Dantai no Kanshiwa

July 28th, 2007 at 23:08 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

Tin, Jeff, Senato, Shawn and I (of course) attended the afternoon training class. I really enjoyed doing dantai no Kanshiwa (group kata) with Tin and Jeff. We repeated a few times and refined some glitches and we had a good sweat.

While I practiced Seisan with Senato and Shawn, Sensei taught Tin and Jeff Seichin. I joined them practicing Seichin after a while.

After another fruitful day of training, I took my shower and put on a red Hawaii shirt ready to go to the beach party with Sensei. I was so excited to meet and see more people.

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Kanshiwa Bunkai

July 27th, 2007 at 23:59 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

I learned Kanshiwa bunkai and practiced with Hidetoshi today. The way the bunkai is taught and practiced in Uechi-ryu is really different from my previous style.

Practicing bunkai does not only involve technical movements but involve discipline, control and respect to your partner.

This is just roughly an idea of the entire process. First, you and your partner will bow to the front before they bow to each other. After bowing to each other, you will face forward and bow to the front again while your partner remains in his position. Then you begin to show 3 sequences of movement in the kata then you get into position. Your partner will shout before he attacks. Then you will apply a block and a counter strike according to the technique in the kata. After applying the technique, you and your partner will square off. You and your partner remain eye contact through out the enitre process to make sure your partner is ok. Then you will get to the last movement where you left off in the kata and do it again before performing the following 3 sequences. Repeat again until finish performing the entire kata. Then you bow to the front and your partner take over your place and the entire process repeat again.

When all is done, both you and your partner bow to the front and bow to each other.

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Seisan

July 27th, 2007 at 23:45 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

Finally, I’ve knocked the entire Seisan kata into my head with the assistance of Hikaru during the morning workout. Being a fan of Seisan kata (knowing Shorin-ryu, Shito-ryu and Goju-ryu version), it is not an easy task to remember all the movement of Uechi-ryu Seisan although there are some resemblence.

Seisan contains a lot of fighting techniques. Deadly and effective. I will write about Seisan kata and bunkai later once I have completely digested.

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“Severe” Sanchin kitae

July 26th, 2007 at 14:44 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

This morning I received a “severe” Sanchin kitae from Sensei. This is not the severity Sensei means. It is just the severity I expected. He applied Sanchin kitae first time to my chest at Hokute no kamae. Sensei says there may be only 3 persons in the world are trained to perform Sanchin kitae to the chest (heart). They are Toyama Sensei (of course), Akamine Sempai and him.

Like usual, I felt great after the Sanchin kitae.

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清運戦 – Seiunchin

July 25th, 2007 at 22:48 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

Today learned another new kata. Seiunchin is created by Toyama Sensei based on Hojo Undo. It is not actually a kata because it does not have the characteristic of a kata. Rather, Seiunchin is a sequence of movements based on the drills (Hojo Undo). Toyama Sensei was bored doing the Hojo Undo so he took up his challenge to create Seiunchin. Sei as in his name Seiko. Un as in Hojo Undo. And Chin is challenge.

Sensei taught Jessica and I half of the kata this morning and Fumiya Sempai (17 year-old, nidan) taught us the complete kata.

I really did not remember much of the kata as I am still digesting and trying very hard to memorize Kanshuu and Seichin.

I will work harder tomorrow to knock these kata into my head and improve them. As I begin to memorize Kanshuu and Seichin, my movements in Kanshuu and Seichin have become fluid and smoother.

As expected, I can feel my body having some changes as my muscles are aching more each day. I really love the training and the “severity” I am going through.

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Sanchin game

July 24th, 2007 at 20:46 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

During the evening class, I met Hidetoshi Chinen, a 17 year-old nikyu. He was friendly and easy to mix with although he spoke very little English. His Sanchin was excellent. Together in the class, I also met a few “Little Dragons” and a Sempai (forgot his name though).

I also practiced kata with Jessica and practiced kote kitae (conditioning) with Hidetoshi. I was practicing it with Dave last evening.

I performed Kanshuu and Seichin badly this evening. I think I was quite confused with the steps and movements. Perhaps I did not practice enough. More hard works tomorrow to improve these two kata.

At the end of the class, after al the kids and parents had left, Hidetoshi suggested to do Sanchin game. I felt good. Whew! Great! Looking forward to doing it again tomorrow.

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Learned Seichin

July 24th, 2007 at 14:58 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

I woke up earlier this morning, took a quick shower and had a big breakfast. As usual, I checked my email boxes and worked while waiting for the training session. The morning training is from 1000 to 1130.

Sensei had to bring two of his cats to the vet. He could not train us so he told me to practice and learn from Hikaru and Jessica.

Jessica came followed by Hikaru not longer after that. Sensei gave Hikaru some instructions and left. We began our practice with Sanchin, Kanshiwa and Kanshuu. Later, I asked them to teach me Seichin. I was confused by the movements at first. I asked them to repeat the kata again and again until I remembered the movements. I hoped they were not bored by me. Anyway, if they are reading this post, thank you, Arigato Gozaimashita to both Hikaru and Jessica. I enjoyed practicing and learning with them.

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Protected: 完周 – Kanshuu

July 23rd, 2007 at 13:31 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Enter your password to view comments.

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Protected: Kanshiwa – Correction, Bunkai and “Secrets”

July 21st, 2007 at 21:53 · Filed Under Japan, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Enter your password to view comments.

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Protected: Sanchin – Correction, Bunkai and “Secrets”

July 21st, 2007 at 21:12 · Filed Under Japan, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Enter your password to view comments.

