Shobayashi Shorin-ryu. Seisan Kata front view.

[AshinoTettsu]

I studied and received my Black Belt in Shobayashi Shorin Ryu while living in Japan under Sensei Takahishi Inaba, and Dai Sensei Nakama Haruka. As with anything else perfection comes with years of practice. I have been studying for 32 years and am still learning. Just because you are a Black Belt does not make you an expert. There is always room to improve. OSU!!

[ddobie1979]

I really think it's funny to read the negative comments. I mean this guy had the balls to put the video up. Everyone is going to do it slightly different and no one should be bashing it because of it. I thought that Martial artists were supposed to be open minded.

[Jeremey71]

@darrinj1969 Thanks for your input. Just to set the record straight this is my sensei performing kata, not me. Also, in his younger days he won kata, kumite, and weapons display in tournaments.

[219Sponge]

Thats some Baby-San movement. I'm a shodan and I know this exact kata and I don't move like a robot. You throw your punches with your shoulder. Your centerline is completely open. The lower half of your body doesn't even move with your arms.  YOu are comepletely disconnected energetically the entire time. My only question for you is why did you mess up my kata

[Sandokai7]

Let me agree: this performance of Seisan is poor, and I would suggest atypical of a Shorin Ryu black belt. However, the kata is definitively Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu, and the pattern consistent with those taught to me directly by O'Sensei Shimabukuro (Okinawa 1963).

[loolooface]

wow u suck! LIKE U REALLY SUCK Cant believe ur a belt belt man FYI Im Gojuryu 1st dan Shitoryu 6th dan Shorinryu 4th dan THIS REALLY SUCKS! If this is how ur club is thought, then ur club is a disgrace to karate! *dislike*

[Jeremey71]

@loolooface

Well Looloo, I would think that someone with your alleged qualifications would have more respect than you are displaying.

[loolooface]

@Jeremey71

sigh....

I show respect in my club, in my everyday life

but seeing people who put so little effort into such a beautiful form of art just....

upsets me

I have dedicated my life to karate and have been doing it for 24 years now

I just feel that some people give a bad name to karate, and i've not worked 7 days a week for almost my entire life for a sport that produces forms and katas that are of this bad a quality

[Jeremey71]

@loolooface

Is this not your everyday life? I work hard as well to improve myself through karatedo. And, I am also disappointed with how many sport oriented karateka have made a farce of karate. All I'm saying is I simply don't comment when I see something I disagree with in order to display the statesmanship I feel a true martial artist should express. I respect opinions that are respectfully put forth : 0 ) It's nice to see you have such passion.

[mrBleu86]

...this performance is below shodan level.

[farhan3d]

I'm sorry to say but this is not a very good performance of Seisan. You need to look for a new school my friend (if you haven't already).

[ryu1036]

this is the weakest performance i have ever seen.

[Bradykiller8]

srry bout the multi-post.

[Bradykiller8]

No offense, to your sensei, but it seems as if he's a little stiff throughout. Seisan (Seishin as i call it) is a breath kata, but i dont beleive much breath energy was put into a large majority of his moves. Its very interesting to see the variations between styles, and he looked sharp, just not dynamic enough. doomo

[Bradykiller8]

No offense, to your sensei, but it seems as if he's a little stiff throughout. Seisan (Seishin as i call it) is a breath kata, but i dont beleive much breath energy was put into a large majority of his moves. Its very interesting to see the variations between styles, and he looked sharp, just not dynamic enough. doomo

[DrSiegal]

"weakness" cannot be "seen" just felt

[gomiko]

Seibukan and Shobayashi Seisan is the same kata. I too do Shobayashi Sorin Ryu but the difference between the Seisan on this video and Seibukan Seisan is the ending. Neither of them do the moon over water ^_^

[gomiko]

That's a very good Seisan Kata and it is Shorin Ryu. It's the Shobayashi clan of Shorin Ryu. Not many people could do a well Seisan Kata as the person in this video. Indeed, it is a very well done Seisan, I couldn't have done it better myself ^_^

[ronin752]

@gomiko

Aiko is right. Power should be transmitted through the hara. His power is locked in his shoulders.

