Back when the internet was relatively new, one of the individuals I met was David Evseeff. I then joined his Isshinryu discussion book and shortly bought his book "Isshinryu Karate-Do", there were far less books on Isshinryu in those days. I found it interesting. I know he was a student of Milledge Murphy and had written the book at Murphy Sensei's request.
In those days there who disagreed with almost everything, becoming quite vocal on the internet about their feelings. Personally I always felt such behavior using public charges wrong. Very often I would jump into such discussions. Often to disagree with publicly airing such discussion which ought to have been private, then responding in very reasoned long discussion to make my points.
This was one of those times.
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Mr. Cook,
I appreciate your attempt to explain your difficulty with David Evseeff’s book. Unfortunately the divisive manner in which you write does little to state a case.
I am only familiar with his text “Isshinryu Karate-Do” co-authored with Milledge Murphey.
It is an ambitious attempt to explain the entire Isshinryu experience from Okinawa to America. A wide range of individuals, including Don Bohan are credited with interview material and photographs. And on the original web-site for the original edition of the Isshinryu List, he did publish corrections and updates for the book which he hoped someday would be incorporated in a later edition.
It is ambitious as there is simply too much to capture that is essentially undocumented to come up with a complete history of Isshinryu. Probing oral history is almost the only source for much of that information and one persons history is another individuals fiction.
Consider in Okinawa, by tradition, the history and mapping of the systems does not exist, or where it does it is never given to public inspection. I am aware of one Okinawan group whose senior instructors have done extensive research into the Okinawan Bubushi for the past 5 or 6 generations. Those notes are only for the next senior instructors.
Kyan and Miyagi essentially left no public written documentation on their system. Motobou did create several books in Japan. Taira likewise did begin to document his kobudo, but on the whole, most of the Okinawan experience has never been documented for the public. Shimabuku Tatsuo did nothing but follow that tradition. Those who he taught only had their own experience to tell. When Isshinryu passed into the America’s the seniors essentially followed the same tradition.
Then when books and articles were generated, they told the story from their own point of view, and whatever history they were able to retain, or find. Inaccuracies passed from author to author becoming fact.
Add to that the ever present intense dislike of so many of the seniors to the efforts of the others, we’re lucky any of them took the time to try and create a new paradigm, documentation regarding their passionate love, Isshinryu.
I honestly believe David’s efforts have merit. They’re not necessarily correct, but he did draw from a wider group of sources than most have attempted, and the photographs preserved in the book alone more than justify whatever the book costs.
But all of the books have authors, all of them are the products of the training and experiences they have seen, and the stories passed on to them. And at some essential level, they all represent only one point of view.
I’ve written a little on Isshinryu and other martial subjects myself. While I freely share my explorations, I have no personal desire to ‘explain’ the Isshinryu system. Frankly, I question whether anybody can gather source material the rest of the Isshinryu world will freely accept.
Consider you have some personal problem with David explaining Isshinryu Seisan having a ‘catch’ or a ‘stack’. Both terms I’ve experienced from different Isshinryu instructors myself. The fact you don’t like a term or an example, is a rather poor excuse to frame criticism of a work. Frankly, depending on the level of maturity of the student involved, the terms can be used successfully to describe various events in Kata Seisan. The deeper fact that any movement has infinite potential uses, in no way inviolate the simpler answer for a beginner or intermediate student. The fact you may choose not to accept some answers simply is your own personal belief.
The next problem with Isshinryu books, is they can only capture one or some of the answers. Such as the ‘right’ way to do a kata [Which David’s book dodges by not showing any kata.] My instructor Tom Lewis trained with Shimabuku Tatsuo. He also taught many variations of the kata (a practice I do not do myself). The source of those variations were Shimabuku Tatsuo. If I were to document a ‘kata book’ with my training, there would be variations on the kata performed. I know 100% this would offend those who have the correct way. Now I’m comfortable with the reality of my training, and really have no desire to document it for the rest. But it highlights one of many difficulties in preparing anything ‘acceptable’.
Now David’s love of Isshinryu caused him to create his text. It is neither perfect nor complete. It is a valid attempt. All of the books are, whether they are espousing one’s organizational history, one’s view of kata application, or an overview of Isshinryu. None of them are perfect, but against the real backdrop of so many who enjoy their Isshirnyu, each one is a very real attempt at describing something which cannot be described.
If I take the time, I can take any of the books written apart, from different points of view. For what purpose. These individuals aren’t publishing on Isshinryu for money. Whatever they make doesn’t fall into the category of real profit.
A while ago I did some private translation of Mabuni Kenwa’s first book (From a French edition into English) explaining Sanchin and Seiunchin Kata, as he wrote it in 1933. While not interested in publishing this, I took the time to discuss with several publishers what it takes to generate and print a book. Essentially both informed me unless a text can sell over 5,000 copies, there is no profit to be made publishing a book, and in the martial arts world, the only books which make a profit are ALL about Bruce Lee.
Now of one wants to employ a private publisher and pay for the costs oneself, it might be a little different, but this basically told me the state of things. The first volume of Angi Uzeu’s “Encyclopedia of Isshirnyu” (which I suspect was written more by Mr. Jennings) was not followed up with others. In part I’m sure the new video tape business was cheaper to produce with less headaches. There you can see and hear Angi without the printing costs.
My feelings are from a financial point of view, the authors could probably make more money in the stock market when its crashing than they would by publishing another Isshinryu book.
Frankly the real state of Isshinryu history is deplorable, and the future, unless somebody attempts deeper scholarship, is likely to remain the same with repetitions of the same old inaccuracies and hopes. Yes, Hope, for much is not based on looking at the real Okinawan or American experience, but rather a wish to explain what the author wants it to be.
I’ve seen rumors that Mr. Advincula is planning such a work. One would hope it happens. I believe he would be the strongest source explaining Okinawan Isshinryu. But rest assured, if he does so he will also have his detractors.
In any case, Mr. Cook, you’ve had your say. David is away studying Chinese on Taiwan. Another notable goal that may assist all of us far more in the future.
May you have a pleasant day.
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
Interesting postscript:
When I moved to Arizona back in 2016 I had to rid myself of many of my books. The Isshinryu books I was not taking with me I know I left for my senior students. Having run accross this discussion brings that to mind. Having looked on Amazon I see there are no copies available, however the asking price for one is $199.99. Go figure. Perhaps they may get some value out of it too.
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