Morio Higaonna

[groveavenue]

This man is the real thing, a true exponent of karate. Respect.

[peter007taylor]

...King of Goju Ryu..

[Karma42347017]

higaonaaa you are a pussyy cock suckerrr ajajajajaj

[TheViolenceMan]

@Karma42347017 the "jaja" is the most annoying crap ever. take your spanish shit outta there. we're trying to watch some amazing karate here

[HanaNoTenjin]

This is a beautiful kata. I had an preconception of Karate as rigid before hand, but he flows from strike to strike and block to block. He is truly graceful.

[TheClipper91]

Morio Higaonna is a Legend.

[Greatbear1982]

Higaonna Sensei has so much power and ki even the building creaks, moans and complains!

[peter007taylor]

....i was lucky enough to train with Higaonna Sensei in 1979...i have been told that he is now in his 80's and still trains regularly & is now 10th Dan...

[slapnut892]

@peter007taylor He's 73

[patreganauthor]

Higaonna Sensei used to train my late Sensei, Gary Spiers .. Gary told us some amazing tales about him.

[sarahkess1]

this is wrong, I am a black belt and this is NOT SEISAN KATA

[ronin752]

@sarahkess1

No, you are wrong. There are two different versions of seisan, naha version and shuri version. Naha versions are in goju and ryurei ryu. Shuri versions are shorin kata. You must study shorin or a derivative.

[jtbdaddy]

@sarahkess1

My friend just like most kata there are derivatives. In this case there more than a few. The derivative that Higoana Sensei is performing here is one of the oldest.

I have studied Both Shorin-Ryu and Goju-Ryu and this is indeed the Goju-Ryu version.

Be well and train hard my friend.

[FuckinSeriousBusines]

To the nine that gave a thumb down: dislike my cock.

[Laporisduvelay]

Higaonna Sensei is not the guy you want to piss off

[MrBorikito]

@Laporisduvelay That's pretty hard to do... ;)

[DimMak4ever]

some forms are just a waste of time, no matter the style

[GoJuRyuDeshi]

@DimMak4ever I'd have to disagree, no training is a waste of time if a person is improving themselves through it. What I think you might mean is a waste of time in terms of preparation for competition or something similar. But that isn't every martial artists goal. Some styles are better suited to some attitudes and physiques, but regardless of choice, any training is better than a sedentary lifestyle, and IMO never a waste of time.

[DimMak4ever]

@GoJuRyuDeshi very worthy and important comment. thank you.

[thefanaticx]

I could hear people trying to make sound effects in the background..

[slapnut892]

@thefanaticx What you hear ain't sound effects. I've trained with this man... He's not human

[sweetfly66]

This is one of the most beautiful interpretations of a kata , any kata , that I have ever seen .... absolutely amazing

[1banryukyu]

I thought the kata was very good. I am a little bias because our head instructor trained in Uechi Ryu so I like the Uechi Ryu seisan kata but the Goju Ryu is very strong with good hip movement. I think the Isshin Ryu Seisan is more closer to Goju Ryu then Uechi Ryu but done with a little more speed and less power but it is all in the Naha Te family. Has anyone seen the Ryuei Ryu Seisan? Thank you for this video Osu

[63yogi]

Master Higonna's katas are amazing. I don't do this style. But every movement, hands to hips, subtle slow controlled to rapid strikes ..... all so good. Probably the best kata exponent I have seen. My opinion. Osu!

[sanchinshrek]

is this okinawan goju? looks like it,looks pretty good. "slipping" seriously i do a different version in traditional japanese goju some what similar. you may have seen a better seisan in your mind but it also could have been modified for sport. lets see yours just to compare

[Bassai]

@sanchinshrek Yup Okinawan Goju-Ryu. Morio Higaonna's performance is not for tournament or competition. He performs it just the original way it's supposed to be performed.

