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22-556: Seisan is thought to be one of the oldest kata , being quite spread among other Nahate schools. Shito-Ryū has its own version similar to Sanchin and different versions are now practiced even in Shuri-te derivatives like Shotokan (called Hangetsu ) and in Wado-Ryū (called Seishan ). Isshin-ryū also adopted this kata . Korean Tang Soo Do adopted it, and it is called either by its original name Sei-Shan or Seishan , or by Ban Wol which

44-562: A form called 'Shisan' (13) in their curricula. According to research conducted by Emanuel Giordano, the kata would derive from the Chinese form 三戰十字 San Zhan Shizi. Versions of Seisan taught today have roots in Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te streams of karate that are believe to have been traditionally taught in the Okinawan towns of Shuri , Naha and Tomari respectively. This is the second of

66-655: A range of techniques from hard strikes to check the tone of the student's muscles and overall strength to very soft and slow pushes and pulls to test the student's ability to react in order to maintain their position. Kosaku Matsumora Kosaku Matsumora ( 松茂良 興作 , Matsumora Kōsaku , 1829 - 1898) was a Ryūkyūan karate master. He studied Tomari-te under Karyu Uku (aka Giko Uku) and Kishin Teruya . He also studied Jigen-ryu. Among Matsumora's students, who went on to influence new generations through students of their own, were Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan . Matsumora

88-457: A weapon. Matsumora quickly revealed the moist Japanese towel which he had recently developed a habit of carrying concealed inside his garment. Matsumora hit the astonished samurai with the wet towel and grabbed the sword. In the process, Matsumora lost a thumb. He threw the thumb and the sword in the nearby Asato River. The official story comes from Shōshin Nagamine . This event was so insulting to

110-473: Is a more complicated version that contains close range fighting techniques such as short-range punches, low kicks, and directional changes to unbalance the opponent. It contains techniques performed under full tension through the range of motion, as well as strong fast techniques. Seisan is said to complement Seiunchin . Although rooted in the same form, significant differences can be seen in the Goju version compared to

132-511: Is called 'Seisan Breath' and taught to higher level students to develop internal martial arts. This kata is considered a gateway kata to understanding applications of many Shorin-Ryū kata following in the system. Hangetsu contains many slow movements under tension, popular in Naha-te schools such as Goju-Ryū, but rare in Shotokan and Shuri-te influenced styles making the kata quite unique. Funakoshi

154-399: Is credited as the master who taught Chotoku Kyan the kata Chinto (his own version, not to be confused with Sokon Matsumura 's version of the same kata). Another student of Matsumora, Maeda Pechin , is credited with teaching Kyan the kata Wanshu. Kosaku Matsumora became famous at the age of 20 when he stole a sword out of the hands of an angry Satsuma overlord using only a "wet towel" as

176-451: Is the Korean translation of Hangetsu ("half moon"). Due to its difficulty, this kata is often reserved for advanced Tang Soo Do students. The following styles have made this kata a formal part of their curriculum. There are numerous theories regarding the name of the kata . These include the number of steps originally in the kata , the number of different types of 'power' or 'energy' in

198-552: The kata 'Half Moon/Month'. A more obscure and unlikely theory is that the kata was taken from a Chinese folk dance where the performer is explaining the importance of the tides as they cycle on 13-day intervals as the Moon revolves around the Earth. Sanchin Sanchin ( 三戦 ) is a kata of apparent Southern Chinese ( Fujianese ) origin that is considered to be the core of several styles,

220-488: The kata , the number of applications, or that the kata represents defense against 13 specific types of attack. None of these explanations have actual historical support. While it is believed Seisan derives from Yong Chun White Crane Boxing from Fujian Province in Southern China, where the form is known as 'Four Gate Hands', this remains completely unproven and uncorroborated. There are some other Chinese styles having

242-556: The Seibukan Shorin-Ryū Seisan from the same lineage the Okinawa Seidokan system traditionally teaches Matsumura-no-Seisan as the first kata in their curriculum. Though not considered a basic kata, the Okinawa Seidokan version is foundational in teaching koshi (trunkial twist power) from a beginners onset. The use of the shiko dachi ( 四股立 ) , zenkutsu dachi ( 前屈立 ) , and neko-ashi dachi ( 猫足立 ) serve to build up

