Seiunchin

Seiunchin 




 "This kata seems to have been brought to Okinawa by Higaonna Kanryo, who is said to have learned it under Master Ruru Ko, or perhaps under Wai Xinxian, who is said to have taught at the old Kojo dojo at Fuzhou City in Fujian Province.  Recent research has indicated that Ruru Ko was actually Xie Zhongxiang, founder of Whooping Crane Kung Fu, but this kata is not included within that style, thus hinting that Higaonna had either learned it elsewhere, or else developed it himself.  However, here we run into a problem, as Nakaima Norisato (founder of Ryueiryu Karate Do) is also said to have learned this kata under Ruru Ko.  Another theory is that Miyagi Chojun may have been responsible for creating this form or introducing it from other sources.

     The Seiunchin is written in kanji as “Control, Pull, Fight” by many Okinawa Gojuryu stylists, as well as Isshinryu teacher Uezu Angi (son in law of Shimabuku Tatsuo Soge).  A good example is the “rein-forced block” which can actually be applied as a wrist-crushing joint lock (Tokashiki, 1995, referring to a hidden technique), and the “archers block” (another “common name” for the “sleeve catch which one performs in the beginning of the kata during the first three moves) which can be used as a throw (Higaonna, 1981; Kai, 1987).  I (Sensei Gagnon) shall demonstrate this hidden technique sometime.

     Otsuka Takahiko, a Gojuryu teacher who has spent considerable time in China and Taiwan researching the roots of his system, tells us that his studies indicate that Seiunchin may mean “Follow-Move-Power” which would be pronounced Sui Yun Jin in Mandarin Chinese (Otsuka, 1998).  Kinjo Akio says that his investigations have revealed to him that Seiunchin may be from a Hawk style of Chuan Fa (Chinese boxing), and may mean “Blue-Hawk-Fight” which is pronounced Qing Ying Zhan in Mandarin, or Chai In Chin in Fujian dialect (Kinjo, 1999).

     This kata is preserved in many modern styles of Karate Do, including Gojuryu, Shitoryu, Isshinryu, Shoreiryu, Kyokushinkai (Oyama Matsutatsuo Soge), Shimabuku Eizo lineage Shorinryu, Ryueiryu, and several others.  In the Advincula Sensei tapes, one can easily watch the performance of Seiunchin by Shorinryu and Gojuryu practitioners, making comparisons between these stylistic interpretations and that which Advincula Sensei performs as representative of Shimabuku Tatsuo Sensei's original kata."-http://www.stamfordisshinryu.com/id198.htm

taijiquan or supreme ultimate fist

太极拳 simplified




太極拳  traditional

十三势 (13 Postures)

In Chinese internal martial arts practice there are 13 postures sometimes called powers. Bamen or eight gates describes the eight hand techniques while wubu or five steps describes the five cardinal directions.

The eight hand techniques are in direct relationship with the diagram of th Bagua.  Four straight directions and four corner directions.

Technique	Direction
Peng	South	Ward Off
Lu	West	Roll Back
Ji	East	Press
An	North	Push
Cai (tsai)	Northwest	Pluck or Pull Down
Lie (lieh)	Southeast	Split
Zhou (chou)	Northeast	Elbow
Kao	Southwest	Shoulder

The five steps follow the theory of the Wuxing (5 element or 5 stage theory).

Wuxing		Direction	Element/Phase
Jin Bu	進步	Forward Step	Fire
Tui Bu	退步	Backward Step	Water
Zuo Gu	左顧 (simpl.: 左顾)	Left Step	Wood
You Pan	右盼	Right Step	Metal
Zhong Ding		Central Equilibrium	Earth

The interplay of the eight gates and five steps is a key component found within all the internal martial arts styles.  While the concept seems simple enough, remember that all the movements are initiated with the mind. the mind leading the chi and chi initiating movement. A hand technique or step, therefore, is the external manifestation of the internal process.

Bassai Dai

Bassai Dai loosely translates to penetrate the fortress.    Some believe that Bassai Dai comes from the Fujian Crane system where it was called Baoshi (豹狮)  or Leopard-Lion.  Leopard (the opening blocking / striking movement in cross-legged stance) and Lion (open handed techniques and stomping actions) are Chinese boxing forms.

Pressure point or Kyusho attacks are the primary attacks found within Bassai Dai. Kyusho literally translates to sensitive area.  The primary targets include nerve centers, sensitive bone areas, weak areas of the body and areas of soft tissue.

Shisochin

Shisochin translates to four direction battle or conflict.  It is thought that the kata's name resulted from the Okinawan's attempt at to pronounce the Mandarin xi (four) xian (direction) zhan (battle).  Potential origins include Fujian White Crane, Tiger or Dragon Shaolin systems.

Key elements of the kata include:
Shotei or palm heel strike.  These are done in four directions.
Nukite or knife hand thrusts.  These are found in the initial movements of the kata.
Whipping motions.
Kansetsu-waza, chin na or or joint locking techniques.

Bassai Dai in the Snow

Wheelbarrow Workout

My Character in John Irving's "Last Night in Twisted River"

The karate reference in John's new book.

Zhan Zhuang

I have been focusing on zhan zhuang practice for a few weeks now. Last Wednesday night, I asked Sensei Marallo for some help with my alignment. I was experiencing tension in my shoulders which I wasn't able to dissolve. For the next 1 hour and 45 minutes, Sensei had us (Bobby and I first and then the rest of the class as they trickled in) either hold zhan zhuang, hold static taiji postures and returning to zhan zhuang or do kata while adhering to taiji principles and returning to zhan zhuang.

That workout was pretty intense and awfully uncomfortable.  I thought I was going to crack when we held zhan zhuang in a deep horse stance.  Sensei called me the next day to see if I was still talking to him.  He said he couldn't look at Bobby or I towards the end because he thought he would burst out laughing.

The tension I was experiencing was the result of leaning too far forward and having my arms pushed a little too far forward. Even when I thought I was perfectly straight, Sensei still made an adjustment. I told him I was then experiencing discomfort in my quads and he told me I had to deal with it and dissolve it.

Lessons learned:
1.  Most peoples postures tend to lean forward or bend forward.  Most occupations require us to stay in this less than vertical position over an extended period of time.  Over time, our mind believes that this is a good vertical posture.  Looking in the mirror from the side is a good way of checking whether your posture is vertical and the spine is truly stacking.
2.  While trying to adhere to taiji principles, we tend to overdo the principles.  For me, rounding the back and sinking the chest was causing me to push my arms too far out.

The remainder of the class we focused on elements of geksai dai ni.

1. Head punch with inside kagai uke (hook block) and tora guchi strike to the solar plexus.

2. Head punch with outside kagai. Trap and wrap the tori's arm; either breaking, pressure pointing or both.

3. Head punch with outside kagai. Tora guchi with one hand striking the far cheek and the other striking the  near kidney resulting in a take down.

Much emphasis was placed on the circularity of kagi uke and the pull back on the wrists.  Also, the pull back on the wrist on the tora guchi strike was emphasized.