[sanchinshrek]

i thought it was. i was not saying this version was sport,i was saying to the to zero kuma that in his mind he might of saw better at a tournament. i thought this kata was performed very well

[TheZeroKuma]

It looks like he is slipping all over the place. Not sure if that was intentional or not but yeah. Other than that I've seen better seisans from people of a lower rank than hiagonna

[HHHSwantonbomb]

it's me morio

[DavidDick]

super morio

[anhkhoinguyen]

that was pretty funny now that i think about it lol

[chaosrealm99]

saisan kata

[logpos]

Indeed, there is a marked difference between japanese goju and okinawan goju.

[Domzdream]

Cezanne is the last kata I learned since leaving for London. I was studying kurunfa next. DAMN!

[slapnut892]

no it's not it's Suparimpei Seisan is the one before it

[Domzdream]

I don't think I know that one. Look, I don't know how to spell them, but bear with me...

counting from sempai, then sensei ryu, then seizan, then kurunfa (that's how I learned in that order). So, kurunfa was the last one I was being taught before leavign for London. Damn, I miss karate. It was my life.

[7marioCorleone]

you are a good dancer :)))

[GadGades]

ironically dancing or yoga are often recommended to martial artist for flexibility

[SenseiEli]

הדגמה מדהימה של סנסיי היגאונה. לכל מי שיחפש אותה ברשת בעברית. זה יהיה נהדר לראות לאיזו רמה גבוהה ניתן להגיע.

This text is written in Hebrew so people can find (using Hebrew letters) this amazing demonstration Of Sensei Morio Higaonna.

[deathbyninjastar]

imo, if when you truly understand a kata, you will unleash things beyond kumite. Kumite is great, but karate is a combination of both, so you can't really say one piece is a waste of time.

my actual comment is the following

On his technique, he has a alot of snap in his gi. is it the camera quality? is he wearing a heavy gi, or does this man just manage to concentrate a lot of power? i train in a medium-weight gi, and my snap is uncomparable.

[taznbugs88]

He managed to concentrate a lot of power. Trained with him in S. California, incredibly strong and dedicated Martial Artist.

[DimMak4ever]

@deathbyninjastar get rid of the gi for a year of hard training and you will discover much more power

[FlashySenap]

I've been trying Kata twice and that must be the most boring and silly part of training I've ever done. I once agreed to sparr with a brown belt guy who had devoted his life to learn katas and the techniques only to fall on his ass when I placed some light jabs and a kick.

[cdere629]

You really try sparring with me. (or even some of my yellow belts) I promise I will change your mind about kata in a few seconds. Please don't judge real Karate by defeating a weakling!

[FlashySenap]

What you say is that it's not the kata that does it, but rather the person who use the kata. I can't agree that I have judged anything, I only told a conclusion of my own experience. You did however commited a judgement by claiming that I have defeated a weak person, still you know nothing about this person nor anything about me. I don't understand why you defend a style you've devoted yourself to by using a hostile attitude towards a person who only told a story.

[cheaptrades]

this guy could beat up M. Bison

[slapnut892]

SICK SICK SICK so glad to be learning his teachings. my sensei often refers to him as a freak of nature, i guess that's because he knows him so well.

[Bulosan21]

.......WOW.....WOW.....WOW....­..!!!! Osu!!!

[hanzabass]

Incredible power!

[fanofkimboslice]

AMAZING,..I'm a wing chun guy , and all I can say is I have total RESPECT, here is a MASTER'S master ! a legend in our midst !

[gragrn]

Superb demonstration. I agree 100% with fanofkimboslice, you don't have to be a Karateka to appreciate real skill and mastery of the art. From another Wing Chun guy!

[detvanbateria]

brutal kiai

[detvanbateria]

Wow!

[wapcake]

could some one explain the bunkai for the "skipping" part at the beggining after he slaps his hands together. thhanks

[senseiramalho]

Wapcake my interpretation for the "skipping" is a defense to a lapel double hold.

