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Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Isshin-ryu's Specialized Small Person Techniques


The Isshin-ryu style was developed by Tatsuo Shimabuku. Shimabuku was a student of Chojun Miyagi (founder of Goju-ryu Karate-do), Choki Motobu (Motobu-ryu Karate-jitsu), and Chotoku Kyan (Shorin-ryu). Kyan was particularly small even by Okinawan standards, so he had modified the traditional kata Chinto with specialized movements for use against larger opponents. Shimabuku was on the small side of average for an Okinawan (about 5' 4", roughly 135 pounds). However, he had found himself in the Phillipines training Japanese military how to fight against their larger American opponents. (The "official" story, in a letter from Angi Uezu, Shimabuku's son-in-law, is that Shimabuku was in the Phillipines as a geisha – by which I assume Uezu meant entertainer – and that he "loved" Americans.)

The insights of his teacher Kyan were clearly invaluable in solving the American problem, and they are evident in Shimabuku's Isshin-ryu style, a style which truly favors small person's techniques for use against much larger opponents. Ironically, in the U.S., Isshin-ryu is more of a "big man's" system, owing to the large stature of the original pioneers, men like Steve Armstrong, Harry Smith, Harold Long.

This video mini-blog shows the use of a signature Isshin-ryu technique from the kata Kushanku.


Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Using Traditional Movements Continues (on and on and...)

I'm back to answering Ken's question about the use of traditional movements.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Isshin-ryu's "O-uchi"

Here is a Video Mini-Blog about a technique from Isshin-ryu (and Ryukyu kempo and Tai Chi)

Using Traditional Movements Continues

I continue to explain how to use traditional movements. This time using the move "knife-hand" (shuto-uke).

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Interpreting Traditional Movements (Pt. 2)

Here is the next installment in my answer on interpreting traditional movments

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Interpreting Traditional Movements (Pt. 1)

One of the questions I received (from Ken in St. Louis) required several Video Mini-Blogs to answer. This is the first part. Enjoy.

Tai Chi Posture

This quick Video Mini-Blog explains how to find good posture for tai chi – head pressed up, chin tucked, back straight, shoulders rounded, chest sunk.