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More severe Sanchin Kitae

July 21st, 2007 at 16:32 · Filed Under Days in My Life, Japan, Karate, Kata and Bunkai, Okinawa, Training Journal · Comment

This afternoon, I received a more severe Sanchin Kitae from Sensei during our training after Sumako’s Yoga class.

I felt Sensei had increased his pounding strength. Again, I had to swallowed my laugh when he pressed on my stomach. The ticklish sensation….

After the Sanchin Kitae, I felt good!

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OMG! Sanchin monsters!

February 9th, 2007 at 14:02 · Filed Under Karate, Kata and Bunkai · 4 Comments

Oh My God! I could not believe this if I did not see this video with my own eye! Jay forwarded the link to me and when I watched the video, it really gave me the shock of my life. They sounded like monsters from some horror sci-fi movies.

I think the guy with the “boom” hair is the instructor. I wonder how can these people be fooled by his so called karate Sanchin. Instead of blocks and punches, you can see lots of strange moves, and especially, pay attention to their fingers and the way the making the grasp. And the entire Sanchin kata is wrong!

These guys are really fanatic and Jay said they could die when they are 50. But I think they might die before 50 if they continue doing this!

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I lost!

December 18th, 2006 at 22:58 · Filed Under Karate, Kata and Bunkai · 2 Comments

I lost in men’s individual kata event in the tournament yesterday. I was bye in the 1st round and lost in second round. I was performing Shito Seisan. I shouted three times in Seisan. I did not know why the shout just came out from my throat. That’s an unforgivable mistake. Another mistake I made was that I performed Shito Seisan with variation which I learned from a well known sensei from Malaysia and the chief referee was also from Shito-ryu. In general, I was quite satisfied with my overall performance. In retrospect, I think I have been overconfidence, underestimated my opponent and did not consider the referee factors. Sorry to those wonderful people who sent me their best wishes and good lucks and encouragement. I have disappointed you all but I assure you that I will train more and try again next time.

My team mate, Sensei Azlimmi, bagged two bronze medals in kata and men’s veteran kumite; 《千里走单骑》bagged two silvers in women’s open kumite and women team kumite, she did not score in women’s individual kata either; ZZ bagged two bronzes in men’s open kumite and men’s team kumite and Lim scored a gold in boys’ 16-17 years old individual kata and a bronze in men’s team kumite. Fathinah and I did not score any. Total medal tally is 1 gold, 2 silvers and 5 bronzes. Not bad at all for a 6 persons team to bag 8 medals! Not bad.

I will train more on kata with 《千里走单骑》to prepare for the next coming tournament in May.

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Seienchin

September 10th, 2006 at 1:12 · Filed Under Karate, Kata and Bunkai · 5 Comments

Seienchin (or Seinchin, Seiunchin), セインチン, 制引戰
(Pronounced as Say-yen-chin)

Seienchin is a very ancient Chinese kata, and it’s origins are probably in the Xingyi ( or Hsing-I) internal system (形意内家拳). Many Seienchin movements closely resemble Xingyiquan. All Seienchin movements are hand techniques with no kicks, a very unusual feature. It is in the tiger series of katas.

The 1st kanji, 制, translates as sytem/method. It also translate as seize/capture. The 2nd kanji, 引, translates as “pulling” in the sense of “sucking/drawing/leading/setting up the person into a trap”, (eg: an “attack by drawing”). The 3rd kanji, 戰, simply means battle/fight/war. Furthermore one could speculate that Seienchin, as a kata which illiustrates a system of seizing and drawing the opponent to make the initial attack into your counter or traps. I see Seienchin as a more generalized kata showing different methods of engaging the opponent in a favorable manner (the idea of the 2nd kanji). Hence, Seienchin means “Seize-Control-Fight”.

Seienchin and Xingyiquan share common characteristics and principles. Both feature direct footwork and linear movement to deliver aggressive shocking attacks. Despite their hard, angular appearance, cultivating soft internal strength is essential to achieving power in both systems. Efficiency and economy of movement are the qualities of Xingyiquan and Seienchin and direct fighting philosophy advocates simultaneous attack and defense. Xingyiquan favors high stance rather than deep stance in Seienchin. A common saying of Xingyiquan is that “the hands do not leave the heart and the elbows do not leave the ribs.” and so is Seienchin. Like Xingyiquan, Seienchin techniques are prized for their deadliness rather than aesthetic value. There are few kicks in Xingyiquan.

Some techniques in Seienchin also resemble to Liu He Ba Fa (六合八法) or Six Harmonies Eight Methods. Liu He Ba Fa uses circular motion instead of linear movement. At the end of Seienchin, step into hidari nekoashi dachi while with both hands, make large arc overhead till both hands reach each other, then they are placed slowly with the fingertips of both hands together palms facing down and push the hands slowly forward a little bit with tension (kuri uke). This movement/technique shares a common characteristic with the opening move of Liu He Ba Fa.

It is believed that Seienchin has a sister kata called Seisan (十三) or Thirteen (13) Hands. Seisan is suited more to people with larger frame and who can build power easily. The opening three punches executed with sanchin dachi demonstrate this theory. Seienchin, on the other hand, is more suited to smaller person, as the kata uses many techniques that involve two hands working together for one technique. A larger person with longer limbs contradicts the concept of Xingyiquan, “the hands do not leave the heart and the elbows do not leave the ribs.”

Understanding the fundamental philosophy of this kata, both techniques and philosophy in Seienchin are just as applicable strategically in business meeting as they are in self defense and confrontation. Thus, karate-do is a way of life.

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