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264-479: The basic techniques such as knee strikes, the one-knuckle punch shōken zuki ( 小拳突き ) , spearhand nukite ( 貫手突き ) , and the front kick shōmen geri ( 正面蹴り ) which were then incorporated in the "bridging" kata created by Kanbun Uechi's son and senior students between Sanchin and Seisan . In modern Uechi-Ryū, it is the fifth kata learned and the one tested for the first "black belt" or shodan ( 初段 ) grade. Isshin-Ryū traditionally teaches this kata as

286-415: The battle to unify the mind, body, and spirit; however, there are other interpretations. Uechi-Ryū practices a form of Sanchin with nukite zuki ( 貫手突 ) "open spear hand" strikes, while the version used by many other styles such as Gōjū-Ryū and Chitō-ryū use a closed fist. Sanchin uses the sanchin dachi ( 三戦立ち ) " sanchin stance" named for the kata . Practice of Sanchin seeks to develop

308-587: The closest surface resemblance to the Shotokan kata Hangetsu. The Shotokan version was probably renamed when Gichin Funakoshi formed his school in Japan . Hangetsu translates to 'Half Moon' or 'Half Month' a reference to the half-moon stance used extensively and the semi-circular stepping actions in this kata . The name Seisan could have been a reference to the 13-day cycle of the Moon's phases, and knowing this Funakoshi named

330-556: The first one to be learned in their curriculum, unlike other styles. As is a feature of the style, all punches are performed with a vertical fist. The founder's primary teacher of the kata was Chotoku Kyan of the Shorin-Ryū style, but the Isshin-ryu version also shares many features with the Goju-Ryū style, including tension and breathing techniques. The Goju-Ryū (Naha-te) version of the kata

352-424: The legs of the practitioner for low travel and centered transitioning. Traditionally the regular performance is performed to a regular counting cadence maintaining the same tempo throughout the kata . However, Okinawa Seidokan also teaches a slowed down version where every count performs breathing similar to Goju-Ryū's Sanchin kata where breathing in and out is timed upon every outward movement. This slower version

374-595: The most well-known being the Okinawan Karate styles of Uechi-Ryū and Gōjū-Ryū , as well as the Chinese martial arts of Fujian White Crane , Five Ancestors , Pangai-noon and the Tiger-Crane Combination style associated with Ang Lian-Huat. Tam Hon taught a style that was called simply "Saam Jin" ( Cantonese for "Sanchin"). The name Sanchin , meaning "three battles/conflicts/wars" is usually interpreted as

396-524: The muscles and bones of the body to help the practitioner withstand blows from an opponent, while drilling the basic mechanics of a strike that depends on a stable base. [REDACTED] Sanchin is the first kata learned in Uechi-Ryū, while other styles may introduce it later. In Gōjū-Ryu, there are two Sanchin kata. The first, "Miyagi's Sanchin " or sanchin dai ichi , was created by Chōjun Miyagi . The second, "Higashionna's sanchin " or sanchin dai ni

418-642: The other versions mentioned above. The version of Seisan taught in the Seibukan Shorin-Ryū syllabus can be traced back to Sōkon 'Bushi' Matsumura (a highly influential teacher to Shorin styles, hence the name Matsumura-no-Seisan). The form predominantly features the stance Shiko-Dachi (common in Tomari-te kata) accompanying a block which often sets up a powerful pivot and punch into Zenkutsu-dachi . This form introduces many recurring concepts used in higher level Seibukan Shorin-Ryu kata. Very closely resembling

440-468: The three kata of Pangai-noon learned and then taught by Kanbun Uechi. It has obvious foundations in Sanchin , relying primarily on the "Sanchin stance" or sanchin dachi ( 三戦立ち ) and opening as does Uechi-Ryū Sanchin for three strikes then later returning to these strikes near the end of the kata . Compared with other versions of the kata , Uechi-Ryū's is very different. The kata introduces some of

462-472: Was taught by Sokon Matsumura (Shuri-te), Kodatsu Iha (a student of Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te) and Seisho Aragaki (associated with Goju-Ryū) all of which had knowledge of a version of Seisan. Funakoshi's could have taken the best from these contrasting styles synthesising them into Hangetsu, which possibly explains why the form is so different from other kata in the Shotokan canon. Another more obscure version of this kata known as Aragaki-no-Seisan, bears

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484-445: Was taught with open hands, as in Uechi-Ryū, but later it was also revised to closed fists by Miyagi's co-student Juhatsu Kyoda, founder of Tōon-Ryū , and adopted by Chōjun Miyagi as well. This kata was adopted by other styles such as the later Okinawan style Isshin-Ryū and Kyokushin . Some styles use a method of checking strength, posture, hand concentration during the performance of the kata called shime ( 締め ) . This involves

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