There are times we should seek beyond our comfort zone.
This is one of the best and most interesting Chinese Systems of study I’ve seen.
This is a very well known Shaolin form called FIVE SHAPES EIGHT METHODS by which is meant Five Animals. A good, long form of the Shaolin family with the animals clearly shown mixed with explosive power.
This form of Shaolin The Jin Gang or Vajra dates from at least the Mid-Ming over 400 years ago when Shaolin was in one of its strongest modes. The Vajra Fist claims to have been formed at the beginning of Yuan Dynasty which would put it over 1000 years ago. At the end of the Mind Shaolin went through a typical "boiling down" period where movements were reorganized and forms restructed. Tthis set combining 5 Animals: Dragon( mind), Tiger ( bone), leopard ( explosive power), snake ( ch'i) and Crane (spirit) inter-relates to the classic 8 Methods: Internal Gong, External Gong, mental refinement, fist skills, leg & footwork, body, grappling, and qi accumulation
It is within the technique range of our karate studies. No, I have not pursued it but wish I could. I am pleased that I can offer it for you to think about. The video’ on Youtube offer much detail about the form and it’s function.
Just in time for the holidays and you if you care about the original Okinawan art of Toudi, We now have a translation of bookToudi-jutsu no Kenkyu or The Study of the Techniques of China Hand Techniques byItoman Seijin from the 1934 publication. You have the chance to get a detailed description of Toudi-jitsu and then to compare it to your current art to see the differences.
Mario McKenna describes the book this way.
“The Study of China Hand Techniques is unique in the literature of Okinawa Karatedo. It is the first book of its era to provide not only an outline of the history, and philosophy of Toudi (Karate) but also provides detailed instruction on a broad range of techniques and their application including striking, kicking, locking, throwing, and choking.”
I have read it and the detailed description of Toudi –Jutsu is very interesting. We are fortunate that McKenna Sensei spent the time on this for our use. The book can be ordered at http://www.lulu.com/shop/morinobu-itoman/the-study-of-china-hand-techniques/paperback/product-20530948.html
This is another of the drills from Tristan Sutrisno's teachings. Where the Kihon ShoDan and drill focuses on hand techniques the Kihon NiDan drill focuses on the lower body and kicking techniques. This is also a part of Dan training at Bushi No Te Isshinryu.
The first series of kick are while moving towards 12 o’clock
a.Left lead roundhouse to the middle
b.Left lead roundhouse to the head
c.Right front punch
d.Right front kick, then put the foot down
e.Pivoting counter-clockwise on the right foot end up in a horse stance with a right side knife hand strike
f.Pivot on the left into ‘Kusanku” kake dachi with the kusanku parry and strike using both empty hands
g.Throw a right roundhouse kick to 12 o’clock. Then put the foot down
h.Pivoting counter-clockwise on the right foot till the left foot is in front as your right open hand parries down to your right side (to 3 o’clock).
i.Right low side kick to the right side, then put the right foot down to the side to form a horse stance, your chest facing 12 o’clock.
j.Right multiple strike mid level open hand parry to the right side
k.Left foot steps over and right mid level side kick to the right as you throw a left hook punch to your right side (as in Nijushiho kata).
l.Put your right foot down, still in horse stance your chest facing 12 o’clock
m.Left multiple strike mid level open hand parry to the left side
n.Right foot steps over and left mid level side kick to the left, as you throw a right hook punch to your left side (as in Nijushiho kata).
o.Put your foot down, still in horse stance your chest facing 12 o’clock
p.Draw your left foot in alongside your right (your right hand stays in the hook punch position.
You now turn and begin kicking towards 6 o’clock
q.Pivoting on the ball of the left foot, execute a right spinning clockwise head high crescent kick to 6 o’clock, ending in right cat stance.
r.Jump double front kick to 6 o’clock, ending in right cat stance.
s.Jumping up from your right leg, execute a jumping spinning (counter-clockwise) right inside crescent kick to 6 o’clock, ending in right cat stance.
t.Jump side kick to 6 o’clock, ending in horse stance.
u.Drop right side kick to 6 o’clock
v.Scissor kick as you roll over to your right on the floor.
w.Left side kick from the floor.
x.Rise to your left foot, your right knee on the floor.
y.Double Jumping left front kick off the floor
z.Spin to your right to conclude in natural stance.
Back in 1980 when I started trainig with Tristan Sutrisno I learned a drill called Kihon Shodan, Ihis is a very good drill to explode in forward momentum.
