Why should you practice Seisan?

scohen0300 · Blue Belt

Hello!

I train in Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, where the kata Seisan is NOT apart of the syllabus. However, my Sensei started teaching it to us a few years back and I forget what his reasoning was. Everybody loves it, myself included.

So my question is, why would someone benefit from including Seisan in their karate practice? Of course I’m going to ask my Sensei, but I’m curious what other points of view you all have to offer.

Thank you![/b]
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- Matsubayashi Shorin Ryu, Nidan

Raul Perez · White Belt

I’m not sure what version you practice but in Oyata’s system Seisan came from Shigeru Nakamura. Nakamura learned from Master Kuniyoshi. The lineage of that Seisan is traced to Ryu Ryu Ko in China associated with whooping crane Chu’an Fa. Many of the techniques and concepts translates well to full contact Bogu Kumite of Nakamura’s Okinawa Kenpo.

Here’s the first opening sequence

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Be8CjJ195/?igshid=ecf962hnxeiw

Raul
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Zenkoku Ryukyu Kempo Karate-Do Renmei - Hanshi Albert Geraldi Association

Spartacus Maximus · Black Belt

Only the instructor knows for sure and it wouldn’t be wrong to ask him what is expected to be gained from practising that kata, especially since it comes from another system’s curriculum. Every kata has its own main points, intent and even philosophy. Knowing what these are is the beginning of understanding their purpose and a good instructor will be able to explain it thoroughly. This would be a good discussion to have with the instructor or seniors when the time is right.

Aside from this, seisan is practised in Naha-te in much the same way the naihanchi kata are in Shuri-te. One of the main purposes is to develop stability and power generation from the lower half of the body so that it can be used in short striking and blocking techniques.

sensei8 · KF Sensei

Yeah, ask, but imho, who really cares why Seisan was added?!?! Your CI added it, so train in it, and benefit from it because it's a very solid Kata. I've not added many, but I've added Kata to my curriculum that weren't part of Shindokan because I found said Kata to be quite beneficial across the board...and I never explained my reason(s) to do so because, well, who really cares!?! It's my dojo, and I'll modify my curriculum however I want to, especially if it'll benefit my Student Body. That's just me.

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**Proof is on the floor!!!

strangepair03 · Blue Belt

In our system Seisan is more of a body tension/breathing kata.
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aurik · KF Sempai

The kata seisan is not just part of our style, but it is one of the 3 core kata of our style (along with sanchin and sanseiryu). It is a requirement for shodan in Uechi-Ryu, so I figure I’ll start learning it in about 9 months to a year.

You can see one of our instructors performing the Uechi version here : https://youtu.be/5GBXhFRU1Dg
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