Kenichi Sawai (1903-1988)

[ratchadapalazzo]

what rubbish.

[123456789098782]

The majority of Japanese knowing what Tai Ki Ken is all recognize that Sawai had been the student of Wan, founder of Yi Quan, and Taikiken is nearly identical to Yi Quan. It is only Nationalistic people who always prefer to make Japan and China conflict in such a way and who state as if we did not acknowledge facts.

[goodforthemoney]

I do not mean to degrade the man's memory and maybe he was older when this tape was made, but he does not appear to be as good in the art of I chaun as people made him out to be.

[yungyungjp]

道着姿の澤井先生は珍しいですね。会話も聞きたかったです。

[infiniteanswers]

Most people don't know the story behind Kenichi Sawai and Wang Xiangzhai. Kenichi went to challenge Wang and was severely beaten in hand-to-hand combat. Kenichi then tried to lop Wang's head off with a katana, but he just repulsed him again.  Kenichi must have been very sincere because later Wang accepted him as a student. Tai Ki Ken......anybody see the resemblance to Tai Chi Chuen?

[Siddthartha]

sure! it's taichi by kenichi with accent moved to middle distance and some exercise called originally "bridging"(?translate)

[CEITCOGIDO]

Kenichi Sawai was a real martial artist. He saw Wang was way ahead from him, but he didn't have any problem being his student. This is something very few japanese people would do, or someone who has spent all his live studing some martial art. Sawai was beaten one day, and the next one he went to Wang begging to be his student. Just for this he is admirable.

[TaoOfTheFist]

@infiniteanswers Tai Ki Ken is the japanese transliteration of taijiquan, except this tai ki ken means great chi fist, instead of cosmos (grand ultimate) fist.

[rAFiCoRe]

@TaoOfTheFist wrong, the japanese term for taijiquan is taikyokuken, not taikiken.

[RedRafiki]

@infiniteanswers it is the essence of internal arts, of course it looks a little like taijiquan. xingyiquan is even more present. a little bagua is used by wang xuanjie if you watch his dachengquan.

[stardingo747]

I caught the words "Kendo" and "Kodokan Judo," and the word "yodan" or something.

My guess is, he was a black belt in both of those, and while in China he lost a skill test against Yi Quan expert.

[mmarqqs]

Trained budo from childhood (jujutsu etc),

Kendo yodan (4th dan),

Kodokan godan (5th dan),

iaido yodan (4th dan)

1931 went to Manchuria. He met and studied under his teacher in China.

[a1562z]

I'm surprised to see him kicking. In his book he calls it unnecessary. Typical of Southern chines wushu. My philosphy is don't use techniques you would not use on someone better than U so no kicks or holds.Please Hank W ?? u wouldnot accept him as your "disciple???".do you take yourself for a prophet? You will never be in his or Wang's league

[benelliman]

hrm.. Southerners didn't call it Wushu.

Kung Fu.

[a1562z]

I've been told "kung fu" can mean effort or techniqueused to master something difficult by repetitive practice, and that when speaking of martial arts the term "wushu" is used to refer to what we call "kung fu" in English. Are there any Mandarin, or Cantonese speakers out there?? Let's settle this

[benelliman]

nope. You're kind of right.

Wu Shu = communist incorporation of different martial arts into one system. Hence, in Wu Shu tournaments, it looks like a variety of arts all rolled into one. Type in WUSHU on youtube search. It is different from Kung Fu.

Kung Fu = unique fighting system. Mantis Kung Fu, Wing Tsun Kung Fu, Shaolin Kung Fu etc. Kung Fu = Hard training, dedicated discipline, etc etc. There is no direct English translation.

[rekcufeht]

youre right. but for traditionalists, we consider our arts kung fu and not wushu which is the bastardization of the traditional arts

[a1562z]

I'm sorry to read of his death. I never met him but I owe him so much. perhaps my life

[jimmydemoret]

dude, u r so right, reading his book has saved my life on multiple occasions and greatly enhanced my life on every level, peace...

[bogoy106]

japanese version of tai chi only missing the alignments

[hankyw]

but still what is his objective,changing the name hsing yi quan as if he found the style???

[Aetherus7]

He changed some things and presented it with his own flavor. If I create a style based on what I know, it would be disrespectful to call it by the same name, right? Obviously he has never denied it's roots or his teacher.

[VladtheEmailer]

These Yi Quan people are supposed to be really good, but you never see them do anything but practicing standing, or dancing around.

[hankyw]

why Sawai Kenichi change the name of taichi i quan to Taikiken as if he found the style himself...

if i was his Si Fu then i would not accept him as my desciple.

[jungleng]

i don't think taiki is japanese for taiji, taiji in japanese is taikyoku, taiki sounds more like taiqi or something like that. and it does look like what he's doing is yiquan rather than taijiquan

[iancipperly]

Correct. Taikyokuken is japanese for taijiquan (taichichuan) and taikiken is japanese for I chuan (founded by Wang Xiangzhai).

[papersamurai]

I love japanese dancing :)

[douglasferguson21]

taikiken is the chinese martial arts yi chuan. sawai learned it from its founder. its based off of another chinese art xing yi chuan

[BlackVirtue]

doesn't look very inspiring.

[ralfsjaklkk]

cool to see there are kenpo ka's on youtube :)

[senseiramalho]

Here can i find some o teach taikiken in europe?

[luchinomandias]

where in Europe do you want to train?

[senseiramalho]

Im from Portugal, However if there is any seminar in south of Europe, probably i might consider to go.

[luchinomandias]

great to see the master himself .He ,who gave so much to kyokushin.

[narayanr]

That's very interesting! I knew that he was the founder of Taikiken and that he was a star pupil of the late Grandmaster Wang Xiang Zhai, but what I didn't know was that he was also a master of Kyokushin Karate. thanks for the info.

[Seraphicus]

Mas Oyama used him as a consultant when he was formalising Kyokushin and Taikiken and Kyokushin have had a close relationship ever since. Their students often use one another as sparring partners.

[benelliman]

????

to KyokushiN!?!

I don't remember Mas Oyama ever training with this man.

Mas Oyama learned from GI Chin Funakoshi

[contraptionistmikey]

did you know mas oyama?

[benelliman]

Choi Bae Dal?

He died before I got to Japan.

Why do you ask?

Merry Christmas.

[peppe74]

uuuuuuuummmmmmm