Shorin Ryu Kusanku Kata

Video of Kusanku being performed by Toshiaki Gillespie. Shorin Ryu Karate

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Kata
• Karate
• Kusanku
• Kushanku
• Kanku
• Kuda
• Matsumura
• Kenpo
• Seito
• Shorin
• Ryu

[RoccoCypress]

this Matsumura Kenpo version of Shorin Ryu. Yuichi Kuda's style. Kuda learned from Hohan Sokon. This is closely related to Sokon Matsumura Seito style but not exactly the same. This was a clip from an old Panther Productions training video and is being performed at a slow speed so that the viewer can follow along.

[joeykarateka]

Most experienced and knowledgeable karatekas of traditional styles do NOT deny but rather embrace our Chinese origin. It's those that took classes at McDojos that have no clue. Please do not generalize based on a few that don't really know karate. This kata is of Chinese origin but most of the movements are linear which is a Japanese influence.

[joeykarateka]

@RoccoCypress I think many are commenting on the uniqueness of the kata because Soken performed this kata very differently.  Kuda apparently made more significant changes than most of the other Soken students that have passed it down so it does look very different from the majority of the kusanku versions that are more widely known. This is not a criticism, just an observation, it's different that's all.

[gunblazingmutant]

Much different from the Isshinryu version

[nautilusagency]

It's entirely WRONG!

[rijnjlj]

Thank you for the performance. I studied under Kuda for 3 years in Okinawa. While most of these comments are less than positive, Sensei Kuda would most likely dismissed everyone who was critical with "do it better yourself"

[anaaman]

Thanks for sharing. This kata is performed poorly. Hi eyes are everywhere. Sad to see a high rank not focusing with his/her eyes where he or she should be focusing at. Sensei James Coffman will be saddened to see martial artist performing poor katas.

[joeykarateka]

@49sGirl you need to find a different Sensei!!!!

[WolfDruid623]

@joeykarateka nicely put.



[Ebureto]

... Okinawan convention they cannot say that they teach Shorin-ryu Matsumura Seito. Whether they use that label behind closed doors or just when they're outside Okinawa is another thing entirely.

[Ebureto]

As far as surviving students of Master Soken teaching "Matsumura Seito" is concerned, I've been told by several people whom I trust and have no reason to lie to me that "nobody says Matsumura Seito on Okinawa anymore". That's why Kuda-sensei formed his Shorin-ryu Matsumura Kenpo group, Kise-sensei formed his Shorin-ryu Kenshinkan system, and Arakaki made his Shorin-ryu Shinbukan (I think?) system before he died. They all do (or did) what they do, but in the strictest sense according to...

[joeykarateka]

@Ebureto ...Matsumura Seito. Changing the kata doesn't make it a different style. Kise does claim, and rightly so, to teach Matsumura Seito, as to others in Okinawa. Slight variations in kata, yes most definitely, but "orthodox karate inspired by the teachings of Matsumura" (which is what Matsumura Seito means) is taught by many legitimate instructors in Japan and throughout the world.

[joeykarateka]

@Ebureto I definitely agree that the differences seen amongst students of Soken does not invalidate or make their karate any less legitimate. That would be the case with just about every style there is, with the exception of "made up" styles that have arbitrarily changed kata with little or any consideration for bunkai by individuals without the wisdom/experience to alter kata. Along the same lines of thinking, just because the kata are slightly different doesn't mean that it is not...