Yamaguchi Gogen

[badgers1975]

Thank you for this wonderful piece of history. The Cats form is amazing. I have never studied goju, currently wado ryu and matayoshi kobujutsu, but there are occasions when the mastery is clearly evident and this is one. As an aside there is a beautiful irony in someone calling people morons, who cannot spell it. Shut the door on your way out you ignoramus.

[84whosane]

iv been trying figure out the connection between goju kata. this video just clarified the connection between tensho and suparimpei. for those that doubt yamaguchi's skill, dont forget that he is the legendary 10th dan that saved lives by fighting off a village raid using only his karate for about 45mins

[deMaven]

for a karate enthusiast this was an amazing up. This takes up back to the roots of real Karate. Great job McCarthy Sensai. OSU!!!

[thainoromeo]

this is not suparenpei, it's tensho u morans Yamagughi bastardize goju.

[ABQ2009NM]

@thainoromeo what are you talking about? if you are a karateka then have respect for others instead of foul language, Do you read DOJO KUN in your class? if yes then follow it my freind. And watch the whole video, may be you think twice before posting.

[thainoromeo]

this is not suparenpei, it's tensho u morans

[nelsinhoadv]

Parabéns! Uma verdadeira relíquia!

[mccarthysensei]

Do you mean Karate?

[TheMass33]

@mccarthysensei Yes Sir. I mean who was your Shihan or Sensei in Karate?

[mccarthysensei]

In traditional karate Richard Kim Hanshi & Kinjo Hiroshi Hanshi were my two principal teachers.

[TheMass33]

Mr. McCarthy who did you study under?

[bisom666]

awesome D:

[aqx770]

I have Gogen's book and he did mention that he fought in Manchuria but I don't recall any comments about being an offical.

[bertthepickle]

Hi Sensei McCarthy,

Thanks for posting this and other old footage. It's always interesting to see how much kata has changed/altered over the years. It makes a mockery of the 'this is the right/original way' arguments.

[laylowsnuky]

Tenshu kata....one of my favorites

[brasshandmartialarts]

I believe you should practice both the soft way (Gogen Yamaguchi's Way) and also the hard way (Morio HIgaonna) .

They are both very good pioneers of Goju.

They both have good links to the founder.

(Morio Higaonna through An'iichi Myiagi).

[takeshimiyagi]

very good historic video!!!! thanks for posting!!!

[KokoroSky]

outstanding !! nothing to say... only want to watch and learn ! Thanks a lot mr maccarthy.

[bejakabyle]

@KokoroSky thanks bro ,just learn and watch thats it

[wtiborg]

he is nice relax...

why his students are so stiff..?!

[fernandobodi]

I agree with some comments here. You cannot judge how strong and fast a kata is made by an old master. There are different levels of mastery in time. You don´t have the same flexibility, strengh or speed as you get older, so with age you work more on concentration, breathing technique and mind state, instead of phisical conditioning that of course is better in your 20s or 30s. But an 70 or 80 years old still can be a great sensei and a great example to his students

[brasshandmartialarts]

You seem to think a old mater cannot defeat a young student...maybe you dont see it this way but i INTERPRET it this way. And I dont like it.

I know of many old teachers who can beat me..

Karate gets better with age.

[safarwan11]

Das war schön!

[brasshandmartialarts]

Legend has it that when Gogen Sensei was a POW, kata is what kept him alive.

[linaiwa]

IMHO, we like 'old stories'very much and tend do believe 'old legends' about past Masters without any proof. But in fact.. if I would do Suparinpei in the same way, will anybody look at it?Anyway,we live in a kind of 'gold age' - have better opportunities to learn and compare. I would suggest we should have a respect for Yamaguchi-san as a pioneer. Nowadays we probably have better opportunities to learn and can reach the other heights, which can't be measured with other past Masters.

[brasshandmartialarts]

But can you tell me the 100% true bunkai, that Yamaguchi Sama learned from bushi Miyagi?

[GojuBob]

PM me if you like, and we can discuss bunkai at a greater length than is possible here.

[singhakabuttar]

like everything in life, nothing remains the same, new ideas flourish and new practices come into play, bunkai is never 100 percent true or set, you should be creating your own bunkai, using kata as your guide line, remember we are not all the same size or build, what might work for you may not work for someone else. make karate work for you, not you work for karate.

the only true way is your way, learn the basics, kata, kihon, and experiment, my freind and then you will surpass excellence.

[glimmerman108]

Yet another incredible a/v document! For those who judge Yamaguchi's kata as sloppy, perhaps it is because they have been accustomed to shitei gata to the point where the old masters are no longer relevant to them. I am always a little wary of too pretty a kata. At any rate, thank you PM Hanshi for this amazing document.

[GojuBob]

It isn't that Yamaguchi Osensei's kata isn't 'pretty': His movements look (to me) weak, unstable and unfocussed, and at one point he loses his way altogether. I suspect that this film does not show him at his best. No disrespect intended; but no one is above criticism. However, it isn't worth arguing about. What is, is; and I certainly don't claim to be any great shakes at kata. Suparinpai IS an 'official' Goju kata, though: I don't see your point about shitei gata.

