The Seagull Kata

 

 

When I was a new student I was working as a construction laborer. So when I started karate, the fee of $15,00 a month, while not exhorbitant, was still a financial stretch for me. One I was willing to pay, but one evening Sensei told us he was looking for someone to clean the dojo each week and he was willing to have them do so in lieu of paymet for instruction. That was right up my alley, so I applied for that role,

 

I was accepted, Dennis Lockwood, informed me what they needed me to do, and I was given a key to the dojo. I found Sunday afternoons were most convenient for me to do so.

 

The I began to go  and clean there, Such duties as wash and was the dojo floor. I also enjoyed that I could then train alone in the dojo after cleaning it.

 

Then one Sunday afternoon Sensei dropped in, with his friend from Virginia, Karl Hovey.

Karl was an Okinawan, who on Okinawa, studied another Okinawan system. But moving to the States began to study Isshinryu here.

 

Karl invited me to work out with them, But being a yellow belt, I felt to self conscious to do so and I declined, Choosing to remain cleaning the dojo while they were there.

 

I was very impressed watching them do kata, far above what I knew.

 

But then I overheard Sensei tell Karl he would show him his Seagull kata.

 

I knew so little I did not know what he was doing. Now I understand he was just performing Kusanku kata.

 

Karl watched, and Sensei did the kata very slowly and dramatically.

 

This hands rose toward the skies, then circled down, al in most slow motion.

 

When his hands finished their descent they slowly entered the front kamae of Kusanku, just as in the kata.

 

Though the execution Seisei was slightly angled down and forward. But as he completed entering the kamae he straightened up.

 

At that moment he relaxed his knees and his gi bottom was slightly hitched up, But now releasing his knees as he straightened up.

 

His gi legs dropped down in perfect unison with the rest of the motion.

 

That was his Seagull Kata.

 

Priceless, and one seen never to be forgotten.