I slide my left forearm in is right forearm, then I make a chudan uke with my right arm and then I punch with my left.

[franklin3321]

@wapcake Not a slapping of hands but a pull of the head and strike to the side of the neck or temple. Three open hand (nikite) strikes to the Throat, followed by Wrist grab releases / Jujutsu Shoulder shrug arms forward release bearhug from behind-open hand strike, while either the Knee comes up to the opponents groin area, and / or the Heal comes up to strike an opponent bear hugging from rear. Note: This is one Bunkai among many possible. There are as many bunkai as counters to any one tech.

[Bassai]

@wapcake I don't think there is a "specific" bunkai for the skipping. Here's Higaonna showing the bunkai of that sequence: search "Sesan Bunkai"

[shisoshin]

don draeger described higonna morio as "the most dangerous man in japan in a real fight".. [is that clear enough]

everything higaonna hanshi does/teaches is valid and valuable and part of a coordinated integrated whole..

consider that, carefully..

[eridani23]

I'd like to see you try! Or better yet I'd like to see you go up against Sensei Higaonna!

[zankwack]

Real well done!!!

[readfoundation]

FlashySenap, i respect your opinion regarding Karate Kata but sad to say that you made me judged you by your opinion that you are not a karateka. So, it is impossible for you to understand what the true karateka will say about the kata. I suggest you learn first any Okinawa Karatedo / Karatejutsu and get at least a shodan grade for you to comprehend what i trying to tell you.

[funkyorate]

demasiado diferente a la ejecucion del seisan de miyagi....demasiado japones poco okinawense...parece que aprendio bien lo que hacen en shotokan....jajajaja...cambia el kata y asi ganas mas dinero

[xbigbazzx]

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHA!

[FlashySenap]

What is the point in doing those really?

[KataVideo]

FlashySenap, the purpose of kata is to drill the movements into your "muscle memory". but, without knowing the bunkai, a person doing a kata (to me anyway) doesn't really fulfill its true potential. it's also NOT for everyone.

[FlashySenap]

You do that just as much sparring, even better drilling which gives you the ability to hold focus in a paniced situation. But doing kata for fun and to uphold traditions is a positive thing, but as self-defence It's nothing worth most peoples time.

[KataVideo]

fs, "but as self-defence It's nothing worth"

unless you know the bunkai. if you don't know why you're doing the moves, you might as well be square dancing. kata without bunkai is like coffee without coffee beans.

[FlashySenap]

Kata is far as I've been told and understanding, a sort of shadow sparring, a combination of moves in order to defend against attacking opponent's. However, from my view of it all, it is useless purly in a matter of selfdefense. Both from experience and from modern history, these kinda arts never really work in the sense of defense. I rather spend this time on actuall sparring.

[fumikomgeri]

14Mar09

Sadly you're showing how very little you know of traditional karate FS.You've

no time for"sparring" in the street.Yes it does have it's place in training,but that's all.If you've space for sparring, you've the

space to run away.ALWAYS the best option, that way only your ego is bruised.

Karate techniques are short,sharp brutal

and are all in the katas. KataVideo is right.

Put "norton dojo" in SEARCH, the vids are pretty descriptive of Goju ryu training and techniques.

[flyurmiata]

honestly the bunkai are what is a waste of time. because it sets certian "moves" for certian attacks, thus crippling your kumite, all the techniques are taught through kata, if you can open yourself to understand what your body is doing then you will be a great fighter.

[Domzdream]

Nothing is a waste of time my friend. It all lends towards you being a better karateka. It all has it's place. You might not use it (eg. sanchin stance), but it all adds to your muscles training, awareness, toughness, etc. Kata, randori, basic moving back and forth, epon kumite, all of it is needed to balance it all out with itself. Even bankai. Yes, bankai is predictable, but the application is what you should accquire from it. And the awareness.You think you're not gaining from it but you do.