1. Ready Stance
2. Left Foot Forward, Left Low Block
3. Right Reverse Punch
4. Right Front Kick (placing the foot down into right front stance)
5. Left then Right Punch
6. Left High Block
7. Right Rising Elbow Strike
8. Rotate your torso (so it faces 3 o’clock) clockwise 90 degrees and reach out with the left hand to 12 o’clock (as to grab an opponents arm), and then throw a left front kick to the front (again 12 o’clock).
9. Land in a side (3 o’clock) facing horse stance (left foot forward) and throw a left cross body hook punch. [note, this is what the Shotokan and Shorin stylists throw in their Nihanchi (Tekki) Sho Dan Kata, where we throw the palm up spear hand.]
10. Your right foot kicks up to the inside of the left leg (as in the opening of Chinto Kata), then place the right foot down in a left front cat stance (facing 12 o’clock). This concludes with a left hand open knife hand block (similar to Kusnaku’s opening 3 techniques).
11. Your left foot steps forward into a deeper front stance (Shotokan’s zenkatsu-dachi) as your left palm presses down and you drive a right spear hand forward (across the back of the left hand).
12. [Now assume somebody grabbed your right arm.] You press your right spear hand down about 6”, somewhat resembling a downward palm press.
13. Pivoting on your left foot, you spin 360 clockwise to end up in a right cat stance, as both your elbows descend in a double knife hand block (the reverse of no. 10).
14. You jump up with a double front kick (left then right)
15. Landing in right Zenkatsu Dachi, (lunging forward) with a double outward knife hand strike.
Mike Cassidy simplified a version use for youth classes and has made it a regular part of youth training.
1. Ready Stance
2. Left Foot Forward, Left Low Block
3. Right Reverse Punch
4. Right Front Kick (placing the foot down into right front stance)
5. Left then Right Punch
6. Left High Block
7. Right Rising Elbow Strike
8. Rotate your torso (so it faces 3 o’clock) clockwise 90 degrees and reach out with the left hand to 12 o’clock (as to grab an opponents arm), and then throw a left front kick to the front (again 12 o’clock).
9. Land in a side (3 o’clock) facing horse stance (left foot forward) and throw a left cross body hook punch.
Jeff Perkins has kindly sent me the book “Okinawan Karate, A Man Called Chanmie - Kyan Chotoku a new point of view – A Story of his youth.” by IREI Hiroshi,. The book he purchased on Okinawa.This book was produced of sale at he Kyan museum.
The book is not so much about Kyan’s karate but more a historical record of his family and early life. While it does menton his training with his father and other instructors, the most important detail for us was that it mentions Shimabuku Tatsuo, the founder of Isshinryu, became a student at age 24, in 1926, and that Nagamine Shoshin’s book ‘Past Master Book of Karate and Okinawa Sumo” mentions Shimabuku Tatsuo became a student of Kyan Chotoku at the invitation of Nagamine Shoshin his friend , who was a student of Kyan and a friend at Nichu (the High School in Naha).
So we have an Okinawan writing a book to help preserve Kyan’s history, mentioning Shimabuku Tatsuo. Sounds more and more as this being accepted history for Okinawa.
Naifanchi Kata is somewhat a question to understand for its source in Isshinryu Karate, its historical origins. Exactly where did Shimabuku Tatso come up with his version?
The kata does not seem to have been taught by Kyan Chotoku. I believe the principle instructor of Shinabuku Tatsuo. However, today, many of Kyan’s students student’s branches use the form, but, as I understand it, their versions of Nihanchi Kata all came from different sources. Obviously those that adopted it felt it is important
Perhaps this is a proof that Motobu Choki was an instructor of Isshinyyu’s founder and the source behind Isshinryu;s version of Nihanchi Kata.
One of the more perplexing issues with this theory is Motobu Choki, in his early book on Karate, was against the idea of the inward toed stance writing that it was too weak. Some Isshinryu lineages use this stance,. Just because of those writings its not to say in time his opinion changed. as time passed
That makes it difficult to accept Motobu is the source. I just found this on Youtube and am linking you to it. It is Motobu noNaihanchi Shodan - Motobu, the son of Motovu Choki. Note how similar to how Isshinryu Nihanchi Kata begins. I note that on the Japanese video of his father’s art Motobu Chōsei also shows a class with Naihanchi Kata beginning on the right.
I suggest it implies that the direction didn't matter in the Motobu Choki tradition, just the practice of the kata. So perhaps this is sort of proof for Motobu. Sort of makes sense for the kata is covers the same ground no matter which way you start.
So perhaps he was inspired by Motobu's training, and then Shimabutu Tatsuo used his own ideas to re-craft the form.
