Sunsu 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="8fcbff50.jpg" border=0 width="191" height="245" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>Sunsu Kata</B></div> <div>      This kata was created totally by Shimabuku Tatsuo Soge (Soke) although it is still unclear as to exactly when he created it.  If is often dessribed as a combination of techniques and principles from the other seven Isshinryu karate kata (eg. it begins like Sanchin, has the hand kamai, kata garuma throw and pivot, hiza geri, seikan tsuki of Wansu, employs turns and kicks from Kusanku, has one turn and a double block from Chinto, employs the basic techniques of Seisan, includes the wide dachi of Seiunchin, and contains a sideways uraken uchi as is found in Naihanchi.  However, there are elements of other kata as well, such as Useishi (Gojushiho) and Passai (the squat mawashi geri) that Shimabuku is thought to have learned under Kyan.</div> <div>      There is also one sequence that appears as if it came out of Heian Sandan (of the eventual Shotokai system employing a double fist strike), so where we are faced with how he could have learned the original kata Pinan Sandan (the Okinawan version).  Looking at the timeframe in which Shimabuku was active, it becomes clear that he could have learned the Heian from studying with a student who came to Okinawa from Japan in the 1940's to the 1960's.</div> <div>      There seems to be some confusion as to what the name Sunsu/Suensu means.  It has been stated that it either means, “iron man” or “strong man” (Uezu Angi Sensei, et al, 1982) or “son of old man” (Advincula, 1998).  However, a premillenium newspaper article from Okinawa tells us a different story:</div> <bR> <div>      It is said that when Shimabuku performed Sanchin kata, he </div> <div>      Appeared so solid that even a great wave would not budge him,</div> <div>      Like the large salt rocks on the beaches of Okinawa, and his </div> <div>      Students nicknamed him “Shimabuku Sun nu Su” (Master of</div> <div>      The Salt) out of respect. (Ryukyu Shinposha, 1999, p. 9)</div> <bR> <div>      Another possibility is that Sunsu / Sunusu may be named after a family dance of the Shimabuku family (Advincula, 2000).</div> <div>      No matter what the meaning, it is safe to say that Sunsu kata represents the culmination of Shimabuku's understanding of the principles of the defensive traditions, and was, along with Isshinryu as a whole, his contribution to the classical art of Okinawan Karate Do.</div> <bR> <div> 1.  Bow in</div> <div> 2.  Announce kata</div> <div> 3.  Step out left Seisan</div> <div> 4.  Double Uchi Uke</div> <div> 5.  Right fist to hip & Seiken Tsuki</div> <div> 6.  Repeat 4</div> <div> 7.  Step right Seisan</div> <div> 8.  Left Seiken Tsuki from chamber</div> <div> 9.  Repeat 4</div> <div> 10 Step left Seisan</div> <div> 11 Repeat 5</div> <div> 12 Shuffle left Seisan</div> <div> 13 Double Nukite Tsuki to abdomen</div> <div> 14 Two Shuto Uke downward and away</div> <div> 15 Repeat 12</div> <div> 16 Repeat 13</div> <div> 17 Repeat 14</div> <div> 18 Step back Left</div> <div> 19 Uchi Uke right</div> <div> 20 Left and right Seiken Tsuki</div> <div> 21 Right foot forward Seiuchin</div> <div> 22 Morote Shute Uke to sides high</div> <div> 23 Left to rear Seisan</div> <div> 24 Left Shuto Uke</div> <div> 25 Right Shuto Uchi-side of head</div> <div> 26 Shuffle left into left Seisan</div> <div> 27 Scoop Shotei Uke with right hand</div> <div> 28 Nukite Tsuki left over right arm held at perpendicular angle</div> <div> 29 180 degree right Seisan to front of kata line</div> <div> 30 Right shuto uke</div> <div> 31 Right to ear with left Shotei block (palm outward from head)</div> <div> 32 From Musubi Dachi, left Yoko Geri</div> <div> 33 Same stance, right Yoko Geri</div> <div> 34 Left Seisan with Kamae</div> <div> 35 Advance to right Seisan and deliver a right Nukite Tsuki</div> <div> 