[senseihugh]

Dude i do karate and watch the anime bleach, the word bankai comes from bleach the word ur looking for is bunkai, which means kata application and the other one bankai is full release. lol just thought i'd point that out to you.

[Domzdream]

Ha ha. Thanks man.

[GadGades]

"

Without an understanding of the information and techniques included within kata, karate is a very limited art. How many karate clubs include close range striking, grappling, throwing, joint locks, chokes & strangles and ground fighting in their practice? The answer is all of them! But very few realise it . Karate was developed to be complete and effective method of civilian self-defence."

[FlashySenap]

My personal opinion is that Kata's is pointless to train, and that time is better spent on the grappling, sparring and all that to really immerse the techniques into the fighting game so you really can use the skills you've learned.

[GadGades]

I'm not trying to change your mind but giving you something to think about and consider. How will you spar if you weren't in a club. How would you remember minute techniques. Kata is also strategies. It isn't one continuous fight, it's a summery of things that happen to some fighter. Going into it with that in mind, thinking its useless is self fulfilling. It helps with memorizing techs as well. And it doesn't take away from sparring but works with it.

[0zzyninja]

@GadGades and that is one thing my sensei has realised. he includes absolutely everything. Made me realise just how many ppl focus on pure ballistic techniques in karate.

[zopi9]

So powerful. Makes it look effortless.

[SensieSanzashi]

IPPON...extremly sharp-powerful zuki, balanced with soft-fluid hand & body motion, "Seisan" an excellent expression of mind, body, & spirit. My opinion, a Shorinjiryu karate-ka.

[SensieSanzashi]

Also, Kudos! not often do I see the Naha and Tomori stylists using the full forward hip extension, and extended ball of the foot when kicking; (see last hineri geri in this video).

[krokodylktm]

Mistrzostwo!!!!!!!

[ShotoManKan]

Higaonna será muy bueno técnicamente, pero... cambia los katas todos los meses para tener agarradita a la gilada... en fin!!;-(

[Pecherin72]

In the past, different villages/branches of the same school would deliberately make small variations to their Bunkai and kata, and keep these variations secret. If ever they had to fight someone who had studied a similar system, these little variations would increase the element of surprise against the opponent.

[Pecherin72]

One reason why Goju katas were different before and after WWII is because Chojun Miyagi made modifications to his kata during the war and after. But because most of his students had stopped training after the war, no one really saw the later and final versions. Furthermore, after the war Okinawa was off-limits to mainland Japan, so no one on the mainland could really see the differences between Okinawan and Japanese karate until the 60s.

[Runescaper904614]

The Kata is done differently way, yes but still some people in the world know the old technique. even some people say that sensei Higaonna has it, but i cant say anything about that

[sanseiryu]

To say that Mabuni learned all of the gojuryu kata from Kanryo Higashionna is incorrect. Mabuni trained only a year or two at most. Given that length of time, he would have only been taught Sanchin and one other kata according to his physical type. This was way Higashionna taught students. Mabuni would have learned the remaining Gojuryu kata from his friend Chojun Miyagi and other karate men at the karate club formed by Miyagi, Mabuni and other sensei to exchange and learn from each other.

[Joseratc]

Yes, most definitely, the katas we do today, regardless of style, are variations of the Shuri, Naha and Tomari Te katas of antiquity. But the most drastic changes occured as a result of the exportation of karate from Okinawa. So, the most orthodox karate katas (definitely not the same but closest to the originals) must be those practiced by Okinawan styles like Shorin Ryu and Goju Ryu. The commercialization of karate as well as the sport emphasis have also influenced changes.

[Joseratc]

I must also say that I was not referring to pre-Okinawa days. Technically, the okinawan katas were inspired by the Chinese arts even if they are distinctively different, so much so that we recognize "karate" as a separate category of martial art. But the bottom line is, it doesn't matter. All traditional styles are great practice and the practitioner and his/her dedication is much more important than which kata system is more traditional. Great conversation. Thanks and Peace.

