Ryukyu Kempo Karate
Il Ryukyu Kempo Karate è ” La via del pugno cinese delle isole Ryukyu” e utilizza la conoscenza del Kyusho Jitsu ( l’arte di colpire i punti vitali ) e del Tuite Jitsu ( l’arte delle mani che afferrano ), per riscoprire i veri insegnamenti dei grandi Maestri di Okinawa, nascosti nei Kata.
Il Ryukyu Kempo Karate è l’antico Karate di Okinawa , l’antico sistema di combattimento con i punti di pressione .
Tutti i principi e le informazioni necessarie sono presenti nei kata , non nel movimento ma nella comprensione dello stesso .
Nella difesa personale non c’è tempo per pensare , per questo sono nati i kata .
La loro assimilazione è la base di una difesa istintiva
Il vero significato dei Kata antichi veniva insegnato solamente a pochissime persone , solitamente all’ erede o al primo figlio della famiglia del Maestro. Questa è la causa per cui i movimenti dei Kata sono ancora oggi misteriosi o banali.
Nessuno probabilmente riuscirà a capire mai con assoluta certezza quello che il creatore del Kata voleva tramandare , ma adesso con la conoscenza del Kyusho Jitsu , dei Punti di pressione , delle chiavi di lettura possiamo ricavare interpretazioni sempre più reali e vicini alle origini.
Alcune delle chiavi sono :
- non esistono blocchi – parate , ma ci sono sempre attacchi ai punti di pressione
- non ci sono più avversari , ma ci sono più idee da poter applicare su un avversario
- quando il movimento si ripete da due lati , sarà efficace su tutti e due i lati dell’avversario
- quando il movimento si fa solo da un lato , sarà più efficace da quel lato
Il RyuKyu Kempo Karate studia e propone lo studio dei Kata originale e dei bunkai che si estrapolano dall’applicazione pratica di questi e altri concetti . Il programma ha selezionato un percorso di crescita progressivo , ma come per il Kyusho Jitsu imparati i principi base ognuno può applicarli alle proprie esperienze e auto progredire .
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STORIA
M° Tatsuo Shimabuku
Isshin-ryū
is a style of Okinawan karate founded by Tatsuo Shimabuku (島袋 龍夫) and named by him on 15 January 1956. Isshin-Ryū karate is largely a synthesis of Shorin-ryū karate, Gojū-ryū karate, and kobudō. The name means, literally, “one heart method”. As of 1989 there are 336 branches of Isshin-ryū throughout the world, most of which are concentrated in the United States.
After the death of Shimabuku in 1975, many variations of Isshin-ryū were formed.
Kata
The system is summed up in its kata, or formal practice methods, and the specific techniques used to punch (vertical fist) and kick (snapping kicks). In many of the various forms of the system, sixteen kata (eight empty-hand, three bo, two sai a bo-bo kumite kata, a bo-sai kumite kata and one tuifa kata) are agreed upon as composing Isshin-ryu. These Kata include original developments of the Master, and inherited kata from the parent styles.
Empty-Hand Kata
Seisan
Tatsuo Shimabuku learned Seisan from his primary instructor, Chotoku Kyan. Previous to Kyan’s instruction, the Seisan form was a staple of local traditions.This kata is sometimes the first introduced to students after the First and Second Charts of basics have been learned. This is in contrast to other Shorin systems where this kata is learned after other fundamental kata.The Gojū-ryū curriculum includes a related version of Seisan, but Isshin-ryū Seisan was learned from Kyan, not Miyagi.
Seiunchin
This kata was brought into Isshinryu from Shimabuku’s studies with the Gojū-ryū Ryu founder, Chojun Miyagi. It is theorized by researchers that this kata is an original composed by Miyagi, based on his experiences in Fuzhou, China.The kata focuses on the stance “shiko-dachi”, a low horse stance. The kata is broken into segments, each utilizing a specific breathing and muscle-tensing method. The kata has no obvious kicks, but one section contains hints of a rising knee strike. This kata is often studied for its grappling bunkai.
Naihanchi
Naihanchi comes to Isshin Ryu from studies with both Chotoku Kyan and Motobu Choki (a cousin of Kyan). It is also considered one of the staples of Ryukyu Ti, and is prevalent in most forms of Karate. The Isshin Ryu version is influenced heavily by the kumite of Motobu, with the exception of the turned-in toes (Motobu preferred the horse-riding stance with the toes in a neutral position).The kata is also noted for its use of the “Nami Gaeshi”, the returning wave kick. The kick has many different potentials for application, including the sweeping or redirecting of a low kick, a kick or knee to the inside of an opponent’s thigh, knee, tibia and ankle. It also has the movement training potential for the basics of the sequential summation of movement.
Wansū
Also coming from Kyan, Wanshū (also known as Wansu) has several iterations on the island of Ryukyu. Popular history has the kata coming from a Chinese political visitor who, during his duties, taught his fighting method in the open.Isshin Ryu’s version of this form is unique for its inclusion of two side kicks – techniques seen in the system previously only in the Chart Two exercises. Current research hints at this change being made by Shimabuku Tatsuo himself.For technical content, the form tends to focus on the slipping and in-close evasion and redirection of attack. It also contains a unique movement often described as a fireman’s carry throw, or dump. Because of this, many schools nickname this kata “the dumping form”. Also, Wansu is one of two kata in Isshin Ryu which use the “zenkutsu dachi”, a long, angled seisan-type stance.