[varanid8]

I really can't judge Yamaguchi's kata or your criticisms, but having practiced my system for almost 20 years, I do know this: An advanced practitioner's form can look "sloppy" in the eyes of a beginner because the advanced practitioner has internalized the principles and no longer needs the aid of generalized exact positions and movement but have "modified" them to suit his own physique and psyche. On a side-note, I understand Yamaguchi was also VERY good at judo.

[MrUserbill]

Yes, varanid8, I think you make a very valid point. I saw Ichikawa Sosei do Suparinpei shortly before he died, and his looked much like Yamaguchi san's. He left out the tobi mae geri, too. He (Ichikawa san) was in his eighties, though - and his understanding, as a teacher, was superb, even though his form had somewhat succumbed to age. If you practise constantly, wisdom grows even as technique declines. I believe the same was true of Ueshiba Osensei. Thanks for your good insight.

[GojuBob]

I suspect that this film was made without an audience in mind, and that Yamaguchi Osensei wasn't trying too hard. But I do take the point that kata changes and 'internalises' as you get older. I've seen Ichikawa too, and I agree with MrUserBill. Ichikawa san did Goju kata in a much more flowing, soft and imaginative way that those who only see Higaonna san (etc.) are used to. I suspect that this 'softer' way is a much more 'advanced' way. It certainly suits me as I get older.

[brasshandmartialarts]

Yes he was very good at Judo, I believe he reached Sandan in Judo.

[mywingchunsucks]

@varanid8 very well put!

[hanzabass]

Come on now GojuBob and wash your mouth with soap! :o) Now honestly, in the Youtube era some old myths are busted, and new are created. The bullfight vid of Oyama Sosai comes to mind, as well as the mawashigeri demonstration of Kagawa. Neko sama moved in his own way, but the kata performance by the topdogs in his direct lineage and various offsprings (nihon karatedo renmei gojukai etc) are awesome and certainly not any less than okinawan goju.

[GojuBob]

Couldn't agree more; I have the greatest respect for Goju Kai people. As for Kagawa san's mawashi geri: oww! - I wish I could do that! I don't mean any disrespect to Yamaguchi Osensei; but there's no getting away from some things, and uncritical adulation is pointless. I must admit that I rather like the incorporation of some of Tensho into Suparinpei (or however you want to spell it): have started doing it myself.

[GojuBob]

McCarthy Sensei: Can you tell us why a section of Tensho has found its way into the beginning of this kata? I've never seen it done like that before. It's heresy and blasphemy to say this about Neko-sama, I know; but honestly I don't find this very impressive - never mind omnipotent. Everybody's wrath will now descend on my head, no doubt: but compare it to other versions of the same kata on YouTube.

[mccarthysensei]

I can only guess that it was because the performance was impromptu and he decided to present, "bits and pieces" rather than an entire kata??

[GojuBob]

Here goes: I'm sorry to say it, but isn't this dreadful? Maybe Yamaguchi-san has an inner mystic understanding of the kata that is too subtle for me to grasp. Or maybe it's just weak, sloppy and inaccurate. I expect there will be plenty of people eager to explain to me why I'm wrong.

[Terriss0421]

I won't branch into your earlier conversation about why Tensho's beginning is in there (that made me cock my head as well), but for your second statement about the sloppiness, I think I know the reason why. Yamaguchi is credited with being the first to use free sparring as a training technique. Maybe this is why.

His motions are fluid, but they just look awkward. Maybe he just wasn't a kata guy.

[GojuBob]

My own Suparinpei is probably wretched (before anyone asks); but this is, I have to say, worse. I think we are all a little prone to 'the Emperor's New Clothes' trap. If you or I posted a kata performance like this, everyone would be brutally frank; if Yamaguchi-san does it, it must be 'a treasure.' In fairness, he's not standing on a level floor, and he's not a young man (when was the film made?); but, even being as generous as possible, this is not good. What do other people think?

[fanofkimboslice]

A legend,.. a masters master,...a treasure !!!!

[primagiedi]

Wow, did Yamaguchi Gogen really defeat a live tiger when he was captured by the Soviet military?

Incredible...

[GojuBob]

Shot it, did he? Shame on him!

[treismac]

Too bad this a video of him fighting the tiger...

[Nusashi]

Hello McCarthy-Sensei,

it's fine to see old Master, like as "the car" on youtube.

I learned 3 different suparinpei from japan Masters. But, "the cat" do it in very good performance.

TU for this clip

Your Deshi

Rivo

for JAKARTACOMBATCLUB: I think Peichurin=Suparinpei=108 not 72

[mccarthysensei]

Bonjour Rivo,

Comment ca va mon ami? J'espère que vous êtes bien. Faire preuve de diligence dans votre formation.

Sensei

[Nusashi]

Bonjour Grand Maitre,

Oui merci. On va faire beaucoup de Uchinadi et Kobudo cette année.