*The original article was written in January 2020.
In Naihanchi Shodan, there are several movements in which one
foot (leg) is kicked toward the other foot. It is commonly called
"nami-gaeshi" (returning wave).
Nami-gaeshi
As shown in the photo above, nami-gaeshi is usually performed
twice in a row from the position of Naihanchi-dachi (stance). In this case,
both arms are in the form of yoko-uke (side block).
However, in the old style Naihanchi, nami-gaeshi was performed more
often. I once wrote an article titled "A Prototype of Naihanchi?" In that
article, I introduced an old style Naihanchi that was passed down from
Motobu Chōyū to his second son, Motobu Chōmo. In this Naihanchi,
nami-gaeshi is inserted during the transition from kōsa-dachi (crossing stance)
to Naihanchi-dachi.
I had never seen any other naihanchi with a nami-gaeshi at this
point before. However, Yabiku Motoku's Naihanchi, which I introduced at
the end of last year, also has a nami-gaeshi inserted after the kōsa-dachi.
The video above was uploaded by Andreas Quast Sensei, who took
out only the Naihanchi part from the original video. At about 2 seconds into
the video, the words nami-gaeshi and haishu-uchi are written in red.
There is also a scene in the original video where only the
Naihanchi steps are performed. There, too, a nami-gaeshi is inserted after the
kōsa-dachi (0:41-).
Yabiku Mōtoku was one year older than Tōyama Kanken at the
Okinawa Prefectural Normal School. In his books, Tōyama shows pictures of
Naihanchi, but the nami-gaeshi is the same as that of a typical Naihanchi.
If Yabu Kentsū initially taught Naihanchi with a lot of
nami-gaeshi, and then changed it in the middle, when did this happen?
The term of study at the Normal School was four years. According
to the linked website, Yamauchi
Seihin entered the Okinawa Prefectural Normal School in 1908, when Yabiku was
in the 4th grade and Tōyama was in the 3rd grade. Therefore, the year they
entered the school is as follows.
This means that nami-gaeshi in Naihanchi was most likely
modified around 1906.
However, there is one question. The number of nami-gaeshi
is generally reduced today, not only in the Naihanchi of the Okinawa
Prefectural Normal School, but also in other lineages of Naihanchi. It is also
possible, therefore, that this omission was made much earlier, and that Yabiku
Motoku was specially taught the old style of Naihanchi.
In any case, this old Naihanchi was preserved until the
generation of Motobu Chōyū and Yabu Kentsū who knew the old style
Shuri-te.
Time flows so quickly. One of the first wide Isshinryu discussion groups was hosted by David Esteeve on the Univ. of Florida listserver. Later it moved to Yahoo Groups. Many of the discussions did not evidence personal control and were often downright bloody. One day I had enough and started my own group to contain the issue, a pleasant place for Isshinryu discussion and there were many who decided to join.
For the group logo I picked the’ Alfred E. Mi zugami’, a gentle jest behind many of the bloody conversations. It was the creation of Matt Carney, and I borrowed it with his permission.
Over the years there have literally been thousands of discussions covering anything the members wished. Rarely have we had to remind people to keep it pleasant. They disciplined themselves on the whole. http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/Pleasant_Isshinryu/
The change in social media. And the members advancing knowledge has led to less discussion. Facebook among the changes of the evolving new era. But still it keeps rolling along with its archives being a treasure trove of Isshinryu history.
The groups stated purpose remains true.
The Isshinryu discussion group for pleasant conversation.
No Bad Thoughts will be tolerated. If you have to think them you must keep them to yourself or bye bye.
this group is dedicated to the implausable premise that polite discussion of Isshinryu is not only possible but mandatory!
Prospective members will be receive a request for a brief bio before membership will be reviewed.
The first post stated the group purpose.
Somebody had to attempt the impossible. Creating a discussion group for Isshinryu where NO bad, miserable, disgusting thoughts will be permitted. Instead a simple group where polite, informative uplifting discussion on Isshinryu can exist.
For purposes of this group, everybody is correct. All ranks are correct. Kichero Shimabuku inherited the Isshinryu system from his father as per Okinawan custom. Likewise all other Isshinryu seniors are also correct and any inconstancies between them disappear into
vaporware.
Discussions about Rank are discouraged. All rank is a personal matter between the instructor and their direct students and we will not have the bad taste to discuss something that isn't our business.
Instead truth, justice and the American Way (that being free speech does not exist in the group as per negative discussions) will prevail.
And there is no appeal to the reality I control the delete key
