into uke’s ace.

 

3.       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right foot steps forward, left hand circles over and down, parrying the punch to the  outside

          Uke Lft Punch

                   2. Right hook ridge hand strike into uke’s arm

                   2.a. (opt) right nukite strike into uke’s throat

                   3. Right Shuto Strike into uke’s neck

4. Right hand hooks behind uke’s neck, pulling forward and down

5*Take the next step in the kata as a knee strike into uke’s face.

 

4,       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, turning 45 degrees left

                   2. Left Hand circles in and parries uke’s arm down

                   3. Right Hand circles up with palm under uke’s tricep

                   4. Step up with the left foot, push uke’s wrist down, and lock the arm by raising  the right hand up.   (this can be performed interior or exterior Line of Def.)

 

5.       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, turning 45 degrees left

                    2. Left Hand circles in and parries uke’s arm down

3. Right Hand circles up with a ridgehand strike under uke’s armpit

                   4. Right foot steps forward behind uke’s leg and

                             Right palm strike to shoulder or throat for takedown

 

6.       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, outside of uke’s punching arm

                   2. Right hand circles palm up over uke’s arm, deflecting it

                   3. Right Strike and Grab to Uke’s throat

                   4. Right Hand Pulls Uke Forward and down

 

5** the right foot may step across infront of ukes foot, for a trip

 

7.       Uke Double Horizontal Punches/Grabs

 

1. Double Blocks, Left Down and Right Up as Right Foot Steps Forward, outside Uke’s side

                   2. Right hand reaches behind uke’s neck and  grabs his jaw f               rom the other side

3. Pull Uke’s jaw clockwise, with a neck rotation to lock uke and effect takedown

 

8.       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, outside of Uke’s punching arm

2. Left foot kick out shifting clockwise 20 degrees into Right Seisan <this bunkai uses the ascending then descending palm - as in Goju Supreimpe.

                   3. As Right arm rolls up and rt palm shifts toward your f                     ace, it rolls uke’s   punch outside.

4. Turn Right arm over and bring palm down, This completes the deflection of uke’s arm

                     5. Then Left Foot forward, on the 20 degree angle, behind uke’s lead leg

                   6. Left arm rolls up and lft palm shifts towards your face, it r               olls uke’s neck outside <the target is the neck of uke>

7. Turn Left arm over and bring palm down,  This ontinues the turning       of uke’s face and goes into a twisted neck lock.

 

                   <<more than a trace of BaGua Chaun in this one>>

 

This is one of my favorite bunkai.  So much so that I have changed my Seisan kata itself to utilize the Goju Ryu jodan shodan shotei oshi with the gedan shotei barai as used multiple times in Supreimpe.  It is my opinion this is probably closer to possible Chinese origins of this technique.  This is not what I teach, but what I practice.  The use of this technique with the correct angling and turning invoke BaGua power within Isshinryu in my mind.

 

9.       Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

1. Left Foot steps out to side while left hand parries down moving their arm away  - and turning 20 degrees to the right

                   2. Right rising palm strike to solar plexus area

                   3. Right hooked ridge hand strike behind uke’s neck

                   4. Pull Right hand back so arm crosses tricep of uke

5. Bring Left hand up and also cross uke’s tricep (both hands scissoring)

6. Turn to right 180 degrees, your scizzored arms trapping them in an armbar effecting takedown.   <<Sherman Harrill>>

 

10      Uke RFF Rt Punch

 

                   1. Right Foot Forward, outside of Uke’s punching arm

2. Left foot kick out shifting clockwise 20 degrees into Right Seisan<this bunkai uses the ascending then descending palm - as in Goju Supreimpe.

3. As Right arm rolls up and rt palm shifts toward your face, it rolls uke’s punch outside.

4. Turn Right arm over and bring palm down, This completes the deflection of uke’s arm

                   5. Left Foot steps up behind uke’s leg

6. Left Arm comes up under uke’s arm (at the armpit), raises up to the sky

7. Then the left hand turns counter-clockwise under the armpit and     forces Uke down over your leg.

 

There are many other versions.  Most shown will equally y work against any attack.  Punches, kicks, grab ,single, cross, double>

 

11.     Uke grabs your chest from behind,  Uke 2 stepping in with a punch

 

                   1. Strike back with descending Shuto into uke’s groin.

          2. Right foot forward, with Right Hook Block to deflect Uke 2 stepping in punch

                   3. Right hand reaches out and grabs uke’s throat.

                             <This is also a Harrill bunkai>

 

 

Then there is a neat version based on how I teach the kata to beginners.

 

          From Lft Foot Forward, Double Descending Shuto’s

 

1.                                                     Take the Left hand and grab an imaginary arm clutching your                                chest.

2.                                                     Right Foot forward, Hook Side Block (to break that arm  - ok ok it isn’t a break per say but it helps the beginners to get the motion)

3.                                                     Left Hand pulling across while the right rises, performs a  descending Shuto

4.                                                     Right reaches out and grabs at the throat, then pulls back to the hip.

 

I have beginners learn that modified form, because I got tired of them flapping their hands in the air.  After Yellow Belt, they are changed to a more standard version.

 

          Bunkai where Uke grabs your shoulder,  Uke Right Foot Forward, Right Lead Hand Grab

 

1.                                                     Take your left hand and grab their hand and rotate counterclockwise

2.                                                     Turn 20 degrees to the left and execute the rising hook block (or whatever you call it)

3.                                                     As your right arm comes up, you roll uke’s elbow up increasing the angle of their lock

4.                                                     Right Foot Circles in and forward as Right Hand reaches out to the neck of Uke

5.                                                     Lock Uke’s neck and pull back

 

Shades of Yin Jowl API,   This is very close to one of Ernie’s locks.  I’ve been teaching Seisan For beginners this way for almost 20 years, but only took  the time to understand the bunaki a few months ago.

 

 

This is far too much, and I know I don’t have everything as well as every application of these moves here.  Notice I use some locks, takedowns as well as pressure point strikes.

 

It is my opinion that first you should perform the movement flow analysis of the technique.  Second you need to practice it with partners, to get into the flow and execution correctly.  Once progress is made to feel it, the next step would involve micro-breakdown of the moves as to possible pressure points, angles, etc.  I’ve given you a few notes on that in my earlier notes as applied to the first movement section.    I’ve really been concentrating on the first two components of the bunkai at this point in time.

 

I think I’ll stop the more formal details of Seisan Bunkai for a while.  I’ve thrown a lot out  and I don’t want to totally confuse you.