Merci pour les photos (Sakugawa, ...)

Au revoir

Rivo

[glimmerman108]

Haisai P.M. Another great post. Thank you. I knew that Yamaguchi Sensei had quite a different take on Suparempei than the Okinawan version. I am wondering if he changed it at all after his studying with Yagi Dai Sensei. Any information? Arigato, MH

[mccarthysensei]

Is this Matt Henderson---and being complimentary to me? What a change...is there something wrong?

To the best of my knowledge, Yamaguchi Gogen trained with Yagi Meitoku due largely to not having actually studied much under Miyagi.

[jitteryjoe]

Hey Sensei Mccarthy, awesome work getting this up - big fan of Yamaguchi. Am i correct in saying he was the governor of Manchuria during Japanese occupation? I seem to remember reading that somewhere. His Goju-Ryu Kyohan is fantastic

[DojoWeb]

Yamaguchi Gogen was not the governeor of Manchuria. Some say he served as a special delegate in Manchuria, but most sources say he was simply serving in the army. He was captured in 1942 by the Russians and spent most of the war in prison. He escaped harsh treatment by teaching the guards Karate.

[mccarthysensei]

Thanks for dropping by .. I certainly know that Yamaguchi sensei was in Manchuria but I don't know if he was actually its Govenor.

[singhakabuttar]

@mccarthysensei sensei mccarthy, whats your take on gogen yamaguchi defeating a bengal tiger, i mean ive heard of cage fighting, but for crying out loud, fighting a tiger, ive held one of these animal in thailand,( it was asleep, probably druged) the creature is to powerfull, for any human to fight in my opinion.

[mccarthysensei]

Just a myth my friend ...

[singhakabuttar]

@mccarthysensei thanks for the input.

[seanawong]

These old videos are the best. Without them we have real record of what the beginnings of the "empty hand" Thanks for posting them

[mccarthysensei]

I agree - the more vintage footage we find the better understanding we get. Too many stories about the omnipotence of this or that master ... film footage helps us clearly evaluate physical performance.

[epb471]

Greetings Mccarthysensei. Thank you for posting this video. Just bought the newest edition of the Bubishi that you helped bring to the west!! I must ask, do you know of any more recent footage of Gogen Yamaguchi. I saw a very brief clip on Goshi Yamaguchi's instrctional videos but nothing else. Why is this?? Thank you for your time. Osu!

[seagoju]

Clearly...! I trust that people can look at this and others critically (I think some on the comments list are looking at a different clip than I am...!). CLEARLY, Yamaguchi did NOT have a great deal of training with Miyagi and had to fill in his own gaps from a limited knowledge base. That unfortunately kept manifesting itself along the lineage...

[johnhavers]

Strange discussion about spelling...these aren't English words. mckarate? mcdojos? Doesn't all karate have a bit of mc in it?

[mightydagon]

Look at that guy....thats karate. Not the garbage taught in the mcdojos, nor is it the watered down lackluster karate taught by some sensei who are thinking more about money and less about teaching. This man's like is a dying breed, if not extinct already. Love watching the cat in action.

[shisoshin]

mandarin=yibailingba

fuzhow-hua = sopaklingpak..

okinawa = suparunpei..

[also japan = ichihyakureihachi..]

oki accent to aussie ears = eg "soo pah rim pay [or pea]"

"so" ok, with, "pak ling pak" [fuzhow-hua]

acknowledge mcsensei experience but

for consistency, transliteration with "parunpei" should be "soo/su"

both romanise as 'su'..

namaste

[akspseigokanportugal]

Of course that´s Suparinpei, not Soparinpei.

[mccarthysensei]

You spell it the way you want and I'll stick to the original way I spell it.

[akspseigokanportugal]

Ok Sensei McCarthy. However I have never seen wrote like that, but only by two ways: Suparimpei or Suparinpei.

Martial Greetings

[mccarthysensei]

Dear Budo brother,

Thank you for your comments. The Romanized spelling[s] of the kata in question [also referred to as Pechurrin/Peichurrin] can be rendered several ways; Suparinpei, Soparinpei, etc. Based upon my study of its history and knowledge of the language [i.e. Fujian Chinese dialect, Japanese and Okinawan] I prefer the later spelling.

[Pecherin72]

This video shows that Yamaguchi Gogen probably never learnt kata from Chojun Miyagi.

[akspseigokanportugal]

Why do you say that?

[jakartacombatclub]

I am with Pecherin72,,,! Thanks for this one McCarthy Sensei...

[Koryuhoka]

@akspseigokanportugal

From what I was told, Yamaguchi Sensei learned Goju Ryu kata through Yagi Meitoku. Yagi introduced him to Miyagi Sensei and Miyagi gave him a few pointers. That was the extent of it. I also heard he gave him his blessing to teach in Japan. Unlike what Gojukai pratitioners say, Miyagi did not pass the banner down to Yamaguchi.

[Hakakku]

gogen "el gato" yanmaguchi.

[AdSimo]

Amazing!!! Thanks for sharing

[makai2006]

Precious!!!