[Joseratc]

I know it is difficult to admit making an incorrect statement, but we are all human and it's ok. The only point I wanted to make is that the Shito Ryu version is definitely a variation of the Goju version. That original statement you made "the Shito ryu version is more alike the traditional way of doing the kata" is simply incorrect as per historical facts. I am not insinuating that one is inferior to the other, I don't think that at all, one just has more changes than the other. Peace.

[sce05]

WOW THIS IS AN AWESOME VIDEO MASTER

[Joseratc]

I totally agree with the statement you made that, "all traditional Okinawan schools know the same kata with some differences". But no one style can claim to have the closest to the original, not even traditional okinawan styles like Shorin Ryu and Goju because we don't know and will never know. But to say that the Shito Ryu version or any other Japanese version is more traditonal is ridiculous because Okinawa Te (Goju, Shorin) predates Japanese styles (including Shito Ryu) by over 100 years.

[Joseratc]

I totally agree with the statement you made that, "all traditional Okinawan schools know the same kata with some differences". But no one style can claim to have the closest to the original, not even traditional okinawan styles like Shorin Ryu and Goju because we don't know and will never know. So, to say that the Shito Ryu version or any other Japanese version is more traditonal is ridiculous because Okinawa Te (Goju, Shorin) predates Japanese styles (including Shito Ryu) by over 100 years.

[djors]

fucking amazing. he's the best master i ever had the priviledge to meet. He's like a rock, and a very nice person..

I wish i would be half as better as him..

[svaran]

luv it, if you listen you can hear gripping the floors with his toes when he's locking his stance.

Excellent stuff.

[StoffelK5]

This is a true master at work. I had the privilege of meeting him and watching him conduct a karate class back in 1972/3 in Potchefstroom. He was a guest with Shihan Hugh St Thompson (Karate-Do) and Senseis Harold Wagner and Braam Peens. I wonder what has happenened to the latter Karate-ka? I remember a very humble and dedicated Shihan Higaonna. I was at that time enrolled at a JKA Shotokan Dojo and did not really fathom the differences in the kata. Ouss

[dayang1982]

awesome

[zacowako5]

that was bloody good

[svaran]

awesome

[normanski21]

guys. you are looking at someone who can teach karate almost as pure as it can be. GET A GRIP

[malasangre]

Please, don't take Higaonna's sensei name so lightly. If you want to debate with Joseratc, read his statements, and answer to them.

[malasangre]

The funny thing is not that Miyagi sensei and Higashionna sensei taught different versions of their kata, but the fact that it was common in those days to teach kata according to the student's characteristics. And also, a sensei usually changed his kata according to his own learning process. That's why there are so many different versions of seisan, and antiquity is not the only criteria to decide which version is the main version in a tradition.

[Joseratc]

All copies of the original.

[Joseratc]

How could that be? Goju existed first. Funakoshi learned his karate from the Okinawans (Tomari te, Shuri te and Naha te were the primary schools), therefore the Shotokan katas and other Japanese styles derived from Shotokan are copies of the original.

[malasangre]

Do not twist the argument: You said that the shito ryu version was closer to the original, not me. I answered that there are many versions taught (also, there were diffferent versions taught by Higashionna Kanryo sensei). I am glad you rectify your initial words.

[malasangre]

There are a few goju kaiha that preserve seisan versions taught directly by Miyagi Chojun Sensei to their founders: Higaonna sensei learned his seisan from Miyagi An'ichi, who was direct disciple (uchi-deshi) of the late Miyagi Chojun.

[zacowako5]

why dont you try what he's doin, he hits those moves extremely hard

[FreedomToThink]

Please go look up morio higaonna on wikipaedia or something and re-think your statement.

You don't get much closer to traditional goju than him outside of the jundokan