Thursday, August 24, 2023

What is the purpose with the runners stance in Kusanku ?

 



Brandon Dherin

What is the purpose with the runners stance in Kusanku ?

ERozmin-Sensei Lakan Dalawa The posture you describe has been the issue of some debate however a consensus is that the Kata "Kusanku" and it's variants simulate fighting multiple opponents in a low light environment, the posture serves two purposes, as I have come to understand over the years, one as mentioned to evade the line of sight and two to allow you to see your opponents due to sillouetting them. Usually, but not all liniage, included turning the head to both sides each time to allow you to locate your opponents. Tatsuo's Kusanku included it and it is documented in several video's of him performing the kata. 😎

Andy Sloane But the eyes do not allow you to see what you're intending to see if you turn your head because they cannot adjust to the low level of light if you move your head. The medical science backs this up.

Bill Pogue maybe can be fighting in the dark, but I'm guessing its not the main principles of the kata. more 'deception'. I'm thinking that the ground posture is a recovery move or ducking out. we originally got airborne on the crescent kick and the switch-off, but later did not get too much airborne. its also the basic mechanics of a flying reverse kick should one want to develop such a move.

World United Isshinryu Karate Association - USA Master Mitchum taught this as a Kata done at twilight ( dawn or dusk) Going down Low looking up and using skyline to see silhouettes . As you are low they can’t see you well either. The opening the kata (with your hands doing the circular motion) was representative of the moon/sun and the horizon.
That’s what he taught and he said was taught to him.

ERozmin-Sensei Lakan Dalawa World United Isshinryu Karate Association - USA My liniage is through Nagle and this (is as mentioned above) is the understanding I was taught as well. I also agree with Bill PoguePogue in that undoubtedly an inevitably there is more there than meets the eye as a whole.

Romney Taylor Regarding kusanku , seeing silhouettes ,background lighting,
and Science .
The outcome of a experiment depends on the conditions of
the experiment. There are conditions where this does not
work, and there are conditions where it definitely does.
If you doubt try the experiment your self.
Go to a dark place, like a park , that has lighting outside of it .
Go in a ways, assume the position and then have a friend enter,

Victor Donald Smith

Night is not a constant dark, it changes it texture constantly. At times total dark, at times moonlight, at times cloudy haze, at times dense fog. From the Kashiba Juku friends they describe it as fighting in low light conditions. So at times you may see more, you man see less.

The use of any kusanku technique in minimal light varies but that does not mean those uses are impossible. just as use of kusanku technique in the daylight is possible. One must address the changing environment. Using one Kusanku practice to think about night is not fixing that for every possibility.

One of the most memorable classes I conducted for Kusanku was on a dark rainy night in a field of a summer camp. It was especially interesting when everyone dropped to the ground putting their faces in water, realizing a need to look to the side, Been there did that and laughed.


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Ginchin Funakoshi from his 1925 Rentan showing when taking to the ground in Kusanku kata, he also looked to the side, or perhaps the rear when he was on the ground.

Victor Donald Smith It does make all those posts about this being inappropriate for the move take a different light.

David Hansen I was taught the knee is outside the arm allowing a deeper position. Low like Snake.

Angel Lemus Dont forget westerners have a longer ankle to knee distance ration than short little Okinawan, that is why they can do the knee as shown here. Long legged westerners unless they are very skinny and limber mostly have to put the knee outside not because of any reason than they can't do it like the Okinawans. Then you bring into account the post 40 year-old metabolism changes and you grow wider and heavier, and lets not forget the beer belly. Its not happening.

Andy Sloane Knee on the outside of the arm for Isshin-ryu Kusanku. Knee on the inside of the arm for Kusanku Sai because you're resting on the sai handles.

Vince Morris Could simply be he has done the technique and is - correctly - looking in the direction of his next move.

Roy Kamen telling the student to his left what he is doing :-)

Victor Donald Smith I was not supporting one method as more correct, just showing the head turned.

Victor Donald Smith Of course the correct method is the one I taught. Sorry about all the other versions. :-)

Joe Swift of course there is no evidence that kusanku as practiced in "ANY" modern system is "correct," either :D

 

 

 

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