KATA ORIGINS & BACKGROUND A SYNOPSIS By Dr Ed Hudson 6th dan ata, or formal exercise is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese "hsing" or "quanfa" of "gongfu" (kung fu). It is a ritualistic method that has enabled the KChinese and to a certain extent, Okinawans, to pass on their secrets of self defence. Kata addresses a range of self defence responses to identified common forms of personal attack. These defensive applications (kata) were originally developed to restrain, maim, incapacitate, or kill if absolutely necessary. A common held belief is that Japanese Karate-Do originated from the martial arts practised by the monks in the Shaolin Temple in Henan Province in China (Northern Shaolin Temple). It is reported that the monks at the Shaolin Temple practised White Crane and Eighteen Monk Fist Boxing1. The monk Feng Zhonggong travelled to Fuchou in Fujian province where he trained at the Southern Shaolin Temple on Julien mountain. This temple was built in the reign of the T'ang Emporer Zhen Guan (627- 649 AD). It was last destroyed in the 1800s during the Boxer Rebellion. View of Julien Mountain over Fuchou Entrance to Temple Temple grounds Julien Mt Fuchou City skyline (1985) mountain pathway Temple Monk Monk caligraphy on boulders in Temple Grounds. (Renshi Hudson) 1 Bubushi, The Bible of Karate Patrick McCarthy Charles E Tuttle Company 1996 p30 The Chidokan System of Shotokan Karate-Do The above photos are of a temple, which currently exists on Julien Mountain. It is not the original Southern Shaolin Temple that existed in Fuchou. That temple was destroyed in 1673. Article 1 of the Bubishi states that in spite of Feng's fighting skills in Monk Fist Boxing, he sustains injuries in a fight, which ultimately lead to his death. His daughter Feng Qiniang, resolves to avenge her father's death and in the process of training for this eventuality develops White Crane Boxing2 which was and still is prevalent in Fuchou. Fuchou became recognised for its martial arts traditions, which were practised by a number of its famous residents. Okinawa has had strong relationships with Fujian province in China for years and over time influenced Okinawan martial art systems through individual contacts. Many great Okinawan martial artists visited and trained in Fuchou, such as Kanryo Higaonna3, Chojun Miyagi4, Kusankun5, Sakugawa6, Takahara, Higa7, Bushi Matsumura8, just to name a few. Higaonna's style became known as Nahate, which subsequently became known as the Shorei School. Bushi Matsumura's style, who studied under Kusankun and Sakugawa, became known as Shurite which subsequently became known as Shorin school. Tomari te was popularised by Matsumora and Oyadomari9. Various katas can be traced from these particular styles and their originators. Funakoshi refers to various katas as either coming from the Shorin (Shaolin) or Shorie schools10 The first recorded evidence of karate, known originally as "tode", is generally accepted to be 1761 when Kusanku demonstrated Chinese boxing in Okinawa11 Tode (te in Japanese) which literally means Chinese Hands, was introduced to Okinawa between 1850 - 1950 even though prior to 1850 the martial arts in Okinawa had been reserved solely for the upper class and was practised in secret12. There appears to be no historical evidence that karate or tode was developed by Map of the Okinawan Region 2 IBID Bubishi pp62-64 3 The History of Karate, Morio Higaonna Dragon Books 1996 p9 4 IBID p53 5 Bubishi, IBID p34 6 Bubishi IBID p34 7 The Okinawan Shorin Legacy. The Matsumura Seito Society Glen Premru 8 The Kinawan Shorin Legacy 9 Classical Kata of Okinawan Karate Patrick McCarthy Ohara Publications1987 p18 10 Karate-Do Kyohan The Master Text, Gichin Funakoshi Kodansha International 1974 p9 Also refer to To-Te Jitsu, Gichin Funakoshi Masters Publication 1994 11 Okinawan Karate, Teachers Styles & Techniques Mark Bishop A&C Black London1995 p10 12 IBID p10 © Edward Hudson 2 The Chidokan System of Shotokan Karate-Do Okinawan peasants as a fighting system as a means to overthrow the Satsuma war lords (Japanese) who invaded Okinawa in 160913. It is difficult nowadays to maintain the classification of kata into the geographical names given by local Okinawan's as Nahate, Tomarite and Shurite. THE PURPOSE OF KATA The only reason we have karate today is because we have kata. Various katas have survived until today from various styles, which have been passed down from student to student. Without this historic practice there would be no need to karate as we know it today. It would have vanished long ago. Kata is the essence of karate and its reason for existence today. Kata is basically a compilation of techniques that represent seizing, attacking vital points, grappling, throwing techniques, dislocation of joints, strangulation and striking. All of these anatomical actions were designed for the sole purpose of self- defence. These actions result in providing