Chinto
As with most of the kata in Isshin Ryu, Chinto comes from the teaching of Kyan.The kata differs from others in that its embusen is a line placed on a 45 degree angle. The footwork is indicative of a slipping, deflecting, and a whipping, relaxed body motion. Some karate instructors consider the previously learned forms of the system, Naihanchi and Wansu, to be preparatory and basic training forms, culminating in the kata Chinto.
Kusanku
Of the eight weaponless kata in Isshin-Ryu, five come from the teaching of Chotoku Kyan. Kusanku is one of these.Kusanku is often referred to as a “night-fighting” kata, or a form which teaches fighting at night. Modern research does not support this theory. In reality, the kata is set up in such a manner as to allow continual study of application potential from basic standing grappling and close striking in the beginning, to more aggressive and proactive techniques near the end.Kusanku is the second of two kata which contain the zenkutsu-dachi in Isshin-Ryu.
Sunsu
This kata was designed by the founder of Isshin-Ryu, Shimabuku Tatsuo. It incorporates several movements from other kata in the Isshin-Ryu syllabus, as well as from kata from other instructors, in addition to techniques and concepts Shimabuku favored. It was used as a dojo kata and as a personal project of the founder, prior to the founding of Isshin Ryu in 1956.The Dai Nippon Butoku Kai has recognized Sunsu as a kata of Okinawa. This represents an acceptance of Isshin-Ryu as a modern Ryukyu martial art.
Sanchin
Coming from Miyagi Chojun, Sanchin has its origins in the Gojū-ryū Ryu system. Along with Seiunchin, this is one of two Gojū-ryū katas in Isshin-ryū. Previous to the instruction of Miyagi, the kata was practiced with open hands, turns, and natural breathing methods. With the founding of Gojū-ryū, this form was practiced with closed fists (a more traditional method on Okinawa), no turns, and a controlled, almost hard inhalation and exhalation.Touted primarily for its physical training aspects, Sanchin also contains many applicable martial techniques.Shimabuku also thought very highly of the form, saying once, “Sanchin is for health. Without health, how can one have karate?”
M° Shigeru Nakamura
Okinawa Karate
Nakamura was born on Jan. 20, 1894. His karate training started whilst in attendance of Icchu Middle School in Shuri. It was here that both Kanryo Higashionna (1845–1915) and Chomo Hanashiro (1830–1945) were the karate instructors. Yasutune Itosu (1830–1915) as well as Kentsu Yabu (1863–1937) also made visits to the school. After middle school, Nakamura returned to Nago city where he trained under Shinkichi Kuniyoshi. In 1953, Nakamura opened his own dojo in Nago city and called his form of karate “Okinawa kenpo”.
Odo took over teaching in the dojo as Nakamura aged. Nakamura asked Odo to incorporate the kobudō with karate teachings. Odo incorporated these in the mid 1970′s. In July 1983, Odo restructured the Okinawa Kenpo Karate-Kobudō Association, renaming it the Okinawa Kenpo Karate Kobudō Federation. In 1998 to ease derisiveness, Odo changed the federation name to the Ryūkyū Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation. Odo’s Ryūkyū Hon Kenpo Kobujutsu Federation teaches a total of 50 kata; 20 open hand forms and 30 weapons kata.
As Odo said, “You keep, keep my kata straight”.
M° Hohan Soken
Hohan Sōken (祖堅 方範, Soken Hōhan?) was an Okinawan martial arts master who founded the Shōrin-ryū Matsumura Seito Okinawa Karate Kobudo Association.[1]
He was born May 25, 1889[2] [3] (although at least one text puts his birth year as 1891[1]) in Nishihara, Okinawa. He died November 30, 1982 in Nishihara, Okinawa.
He was the nephew of Nabe Matsumura (who was the grandson of Matsumura Sōkon). He began karate training at 13 under his uncle. Matsumura taught him several kata, including Naihanchi Shodan, Naihanchi Nidan, Naihanchi Sandan, Pinan Shodan, Pinan Nidan, Passai Sho, Passai Dai, Chinto, Kusanku, Gojushiho, Sesan, Rohai Jo, Rohai Jo, Rohai Chu, Rohai Ge, and finally at age 23, Hakutsuru.[4] Soken has said in interviews that Kusanku is the most important kata to the style. [3]
In 1924, Sōken emigrated to Argentina. While in Argentina, he worked as a photographer and clothes cleaner. He also taught karate to Japanese and Okinawan ex-pats in Buenos Aries.[3] In 1952, he returned to Okinawa and started to teach karate, first to family members. Then he opened a small dojo to the public.[3] At first, he called the style “Matsumura Shuri-te.” But in 1956, changed the name to Matsumura Seito Shōrin-ryū karate.[4] [3]
Among his students were Seiki Arakaki, Kohana Nakazato, Inoue, Masaya Kyan, Kosei Nishihira, Yuichi Kuda, Fusei Kise,[1] Roy Suenaka, Chokei Kishaba, Vincent C. Wiegand.
