Here’s what happens when you take an overly rigid view of Kata and application:
I have very mixed feelings about the Toguchi Seikichi’s application sets for the classical Goju-ryu kata. Although I respect the thought and effort that went into them, I feel they over-emphasize linear movement, and denature the kata.
I think there are a couple of good applications, but in general they over-emphasize linear motion and a block/response paradigm that is not effective in a real situation, or at the core of Goju-ryu tactics. Interestingly the classical kata applications mirror almost exactly the kiso-kumite template that Toguchi developed for his new kata. I think the main benefit of sets like these is that with they are easy to work with in large groups of students, and provide a basic level of technique, power, and contact in a controlled setting.
IMHO I think that sanchin is the key stone to understanding the fundamental kata of Nahate: Sesan, Sanseru, and Pechruin/Suparempei. If Sanchin kata is taught in a progressive manner from basic stepping, breath, striking and posture, and then to introducing critical principles of footwork, releases, entangling, locking and throwing, then there is little need for sets like Toguchi’s. Honestly, they miss the point entirely.
Reminds me of tsuzukite (paired Gekisai) that Jundokan uses… Sandan-uke is more than enough for timing feeling etc., so why to play in such a way on every kata later on? YMMV.
San dan gi is a good little template that can be easily added to or tweeked. The elaborate Shoreikan sets no matter how skillfully performed are overly rigid.
I agree 100 % and exactly the point I was trying to make about Toguchi’s training sets and “bad” habits they engender when I first wrote an article for the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. And I was raised on–in another lifetime it seems to me now–on the Toguchi training subject curriculum. I knew there was something we agreed on, Mario!
All the best, Giles
Giles
Thank you for the comment and nice to hear from you. I never thought we disagreed as much as having a somewhat different perspectives on a tradition we both share. At any rate I have to agree with you about the limitations of the Toguchi material. They may be fine for raw beginners for a limited time but shouldn’t form the base of training. As young people like to say these days, at one point in kiso kumite development, Mr. Toguchi “jumped the shark.”
Regards
M
Hi Giles,
I was interested in reading your article.
What was the volume, number and year of the publication?
Thanks.
Hi
I agree. Any staged bunkai sets beyond Gekisai are not productive. GojuKai has staged bunkai sets up to Suparimpei – but they have an excuse as they hold competitions based on 2-man sets.
GM
That’s interesting. I didn’t know that Gojukai have two person competition sets for all kata.
Yes, see if you could borrow a GojuKai World Tournament dvd in the last 10 years It is interesting only from a point scoring view. From my understanding the Suparimpei bunkai set was finalised about 7-8 years ago in time for Shihan Goshi Yamaguichi’s bunkai dvd release around 2003. GM.
Thanks for the information. I’ll try to get a hold of a tournament DVD.
Hello,
I am a Karateka based in Italy and I have been a Shorei-kan Goju-Ryu and Kobudo student and instructor for nearly 27 years now. I am really interested in your comments about our training and I think you deserve some explanation on what I, so far, understood is the meaning of our training methods. I apologise for my poor English.
Shorei-kan has many levels of study as regards kata, the first is Bunkai Kumite (showed in the video). This is actually a two man kata which reflects on a line the evident movements of the corresponding kata. The meaning of the exercise is to enable the student to test basic techniques at full speed and strenght in a safe way.
Second level of study is made with Kiso Kumite which are two man sets terminating with a self defense closing techniques taken from many kata. The closing techniques introduce locks, throws and kyusho techinques appropriate for the level of the student and enable to understand fighting concepts as combinations, tai sabaki, distances,…
A third level of study is made with Kaisai Kumite. These are sets describing hidden meanings of several parts of kata. This level of study is partly left to self discovery.
Shorei-kan provides also Jissen Kumite (real fighting combinations) and Shiai Kumite (free fight with armors and boxing gloves).
The same kind of study is made with each of the Kobudo weapons.
I was a Shotokan black belt and still practice several styles of Kung Fu (internal styles). Without undervalue other training methods, I must say I have never saw such an intense and complete study of kata as I saw in Shorei-kan. The only remark I have is that, in order to fully appreciate such completeness, the practicioner have to start from the beginning and follow the program for several years making Shorei-kan less attractive for people or seminar participants that want ready to use material appropriate fr their elsewhere already attained level of competence. One has really to “empty the cup” to get the most of it.
Best wishes to you all,
Peter
Thank you your thorough and well thought out reply. It was very generous of you. I was aware of the different levels of application taught in the Shoreikan curriculum but despite it’s progressive nature, I still feel that they (the two person sets) on the whole reduce Goju technique as found in the kata to a staccato type of movement that ignore core Goju concepts.
It’s interesting to note that many of Toguchi’s Okinawan students eventually abandoned all or most of the Shoreikan curriculum in favor of other methods.
All the best in your training.
Regards
M