the defender with the ability to principally restrain maim, incapacitate, or kill if absolutely necessary. Because human beings, regardless of race or origin have the same anatomical structure, these techniques work universally. In addition to our complex network of nerves, the human body consists of organs, bone, tendons, arteries and veins. A person's movement can be impaired if bones or tendons have been seriously injured. One can lose consciousness if blood or airflow has been impaired or if one is in great pain. Techniques that cut off the flow of blood and/or air or shock organs or rupture veins or arteries obviously achieve its purpose14. Funakoshi has a whole chapter on striking vital points, which have been copied, straight from the Bubishi15. Attacking vital points16 are not the only techniques compiled in kata. Techniques include hitting, thrusting, kicking and throwing and pressure against joints17. These techniques should be practised against a wide range of possible forms of attack such as attacks by sword, dagger, stick18, grasping of the wrists, clothing, neck or other parts of the body19. Kata was developed as individual forms of effective self defense strung together in set routines so they could be practiced and not forgotten. Many of these katas (hsing) were simply represented by the number of techniques included in the kata for example 13 Seisan (Hangetsu), 24 Neiseishi (Nijushiho), 54 Useishi (Gojushiho)20. 13 IBID p11 14 Kata Patrick McCarthy International Ryukyu Karate Research Society Published Paper 1994 p5 15 Karate-Do Kyohan The Master Text, Gichin Funakoshi Kodansha International 1974 pp239 - 244 16 IBID p234 17 IBID p227 18 IBID p233 19 IBID p235 20 Kata Patrick McCarthy International Ryukyu Karate Research Society 1994 p8 © Edward Hudson 3 The Chidokan System of Shotokan Karate-Do An Application from Bassai Dai: Alternative Applications: KATA PRACTICE Ask 10 karate students how or why they practice kata you will probably get 10 different answers. As detailed earlier, the principle reason of kata is to provide the student with techniques that seize, hold, grab, throw, lock joints, dislocate joints, © Edward Hudson 4 The Chidokan System of Shotokan Karate-Do strangle and traumatise anatomically vulnerable locations. Other principles contained in kata are21; • Mental preparation (yoi no kishin) • Yin & Yang (inyo) • Defence and Offence (Go no sen) • Defensive initiative (sen no sen) • Distance (maai) • Foot work and Body shifting (ashi sabaki and tai sabaki) • Expanding and contracting (tai no shinshuku) • Total joint forces (chikara no kyuojaku) • Power (kiai jutsu) • Spirit (qi) • Speed & rhythm (waza no kankyu) • Resilence (ju no ri) • Zanshin (mental alertness) To fully understand and truly appreciate the above requires tremendous dedication and training which is why in previous days students only mastered one or two katas. An Application from Bassai Dai: KATA IN THE MODERN ERA Up until the end of the nineteenth century most students studied and practiced one or two katas only. This was due to the fact that those who new the secrets would only teach these to a select few, usually the eldest son of the family22. In the early 1900s Itosu, one of the great karate masters, was one of the main instigators for establishing karate as part of the physical education curriculum in Okinawa's school system23. 21 Karate-Do Development, Essence And Aims Lecture Notes, Patrick McCarthy International Ryukyu Karate Society Europe 1995 p18 22 Okinawan Kempo Choki Motobu Masters Publication 1995 p 14 © Edward Hudson 5 The Chidokan System of Shotokan Karate-Do The emphasis was on the physical fitness attributes accruing from karate training. The focus was on the physical, while rejecting the age honoured practice of focusing on the spiritual and self defence applications (bunkai) associated with kata practice. Ankor Itosu This change in emphasis and mental attitude grew out of necessity as the old training practice of one on one changed to group training. Kata practice became basically an exercise for health and fitness, which it is, at the expense of kata's original purpose. The Okinawan's found they had something uniquely Okinawan to give to the world after years of being regarded as second class citizens by the Japanese. This led to a period where the true understanding of kata applications (oyo) was lost. With two world wars thrown in for good measure, including the occupation of Japan and Okinawa by allied forces, the practice of martial arts was banned and only practiced by the dedicated in private behind closed doors. Many senior students also lost their lives during the Second World War taking with them the knowledge of the "old ways". After the war a concerted effort was made to revitalise karate-do. The occupation forces withdrew their ban on the practice of martial arts. The war and the eventual occupation brought with it a positive aspect for karate-do.