Morning everyone,
I was just writing on my Bunkai Unlimited Discussion group, about some application potential for Isshinryu kata Seiunchin's hammerfist. Now it reminds me this would also serve for Ueichi Seisan's hammerfist strike too.
So in the spirit of the 4th of July, I'd like to set of my sparkler for your enjoyment.
Victor Smith
Bushi No Te Isshinryu
This week I spent some time in class working on some applications from Isshinryu Seiunchin Kata and thought I’d try to share them with you.
For simple reference if you go to Norbert Donnelly’s site http://www.isshinryu.com/seiuchin1.htm
You can find his technique, and although my execution is a little different it should help you understand where I am beginning.
Technique Number 1 – The Hammer of Doom <grin>
As Mr. Donnelly shows, in movement 29, you execute a right hammerfist into the left palm. Or a right back knuckle strike into the left palm. In his photograph you remain in a horse stance while doing this. In my version of the kata, you pull the right leg back turning into a right cat stance facing the front as you execute the back knuckle (hammerfist) strike.
On the surface this seems a very small technique. In application I want to look at the entire picture. Actually both hands are working (and for the Goju inclined this movement can parallel the hammerfist strikes in kata Saifa, too). The left palm turns over (left palm up - counterclockwise) and the right hammerfist/back knuckle strike turns over (right palm up – clockwise).
In my application sequence I use these movements but open them up into larger circles. Essentially the attack I’m countering is coming in fast, so I’m stepping away with my left foot to end in a right cat stance.
As I step away I’m circling my left open hand (upper forearm/wrist up) in a large circle counter-clockwise. My right back wrist lightly touching the bottom of my left wrist. This keeps my body alignment so my centerline is directly facing the wrists as the left arm connects with the incoming limb. With this alignment I deflect the attack up and away from me with very little effort. [This opening deflection is the most important part of the technique, properly done it is effortless, and allows everything else to proceed.]
On impact (wedging block) my hands separate. The left hand rolls over and slides down to their wrist, grabs and continues to circle down to my left side of my abdomen. The right hand rolls over clockwise, fingers close to form the hammerfist/back knuckle strike.
Now my right foot steps slightly forward, I “release” my knees, using my force-multiplier, and rotate my torso counter-clockwise and deliver my right hammerfist towards my left palm.
Unfortunately for Uke, their body part intervenes and they receive the impact, most painfully.
If the attacker is grabbing towards my neck with both hands, or with their left hand, this technique is worked against their left arm from the exterior line of defense. My hammerfist strikes into the triceps tendon just above the elbow with the force directed through their lower arm towards your own left palm. This strike has the potential of breaking their arm at its weakest point, just above the elbow.
If the attacker is grabbing towards the neck with both hands or their left hand, but really rushing you so that when you begin the deflection of their left arm (exterior line of defense) you are almost at their arm pit, you continue the technique, but your left hand slides down to their elbow, your right foot steps past their back, and you turn and deliver the hammerfist into their spinal cord.
If the attacker is grabbing towards your neck with their right arm, you are using this on an interior line of defense, as your hands separate, your left hand slides down to grab their right wrist, your right foot slightly steps in, you release the knees, rotate counter-clockwise and your right hammerfist/back knuckle strike is into their forearm just before the elbow. With their right wrist being pulled down at the same time, their centerline is extended out and down, and you will find they will down themselves (on their back) to get away from the strike.
Of course there are many other answers with different stepping and turning on the interior line of defense that allow the hammerfist strike into the head, neck or chest cavity, too.
Not bad for a little movement is it.
Seisan's Hammerfist Strike
Moderator: Available
Seisan's Hammerfist Strike
Victor, thank you for the isshin-ryu website with the isshin-ryu kata frames. This is a style that I've never seen before, and this was very interesting. The lineage with other Okinawan styles, for example, Nagamine sensei's shorin school, is obvious. But I'm shocked at some of the differences in the movements. What is called Naihanshi (Tekki), Chinto (Gankaku), and Kusanku (Kanku) in Nagamine's school is something very different in isshin-ryu. But I'm very impressed with isshin-ryu. It has a kind of aura all its own (I like the many movements from the kneeling stance - this might be something from the old Te art, which was eliminated in most other styles). What I find particularly interesting is the tendancy towards abbreviated, 3/4 of the way movements, like the downward block with a closed fist that stops 3/4 of the way down, instead of going all the way down with the arm straight, like in most other styles. This is probably the founder's vision of a better way to do things. And it makes sense. You stop the movement 3/4 of the way through, and your muscles sort of work against each other in tension, thereby building more strength, than if the movement was carried all the way through.
