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When Master Shimabuku
was developing Isshin-Ryu Karate, he had a dream that seemed to express
in symbols what he was trying to accomplish with his system of karate.
While interpretations of the symbols may vary, the following interpretations
are fairly standard.
Woman: A sea goddess, half-serpent, named "Mizu-Gami," symbolizing the quietness a karate student should exhibit, but having the strength of the serpent if needed.
Left Hand Open: Sign of peace.
Right Hand Clenched: Represents strength if evil persists.
Dragon: The Dragon has forced himself above the troubles of life and the world into the peace and quiet (symbolized by the gray night sky) that we all seek through the knowledge of karate. Sign of good luck: that Isshin-Ryu Karate will prosper. Some people find significant the fact that Master Shimabuku's first name "Tatsuo" means "Dragon Boy."
Headdress: The tiger on the headdress represents the earth. So, together the Dragon and the Tiger represent heaven and earth.
Three Stars: May represent virtues, growth, or aspects of Isshin-Ryu Karate: physical, mental, spiritual; the three masters under whom Master Shimabuku studied: Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu Karate as the parents and Isshin-Ryu Karate as the offspring.
The Gray Background: Represents calm and quiet nights -- that karate is to be used for defense only.
Wrinkled Neck and Long Earlobes: The wrinkled neck and long earlobes represent age and wisdom. A student studies deep things and tries to understand the ways of the universe.
Necklace With Five Gold Medallions: The three close together in the middle represent self-confidence, self-discipline and self-control. The other two represent kindness and humility which are the fruits of the first three.
Gold Bracelets: The gold bands on each wrist stand for chastity and commitment. A student knows right from wrong and knows that the only person he can't hide things from is himself.
The Writing: Spells "Isshin-Ryu Karate."
Troubled Water: Indicates a typhoon, danger that cannot be seen; the troubles of life, to be masters through the discipline of karate training.
In essence, the symbols are saying that you should avoid trouble iif possible, and use karate only as a last resort for defense.
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The Isshin-Ryu Code |
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| 1. | A person's heart is the same as Heaven and Earth. |
| 2. | The Blood circulating is similar to the Moon and Sun. |
| 3. | A manner of Drinking and Spitting is either hard or soft. |
| 4. | A person's Unbalance is the same as Weight. |
| 5. | The body should be able to change Direction at any time. |
| 6. | The time to strike is when opportunity presents itself. |
| 7. | The eye must see all sides. |
| 8. | The ear must listen in all directions. |
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The Code is subject to many interpretations. Within the Code lie some of the basic principles of Isshin-Ryu System. It is hoped that you will think through the various parts of the Code and apply the ideas to your own situations. The Isshin-Ryu Code rephrased (numbers refer to sections of the Code): (1) Be in harmony with all things so that (2) your movement (3) can be either blocking (hand) or deflecting (foot) (4) without your being off-balance (5) so that you can change direction at any time (6) and strike when the opportunity occurs (7) as you look and (8) listen in all directions. |
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Seisan: The kata is named for Master Seisan, a Pangai Noon Style of Kung Fu (Southern Chinese Boxing) great master. He lived on Okinawa from 1588 to 1600 which was just before the Japanese invasion. A Chinese king sent him to Okinawa to teach Chinese boxing. Master Seisan was considered the Eighth Wonder of the World due to his unusual power and ability. The Shorin-Ryu system developed of the kata further and some authorities say it is the oldest of all katas.
Bushi Matsumura, who studied under Karate Sakagawa, taught the kata. No one knows if he learned the kata from Sakagawa or another Chinese master. Master Funakoshi Gichen named the kata Hangetsu (Half Moon kata) when he adopted it for the ShotoKan system. The name is possibly derived from the sweeping steps. Master Angi Uezu (Shimabuku's son-in-law) said that Seisan means thirteen (sei = 10 and san = 3) which would translate into being attacked by thirteen opponents.
Seisan is one of the most complete katas and advanced students on the Sho Dan level use an advanced style of Seisan.
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Seiuchin: The kata is named for the great master, Seiuchin. He lived during the 15th or 16th century and excelled in Southern Chinese boxing. Master Seiuchin is legendary for being so powerful with gouges that he could drive his fingers through a cow's side and pull out strips of meat. Another story describes his pulling out a man's heart. Seiuchin means "lull in the storm" or "storm within a calm."
Wide stances and reinforced punches and blocks characterize this kata. There is a strong emphasis on internal power and can be used as a tension kata. However, Master Robert A. Trias, an authority of the Okinawan Karate Masters Council, stated that the only katas with loud, tension-type, breathing are Tensho and Sanchin in a letter dated July 28, 1982.
Kanryo Higashionna supposedly brought the kata to Okinawa. He studied Kung Fu in China between five and thirty-five years under Master Woo-Lin-Chin. When he returned home, he developed Naha-Te or Shorei-Ryu. His top student, Chojun Miyagi, also studied in China and, together, they developed Goju-Ryu Karate. Master Shimabuku learned the kata from Master Chojun Miyagi.
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Naihanchin: The kata, named for the city or district of Naha, is also known as Tekki #1, #2 and #3. Legend tells us that Master Choki Motobu did all three katas as many as 500 times a day and he claimed that mastering these katas was all that was required to be a a karate expert.
Sakagawa brought the kata to Okinawa from China where he studied under Master Ku San Ku for six years in a small Chinese community near Naha. He later taught Bushi Matsumura( founder of Kobayushi Ryu (Young Forest Style), one branch of Shorin Ryu. Matsumura taught Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan. Master Shimabuku studied with both these masters.
The kata is called the second backbone of Isshinryu and is very popular in other karate styles including Kempo and Tae-Kwon-Do. Shotokan and Shuri-Ryu styles still practice all three Naihanchin katas while Isshinryu has only one Naihanchin kata.
Naihanchin translates to sideways fighting, fighting on home ground, surreptitious stepping and fighting within and teaches to defend against four to eight opponents attacking from the sides and the front.
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Wansu: Shotokan practicioners call the Wansu Kata Empi which relates to the flight of the swallow. Master Funakoshi was probably reminded of the up and down movement of swallows in flight in the movement if the kata.
The kata comes from the Shorin-Ryu system and is named for a Chinese attaché. The attaché, some sources say, was shipwrecked while others say he was sent by the government about 1863 to Tomari, near Shuri. Master Wansu was known as the birdman and the Wansu art became known as Tomari Te (forerunners of Shorin-Ryu). Wansu is known as the dumping form and is also known for the hidden punch in the kata and for strong arm punches.
Bushi Matsumura taught the Kata to Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan, masters of Shimabuku.
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Kata histories are
derived from the book
"Isshin-Ryu Karate: The One Heart - One Mind Method"
by Master Allen Wheeler.