Seiyunchin Bunkai

[Wastelander]

Over the weekend, I attended a Seiyunchin bunkai seminar via Skype with one of Taira Masaji Sensei's senior students, Paul Enfield. Although I am a Shorin-Ryu practitioner, I have picked up some other kata throughout my karate journey, and Seiyunchin is one of them. I've been working on correcting it to be more like the Goju-Ryu version, since it was changed to be more like the style I used to practice (which was not Goju-Ryu). The seminar was actually very helpful for my understanding of how to practice the kata, since knowing the applications of the movements is key to understanding how you are supposed to move.

The applications, themselves, were great! Goju-Ryu is a very up-close-and-personal, in-your-face system, and Taira Sensei's approach is heavily reliant on limb control and breaking the structure of your opponent. So much so, in fact, that videos of it always end up recieving "looks like Wing Chun" comments . I know that Taira Sensei's approach is not necessarily the same as all Goju-Ryu instructors, even amongst other current and former Jundokan members. Does anyone here on KF have experience with Taira Sensei's methods? If not, I would also be interested in hearing about other branches of Goju-Ryu, and how they approach the application of Seiyunchin.

[mal103]

I would just like to mention that I think all Karate styles should be up close and personal, in your face and include limb control etc.

A lot of how it appears is how the instructors interpret the Bunkai.

As an example I've had a fake 5th Dan teach me a block to a long range technique, another instructor showed me an arm twisting whilst putting them off balance version which is far more likely and practical.

I think there is a growing trend to learn/teach Bunkai as it should be done which is great for Karate.

[Wastelander]

I would agree with you, mal103, that all styles should have those qualities. The difference is in the emphasis and approach to using them. We certainly get up-close-and-personal and in-your-face, and we use limb control quite a bit, but we go about it a bit differently than Goju-Ryu. Still, there was a great deal of cross-over, and the seminar actually helped me understand my own style better, not just the kata we were covering. Cross-training is good stuff!

[wagnerk]

...A lot of how it appears is how the instructors interpret the Bunkai...

Agreed, for instance the gedan barai in a form/kata could be interpreted as a downward block or an arm lock.

[Wastelander]

...A lot of how it appears is how the instructors interpret the Bunkai...

Agreed, for instance the gedan barai in a form/kata could be interpreted as a downward block or an arm lock.

That is certainly true. Taira Sensei has a very thorough system for breaking down his kata, so everything adheres to those principles. Enfield Sensei just uploaded a video collection of excerpts from the seminar, where you can see some of the material we covered--including gedan-barai

[cheesefrysamurai]

I was just doing Seiyunchin bunkai this past weekend.

I will try to find some online. My teacher is a student of Higaonna Sensei.

Goju Ryu in particular is very "sticky" - all about limb control and very close quarters. Lots of push hands and attacks from push hands.

[yamesu]

...A lot of how it appears is how the instructors interpret the Bunkai...

Agreed, for instance the gedan barai in a form/kata could be interpreted as a downward block or an arm lock.

Or a takedown, or a throw depending on which kata you are interpreting and what stance/hip movement is going with it

[mal103]

...A lot of how it appears is how the instructors interpret the Bunkai...

Agreed, for instance the gedan barai in a form/kata could be interpreted as a downward block or an arm lock.

Or a takedown, or a throw depending on which kata you are interpreting and what stance/hip movement is going with it

Absolutely! It's fine to teach a block to junior grades and most kids but as the student progresses then more applications should be shown and realised.

Some will still happily plod through life accepting a block as the application but some will hopefully be more hungry for ideas and inspiration. It's annoying when that is all that's shown though.

My favourite for the first move of Heian/Pinan Shodan (which was Nidan apparently) think of the attacker with their fists in your face, pointing, pushing or grabbing. Use your left hand to grab the attackers left wrist (with your thumb pointing downwards), you then turn 90 degrees as shown in the Kata and perform Gedan Barai - then look where their head ends up - directly in front of your stepping punch.

The turn/Gedan after this is better as a throw.

Thanks for sharing the vids - will watch them later when not at work....

[yamesu]

My favourite for the first move of Heian/Pinan Shodan (which was Nidan apparently) think of the attacker with their fists in your face, pointing, pushing or grabbing. Use your left hand to grab the attackers left wrist (with your thumb pointing downwards), you then turn 90 degrees as shown in the Kata and perform Gedan Barai - then look where their head ends up - directly in front of your stepping punch.

The turn/Gedan after this is better as a throw.

Precisely! Applications like this make doing the kata more fun, as there is logical reasoning behind it.