A quick question regarding Naihanchi Shodan

[FeralFrettchen]

Hi everyone! I am currently following along with Nagamine’s Essence of Okinawan Karate-do and am a little confused regarding the Morote-zuki in Naihanchi Shodan. When performing the augmented side punch, am I supposed to keep the torso straight or twist it to the side? It’s a little hard for me to tell from the pictures. Thanks for any help you guys can give!

[sensei8]

Interesting question, which I'm quite sure will have varying answers. So, I'll just answer with what I teach based off what I've been taught...

Torso remains straight. The appearance of twisting of the torso is due to the engaging/engaged/disengaging hips.

[Zaine]

Unlike Bob's answer, I'm the opposite. I twist my torso and then snap back to straight.

[bushido_man96]

Interesting question, which I'm quite sure will have varying answers. So, I'll just answer with what I teach based off what I've been taught...

Torso remains straight. The appearance of twisting of the torso is due to the engaging/engaged/disengaging hips.

This is how I've done it, and in TKD we have a form, Poe Eun, that has the similar technique, and I do it this way here as well.

[FeralFrettchen]

Thanks for all the helpful answers, friends. Much appreciated!

Interesting question, which I'm quite sure will have varying answers. So, I'll just answer with what I teach based off what I've been taught...

Torso remains straight. The appearance of twisting of the torso is due to the engaging/engaged/disengaging hips.

I did indeed get varying answers! It seems like both ways are acceptable and count as proper form, which I find very interesting as well. I suppose it all comes down to style and how one was originally taught? I'm going to try both ways and see which one works best for me.

[Wastelander]

You'd have to ask a Matsubayashi-Ryu practitioner to get the stylistically-correct answer, but I can tell you that in the Kobayashi branch of Shorin-Ryu, the torso remains straight. That said, in KishimotoDi, you twist all the way to the side at the waist and then reset, and I have blended that into my Shorin-Ryu, at least some of the time. Kata don't have to be done the same way every time you practice, after all

[username19853]

I studied Matsubayashi Ryu for 14 years! The philosophy I was always taught was to be like a whip. “The tip of the branches instead of the trunk of the tree.” Matsubayashi practitioners love the “snap.”

We would always fully extend each technique, even a little over extending (as if breaking a board, you wouldn’t stop at the point of contact, you’d go a little through), and end up in a relaxed position. I know the question is about the morote zuki in Naihanchi, but let me use an easier example first.

(I promise I’ll make my point after this paragraph)

With a regular chudan level punch in shizentai stance, there’s a slight cocking back of your right hip (if throwing a right punch) before the punch leaves the pocket. Arm stays relaxed the whole time (until the supposed impact), using the hips to throw it forward, fully extending, right hip now slightly forward, ahead of the left hip. At that point, you would simply “relax” into a normal position with the right arm forward. The right hip relaxes back to even out the hips, and there should be a very slight bend at the right elbow with the shoulders squared forward. I’m not sure if this is just common practice, but it’s how I was taught.

Using this same “method,” for lack of a better term, with morote, the arms would be thrown out with the hips. The arms would reach a point of fully extended (not sure how to explain the extension of the bent arm), with the shoulders/hips slightly turned in the direction of the technique. Everything would then relax back to a “normal” position. Hips and shoulders squared forward, fully extended arm will have an ever so slight bend at the elbow, and the other arm in its usual position (again, not sure how to explain that arm).

IN CONCLUSION… (lol)

Your torso would slightly twist to the side to help throw the technique (slightly) and relax back to straight. If I over-explained this, I do apologize. And please note, I’m not trying to say an over exaggerated extension of the arms/twisting of the torso. But it should be noticeable to the trained eye.

Correct me if I’m wrong. In terms of bunkai and practicality, I think it was Noah who said (a few years ago) that Matsubayashi doesn’t focus on performing techniques for self defense purposes. In my experience, that’s an accurate statement (depending on the school of course). It’s far more focused on the snap of its techniques and body mechanics of kata. We strictly practiced kihon up and down the floor, all of our kata depending on our rank, and the 7 Yakusoku kumite. My Sensei had a very impressive understanding of bunkai, but for whatever reason, he didn’t have us practice that very often unless he received enough requests from students. Those classes were always VERY intense.

Thank you for coming to my Ted talk.

[bushido_man96]

That's a nice explanation, scohen! Thanks for sharing that Ted Talk!

[P.A.L]

search " understanding koshi" in youtube. some years ago sensei Otta invited two Okinawan karate masters for a seminar on koshi. sensei Ikehara and Tajima i think. one of them I guess Tajima showed the Naihanchi shodan. that is one of the best original naihanchi you can find out there. you can see how relax the upper body turns and resets.

[Montana]

You'd have to ask a Matsubayashi-Ryu practitioner to get the stylistically-correct answer, but I can tell you that in the Kobayashi branch of Shorin-Ryu, the torso remains straight. That said, in KishimotoDi, you twist all the way to the side at the waist and then reset, and I have blended that into my Shorin-Ryu, at least some of the time. Kata don't have to be done the same way every time you practice, after all

There is a slight twisting of the torso during the double punch to either side.