Sesan - Seisan - Hangetsu - Seishan

[GojuRyu Bahrain]

Sesan Kata is certainly one of the older Katas because it exists in one form or another in most modern styles of Karate. I've been working on Sesan (from my Goju Ryu perspective) for a while now, and with the time accumulated some of the versions practiced in other styles (Uechi Ryu, Shotokan, and lately Isshin Ryu). Here is a link to all four versions that have been video-edited for synchronization:

Although there are major differences, particularly between the Shorei and Shorin versions (and of course the Uechi Ryu version contains lots of the usual Bushiken etc..) there is still a lot of common ground. I hope for two benefits from this exercise:

(1) This comparison may help finding more fundamental principles of this Kata independent of today's versions. Something like the common-ancestor-Bunkai

(2) The differences clearly show that - as much as we want to believe in ancient traditions - Karate and Kata have not been static at all. There were lots of modifications to this kata, left-right reversed, whole sections left out, other techniques introduced..

[Harkon72]

It's an interesting comparison. I suppose the rhythms and focus will vary within each style as well. Thank you for sharing.

[andym]

An interesting and useful experiment, GojuRyu Bahrain, congratulations. I regard Sesan as the ultimate kata of karate. And had an article to that effect published in the UK magazine Martial Arts Illustrated, a couple of years ago.

[bushido_man96]

(2) The differences clearly show that - as much as we want to believe in ancient traditions - Karate and Kata have not been static at all. There were lots of modifications to this kata, left-right reversed, whole sections left out, other techniques introduced..

I notice the sad face here, so I was wondering, why the sad face? I really don't think its too big of a deal that it has changed some over the years. Even the "ancient masters" made changes. Its a mark of exploring and improvement.

[bassaiguy]

I, too, love this kata. I think the blog Ikagiway did a piece on Seisan comparisons awhile ago, too. Even within styles there are variations of this kata. In Shotokan's Hangetsu (Shoto-version Seisan) there are distinct differences in how this kata is performed between Kanazawa's system, JKA and Asai-ha. I've also seen a Five Ancestor's Boxing set (Wuzuquan) that looks a lot like Seisan.

[andym]

One of the biggest myths in Karate , is that of the unchanging kata ! Kata have always changed and we can never know what the original was like.

[GojuRyu Bahrain]

I, too, love this kata. I think the blog Ikagiway did a piece on Seisan comparisons ....

Thank you Bassaigyu and others for your comments! I found the blog (here is the link: http://www.ikigaiway.com/?s=seisan). Thanks, it is fantastic! Its much wider scoped than my tiny project; very interesting to me. Also, the Kata is performed by real masters of the various styles, so that the differences are better pronounced. I have to re-read it over the next weeks!

Does anyone have a good explanation for the double open handed action (after the first turn, repeated 3 times in every version of the Kata)? It seems very much infight to me, with the following sequence showing various endings. I'll try to post on it later....

[bushido_man96]

One of the biggest myths in Karate , is that of the unchanging kata ! Kata have always changed and we can never know what the original was like.

I agree. Even the difference between the Chinese and Okinawan counterparts confirm this. Its only natural that things change over time.