I'm also impressed with your application sequence for the backhanded strike movement from the kata. Very analytical, thorough, and well thought out. My whole approach tends to be more intuitive, that is, I think you can just do the katas and the application will take care of itself in an actual fight. However, I wonder about your application of a backhanded strike to the arm or spine. In theory I suppose this could work, but you'd have to have tremendous strength, and a great size advantage over your opponent, to do this. Also, the middle of the spine pressure point is a sensitive one, but I think it would be difficult to hit on a moving target, especially with a backhanded strike. I think the backhanded strike is only suitable for use on an opponent's head. I think what's misleading in the kata is that the backhanded strike is done a waist level, giving one the impression it is to the opponent's body rather than to the head. But I think this gets back to the tendency in the style to stop movements 3/4 of the way through. So in this case the backhanded strike is stopped 3/4 of the way through, at the waist, instead of at the level of the head, but in actuality it is intended for the opponent's head.
I'm also impressed with your application sequence for the backhanded strike movement from the kata. Very analytical, thorough, and well thought out. My whole approach tends to be more intuitive, that is, I think you can just do the katas and the application will take care of itself in an actual fight. However, I wonder about your application of a backhanded strike to the arm or spine. In theory I suppose this could work, but you'd have to have tremendous strength, and a great size advantage over your opponent, to do this. Also, the middle of the spine pressure point is a sensitive one, but I think it would be difficult to hit on a moving target, especially with a backhanded strike. I think the backhanded strike is only suitable for use on an opponent's head. I think what's misleading in the kata is that the backhanded strike is done a waist level, giving one the impression it is to the opponent's body rather than to the head. But I think this gets back to the tendency in the style to stop movements 3/4 of the way through. So in this case the backhanded strike is stopped 3/4 of the way through, at the waist, instead of at the level of the head, but in actuality it is intended for the opponent's head.
Seisan's Hammerfist Strike
Hawrang,
The backhand strike, or slice to the arm is very painful. This movement utilizes the chambering of the hand, you know, that useless technique than no real figher would ever use (I'm being sarcastic of course).
This opens up an entire sub-category of movement analysis, the use of the arm/hand retraction.
Of course it isn't limited to the closed fist applications of karate systems like isshinryu or shorinryu. The chambering open hand of Ueichi's Sanchin posses the same slicing abilities. Once you begin to use this many options present themself.
As to whether it is difficult to hit a moving target, like a fist striking towards you, the answer is it's very easy in that you are intersecting their intrusion with a slicing arc of motion. The rest is practice.
Of course with a parther I strongly urge this be done carefully. Busting up one's partners tends to make them unhappy with you, too.
I believe your disbelief of the potential of the backhand slice/strike rests on looking at the technique from the aspect of modern sport karate. Trying to just hit a head with an extended backfist is quite different from slicing it across somebody's head, body or arm. Of course most sport karate frown's on such impact.
Well I hope this is helpful. I'm off to Southern Penna. for the 4th holiday.
Peace,
Victor Smith
Bushi no Te Isshinryu
The backhand strike, or slice to the arm is very painful. This movement utilizes the chambering of the hand, you know, that useless technique than no real figher would ever use (I'm being sarcastic of course).
This opens up an entire sub-category of movement analysis, the use of the arm/hand retraction.
Of course it isn't limited to the closed fist applications of karate systems like isshinryu or shorinryu. The chambering open hand of Ueichi's Sanchin posses the same slicing abilities. Once you begin to use this many options present themself.
As to whether it is difficult to hit a moving target, like a fist striking towards you, the answer is it's very easy in that you are intersecting their intrusion with a slicing arc of motion. The rest is practice.
Of course with a parther I strongly urge this be done carefully. Busting up one's partners tends to make them unhappy with you, too.
I believe your disbelief of the potential of the backhand slice/strike rests on looking at the technique from the aspect of modern sport karate. Trying to just hit a head with an extended backfist is quite different from slicing it across somebody's head, body or arm. Of course most sport karate frown's on such impact.
Well I hope this is helpful. I'm off to Southern Penna. for the 4th holiday.
Peace,
Victor Smith
Bushi no Te Isshinryu
