Hakutsuru

[Skeptic 2004]

I learned some Hakutsuru drills from a Mastumura instructor as well as Mastumura Hakutsuru Sho.

Hakutsuru is also a dance, and casual observation of the various Hakutsuru kata reveal some of the dance elements in it. At this point, I'm still trying to determine which came first: the dance or the fighting system. My instructor insists it was a dance first, but I have my doubts. I'm not educated enough in it to hazard a guess.

[Adonis]

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Edited February 25, 2007 by Adonis

[P.A.L]

i practice in sensei lindsey's lineage

here is some of our katas

1-Ni Ju Ken

2- shu tsuru ken

3- shorinji sanchin

4-hi tsuru ken

5- ru shu ken

6- matsumura hakutsuru sho

7- pai hok

8- umi niyagi .... Hakutsuru (spl?)

9- tsuru sanchin

10- matsumura hakutsuru dai

i think there are 14 main katas in the system ,i only know first 9.

the idea is attack like a wave, it goes up and down, if we hit under arm, then we hit down to the rib,then the lock comes in, to set up. the final hit is a crane open hand mostly , or a shuto,

mind set is defensive, first block is a back hand same time leading hand strike to eye or rib,both hands are up most of the times.

i've seen the Sandoval's web site , i heard he and Mr. lindsey are 2 top masters in white crane karate.

[Adonis]

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Edited February 25, 2007 by Adonis

[Shorin Ryuu]

I've learned the same drills (So, tan, san he hakutsuru I believe) and Hakutsuru Sho as Skeptic2004. I also learned a version of Hakutsuru from my current instructor who learned it from Kyoshi Doug Perry (that one only a few months ago). He learned that version from a family system (Takemyoshi is how he spells it, anyway) when he was stationed in Okinawa and helped old man Takemyoshi's nephew get a job due to his position there.

A lot of the concepts seem similar to what you both have mentioned (I know...it sounds like an "I concur" answer). Another thing I think it teaches is really keeping the shoulder down and controlling the opponent's arms and shoulders with many of the small circle movements up and down with your arm snaking up theirs. I apologize for my grevious lack of specific terminology...

Also, the notion of namikaeshi or "returning wave" seems very evident in how many of the blocks (which of course also contain a simultaneous strike with the same or other hand) transition immediately into a strike as the opponent retracts their hand. This in my opinion more closely mimics a real situation as someone simply isn't going to leave their hand out their but are going to strike and pull it back. Thus many of the blocks take advantage of that and "ride" the returning arm to strike vulnerable points on the opponent.

I'm rather fond of the Hakutsuru kata, even if I'm terrible at them.

[Adonis]

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Edited February 25, 2007 by Adonis

[Skeptic 2004]

Karate25 - I'll speak for Shorin Ryuu and say, "Yes, he does." We both learned them from a Matsumura Seito Ryu instructor. Speaking of which, I've been remiss in not practicing these....

Uh...ditto on everything that's been said about Hakutsuru. I'd also like to add that I've had some strange "ki" experiences practicing Hakutsuru (read: my brain is very good at playing tricks on me). I'm not sure what the movements do as far as bloodflow goes, but I've seen and felt many a strange thing after doing the So, Tan, and San He drills and Hakutsuru Sho.

[Adonis]

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