Wansu Kata

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="05d785a3.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Isshinryu Karate Do, Stamford Dojo</B></FONT><B>    </B><B> |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Stamford Dojo"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id238_beginnings.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Study"><U><B><IMG SRC="03b0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>   </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>     </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <IMG SRC="8f3c69b0.jpg" border=0 width="198" height="155" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Wansu Kata</B></div> <div>      This kata is said by many to have been brought to Okinawa by the 1683 Sappushi Wang Ji (in Japanese, Oshu, 1621-1689).  It is possible that it is based upon or inspired by techniques that may have been taught by Wang Ji.</div> <div>      The problem with this theory is that why would such a high ranked government official teach his martial arts (assuming he even knew any) to the lowly Okinawans?  Al-so, Wang Ji was only in Okinawa for 6 months, hardly time enough to make expert stu-dents of his “style” (Sakagami, 1978).</div> <div>      Want Ji was originally from Xiuning in Anhui, and was an official for the Han Lin Yuan, an important government post akin to personal Aide (Kinjo, 1999).  In order to become an official for the Han Lin Yuan, one had to be a high level scholar, and pass se-veral national tests (Kinjo, 1999).  Just preparing for such a task would all but rule out the practice of martial arts to such a degree as to master them.  However, assuming that Wang Ji was familiar with the martial arts, the Quanfa (Chuan Fa) of Anhui is classified as Northern ancient boxing, while the techniques of the Okinawan Wansu kata are clearly Southern in nature (Kinjo, 1999).</div> <div>      This kata could be named after someone who was called by his followers, “Wan-su”.  So, if Wansu was not Wan Ji, just who was this great Master?  This is as yet un-known.  However, in the Okinawan martial arts, kata named after their originators are not uncommon.  Some examples include Kusanku, Chatan Yara no Sai, and Tokumine no Kun (bo).  It is entirely possible that this kata was introduced by a Chinese martial artist named Wang.  As you may know from my talking about Pai Lum Kung Fu (my style), in the Chinese martial arts, it is common to refer to a teacher as Shifu or Sifu (the letters stand for Teacher-father).  Could not the name Wansu be an Okinawan mispronunciation of Wang Shifu (Kinjo, 1999)?</div> <div>      Other schools of thought are that Wu Xianhui (in Japanese, Go Kenki, 1886-1940) or Tang Daiji (in Japanese, To Daiki, 1888-1937), two Chinese martial artists who immigrated to Okinawa in the early part of the 20<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >th</FONT> Century, may be responsible for the introduction of the Wansu kata (Gima, et al, 1986).  As a side note, Wu was a Whooping Cran Kung Fu practitioner, and Tang was known for his Tiger Kung Fu.  They were both from Fujian.</div> <div>      Simabuku Tatsuo Sensei is believed to have added on several techniques to this kata, such as the side kicks, the evasive body movement in kagi dachi with punch to the side and elbow smash before the ending front-side kicks, as these are not found in anyone else's version of Wansu known in any Okinawan karate, nor in any of the Chinese kata resembling Wansu before its popularity in Okinawa.</div> <bR> <div> 1.  Bow in as in Naihanchi (announce kata then open)</div> <div> 2.  As you raise yoi-hands, assume long Seiuchin stance across kata line, right fist in left palm at heart</div> <div> 3.  Look left, Gedan Barai left, Seiken Tsuki right across body to left</div> <div> 4.  Advance left foot into Hidari Seisan</div> <div> 5.  Gedan Barai left front, Seiken Tsuki right front</div> <div> 6.  Advance, right Seisan, right Shuto Uke</div> <div> 7.  Same stance, Nukite left to throat while right hand covers left ear</div> <div> 8.  Step left behind right into Kagi Dachi and Seiken Tsuki to front of kata line (from side of your body)</div> <div> 9.  Pivot on right foot while left foot comes into Left Seisan facing rear kata line</div> <div> 10 Repeat 5</div> <div> 11 Repeat 6</div> <div> 12 Repeat 7</div> <div> 13 Repeat 8</div> <div> 14 Repeat 9, facing front of kata line</div> <div> 15 In Left Seisan, Age Uke</div> <div> 16 Simultaneous right Mae Geri and augmented upper cut right, Kiai</div> <div> 17 Come down from geri into right Goju with Chinese blocks</div> <div> 18 Chamber back, then chamber front while grabbing opponent for Kata Garuma</div> <div> 19 Raising right leg up and pivoting into left Seiuchin, dump opponent</div> <div> 20 Look over left shoulder, pivot on right foot</div> <div> 21 Come into left Seisan facing right side of kata line, do left Shuto Uke</div> <div> 22 Perform right Hiza Geri</div> <div> 23 As foot returns, Seiken Tsuki right</div> <div> 24 Look over right shoulder, pivot into 180 degree turn to right Seisan</div> <div> 25 Do right Shuto Uke</div> <div> 26 Perform left Hiza Geri</div> <div> 27 As foot returns, Seiken Tsuki left</div> <div> 28 Right foot joins left with fists on hips at attention to front of kata line</div> <div> 29 Look 45 degrees to right front of kata line, step wide right, Seiken Tsuki left, Seiken Tsuki right</div> <div> 30 Look 45 degrees to left front of kata line, stelp over body, Seiken Tsuki right, Seiken Tsuki left</div> <div> 31 Feet together, Yoko Geri to left of kata line</div> <div> 32 Yoko Geri to right of kata line</div> <div> 33 Kamae in left Seisan</div> <div> 34 Advance to right Seisan and right Empi Uchi to left hand</div> <div> 35 Spin around into left Neko Ashi Dachi facing rear</div> <div> 36 Shoba geri left to front</div> <div> 37 Reverse to front of kata line in right Neko Ashi Dachi</div> <div> 38 Shoba Geri right to front</div> <div> 39 As leg falls into right Zenkutsu, perform double Gedan Shuto Uke, Kiai</div> <div> 40 In same stance perform right Wing Chun block</div> <div> 41 Draw right foot back to left foot in Musubi Dachi</div> <div> 42 Yoi</div> <div> 43 Rei</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.isshinryu.com/wansu1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.isshinryu.com/wansu1.htm"><U>View Wansu Kata Being Performed</U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>