[Jeremey71]

Thanks for the observation. Interestingly enough, about a year ago a Chinese gentlemen observed me performing kata at the gym I work out at and mentioned that my kata would be greatly improved if I used my hips more. FYI the kata is being performed by my sensei.

[CherryCheesyCake]

Moving the hips first before the punch completely changes the power. Instead of it being purely upper body or just the arm itself. It takes a while for your body to understand the movement, but it does help a lot.

[MissYummySexyBottom]

Moving your hips before a punch is Choi Kwang Do, not Kata or Karate!!!!! It does improve power by 10 fold.

[ronin752]

@MissYummySexyBottom

That is absurd!!! Complete ahistorical. That principle is Chinese, not Korean and is a BASIC part of all classical arts. Okinawan karate precedes Choi and any systems derived from him. But Okinawan karate was originally called China hand.

[CherryCheesyCake]

@MissYummySexyBottom

I dont remember saying anything about it belonging to any particular style...

[aiko4321]

If you drop down your strength from your shoulders to your hara and hips, you will develop your karate.. Thanks

[Jeremey71]

I am familiar with Hara, but Koshi and Gamaku are new terms for me.

[movinmeat]

Nicely performed. I practice Shorin-ryu Matsumura and though the stances differ slightly, the techniques show a very high degree of preservation.

[Jeremey71]

I appreciate your perspective and comments. As you stated, there are many variations of seisan and other kata. Thank you for expressing yourself in a positive manner.

[guitarist347]

this is definately not shorinryu, the shorinryu seisan is a bit slower and more cautious.

[Jeremey71]

This is DEFINETLY Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu. Given your extensive knowledge of all styles of Okinawan kata and karatedo you must realize you have mispoken. Also, just because you have been taught a certain way does not mean it is the only way. Why not take the things you like from the kata and discard those that you don't?

[rudy525]

this is very similar to isshinryu's seisan.

[NewEnglandBudo]

I like this kata better than your Seyunchin. However, you added an extra combination causing you end your kata facing in the wrong direction.

[oneisshin]

Hekko,

It is Isshinryu Seisan kata and instructor just changed vertical punch to twist punch.

[sesankata]

the founder of Isshinyu was a pratitioner of both Gojo Ryu under chosin Miyagi, shorin Ryu under chotoki Kyan. he put founded issinryu using Gojo and shorin Ryu kata. His brother Ezio is the grand Master of Shobayashi shorin Ryu that is why the two katas are so simmular. I know both versions. I am Ezio Student.

[razrblade12345]

This started as a shorin ryu kata, but was changed by Master Tatsuo Shimabuku just like most isshinryu katas with the exception of Sunsu i beleive

[flpdm]

excuse my ignorance but isn't the Seisan a Goju-ryu Kata and not Shorin-Ryu as it says on the title of the video?

[Jeremey71]

You bring up an interesting point. From my research and experience in Karate I have found many similarities in techniques, katas, and basics among the different styles. It used to be common for different masters to borrow techniques from other styles to become more rounded martial artists. Perhaps this is why you see so many different Seisan katas out there. I have read that katas were tweaked to make them "better" in various styles by various masters. Also, our grand master did study Goju-Ryu.

[hpfan6969]

it's shorin ryu

[jamesellis33]

@flpdm the reason is Sensei Eizo trained with Chojun Miyagi sensei and various other sensei's hopefully, that clarifies this. this a late response xD

[sesankata]

as you can tellby my name this is my favorite kata.

[senseimak]

Howard is such a studmuffin

[yeti907]

Your teacher's kata is very unique. This is classic.

[sesankata]

Sensie, the way you perform Seisan is the same way Shimabuku taught my in Okinawa thanks for the review.

[Jeremey71]

Thank you for the kind words. Actually, I am a student of the sensei performing the kata. I plan on posting many more with him and his teacher.