36 Shuffle right and perform a left Nukite Tsuki</div> <div> 37 Shuffle right and perform a right Nukite Tsuki</div> <div> 38 Pivot left into Seiuchin Dachi (right side toward front of kata line)</div> <div> 39 Left Uraken Seiu Uchi to rear of kata line</div> <div> 40 Race rear in a left Seisan</div> <div> 41 Shuto Age Uke and Shuto Uchi the neck of the opponent</div> <div> 42 Right Mae Geri into a right Seisan</div> <div> 43 Perform a right downward Tetsui Uke</div> <div> 44 Now do a left and then a right Tetsui Uke</div> <div> 45 Pivot to left Seisan front</div> <div> 46 Kamae</div> <div> 47 Catch hands or foot in front of you</div> <div> 48 Perform the right "toe rip kick"</div> <div> 49 Advance to right Seisan</div> <div> 50 Left high Yama Tsuki</div> <div> 51 Advance to left Seisan</div> <div> 52 Perform the right high, Yama Tsuki</div> <div> 53 Chamber right back to 45 degrees from left of kata line (rear 45)</div> <div> 54 Perform a Morote Age Uke</div> <div> 55 Do a left 45 degree squat kick middle</div> <div> 56 On the other 45 degree squat kick middle to the right side</div> <div> 57 Turn to the right of kata line and reach for obi with left hand</div> <div> 58 Perform the right shoving Empi Uchi</div> <div> 59 Execute a left Mawashi Empi Uchi on the shuffle</div> <div> 60 Now do a shuffle and perform the right Mawashi Empi Uchi</div> <div> 61 Pivot 180 degrees into left Seisan and grab the obi with right hand. Shuffle into opponent with shoving Empi Uchi</div> <div> 62 Shuffle and do left Mawashi Empi Uchi</div> <div> 63 Perform a right Mawashi Empi Uchi on the shuffle</div> <div> 64 Pivot 90 degrees to rear of kata line into left Seisan</div> <div> 65 Place your left arm as a target</div> <div> 66 Step into right Seisan, do a right Empi Uchi into your palm and Kiai</div> <div> 67 Repeat 59</div> <div> 68 Repeat 60</div> <div> 69 Pivot left to front left Seisan (no leg chamber)</div> <div> 70 With right hand rise up in a scooping Shotei Uke and grab opponents hand</div> <div> 71 Advance to right Seiuchin and hold the opponents hand to your right shoulder</div> <div> 72 Spin into a left Seiuchin against opponent (his hand still in your right hand).  Hit opponent with left rear Empi Uchi</div> <div> 73 Reach left (to the front of the kata line) grasping opponent's throat and groin for Kata Garuma</div> <div> 74 Pivot back left, facing the right side of the kata line in right Seiuchin</div> <div> 75 Kata Garuma with left hand shoving down</div> <div> 76 Block with a right Empi Uke</div> <div> 77 Right Uraken Seiu Uchi to front face</div> <div> 78 Step to front of kata line with left foot into left Seisan</div> <div> 79 Double grab the arms of the opponent and do a right "toe rip kick"</div> <div> 80 As right leg comes down, bring it to the rear of a right facing left Seisan</div> <div> 81 Grab right to groin, left to throat, do a right Hiza Geri and finish with a right Seiken Tsuki</div> <div> 82 Pivot 180 degrees on your right foot to face right side of kata line in right Seisan</div> <div> 83 Grab left to groin, right to throat, do a left Hiza Geri and finish with a left Seiken Tsuki</div> <div> 84 In Chinto Dachi, do a Megami Uke , left fist high</div> <div> 85 Rotate to the rear, keeping hands in same position</div> <div> 86 Do right Mae Geri, Kiai</div> <div> 87 Switch Chinto Dachi</div> <div> 88 Arms come into the opposite Megami as in 84 (right fist high)</div> <div> 89 Pivot to front face Chinto</div> <div> 90 Perform the left Mae Geri (no Kiai)</div> <div> 91 Kamae left in left Seisan</div> <div> 92 Kamae right in right Seisan</div> <div> 93 Draw back right foot to left in Musubi Dachi</div> <div> 94 Yoi and Rei</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.isshinryu.com/sunsu2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.isshinryu.com/sunsu2.htm"><U>View Sunsu Kata Performed </U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>