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Mark B
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Aragaki Seisan

Hi all

Aragaki Seisho was born in the village of Kume Mura, Okinawa in 1840. He died in 1918, although some say the year of his passing was 1920.

Versions of the kata Unshu, NIseishi, Sochin and, of course Seisan are attributed to Aragaki 

Although today Sanchin (Naha Te) & Naihanchi  (Shuri Te) are considered the fundamental forms there is a belief that perhaps Seisan may have been the first taught with teachers in Naha, Shuri & Tomari. 

The earliest record of Seisan kata is a performance by Aragaki Seisho at Shuri in 1867 at a demonstration for the Chinese Ambassador to Okinawa . 

This is significant as this was at a time when notables such as Itosu Anko, Azato Anko & even more significantly Matsumura Sokon  were active, yet Aragaki Seisho was chosen to give the demonstration for an important guest! 

Wikipedia lists Aragakis teacher as Wai Xinxian - also known as Ryu Ryu ko. He is listed as a practitioner of Fujian White Crane,  but as Patrick McCarthy Hanshi says, 

"There is a common source for Seisan kata as its collective templates are classically Fujian - based Quanfa ...........the exercise clearly demonstrates Tiger, Monk,Lion and Southern Praying Mantis  movement and technique ".

My own study is in its infancy regarding these links, however I  can certainly see Monk and Southern Praying Mantis undertones  at this early stage, and will be studying these further.

Although Aragaki Seisho left no "styles " behind his list of notable students is significant - Higoshianna Kanryo ( prior to his visit to China to learn from Wai Xinxian ),  Funakoshi Gichin, Chitose Tsuyoshi, Uechi Kanbun, Mayagi Chojun,, Mabuni Kenwa to name a few - a considerable list of notables.

Patrick McCarthy Hanshi  tells us he originally learned the Aragaki Seisan from Richard Kim during the 1970s.

McCarthy Hanshi undertook significant study , meeting with Higa Yuchoku to gain insight into Aragaki katas Sochin,NIseishi, Seisan & Unshu. 

McCarthy Hanshi re introduced the classical Fujian based stepping and sliding movement,  and the opening of the fists as preferred in the Original Chinese version, as testified by Kyan Chotoku and Mayagi Chojun. 

From his study McCarthy Hanshi shares his personal interpretation based on his lengthy study of the many versions of Seisan kata,  allied to his understanding of its History. 

I begin by sharing McCarthy Hanshi demonstrating the Aragaki Seisan.  My own study and application practices, whether Bunkai Oyo, two person "flow"exercises or pad/impact exercises. 

Info for this introduction was sourced from Wikipedia,  and McCarthy Hanshis own writing on "Aragaki Seisan & Chokyu -gata"

Many thanks to Patrick McCarthy for his deep study,  which enabled my own humble study of Aragaki Seisan to begin.

So, we begin. The applications I present will sometimes follow the "line" of the kata. 

However,  I take the view that kata is not linear - essentially any element should have the potential to work alongside another (providing sound combative principles are demonstrated) to achieve the goal of defending oneself against the habitual acts of physical violence. 

To this end I will occasionally "link" different elements from different parts of the form to achieve my aims. It is my personal belief that this is why one ( or two) kata could constitute a lifetimes study. 

This makes sense if we consider the sheer amount of possibilities and potential combinations,  plus the required time and diligence to practice each possibility to a level of unconscious competence.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Mark,

Looks great! Could I ask you to double check I’ve embed the videos properly? The first time I tired the same video appeared twice (my error). I think I’ve got it as you intended now, but I just want to be sure before I share it with the lists?

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain 

That looks fine, thanks.

I've got another couple (I think) of clips to add, which I'll do pretty much now if that's ok before you share it.

Regards

Mark 

https://youtu.be/ex8P4uJ_n84

https://youtu.be/6GiUr6R_V-4

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Mark B wrote:
I've got another couple (I think) of clips to add, which I'll do pretty much now if that's ok before you share it.

Hi Mark,

I’ve embedded those two videos at the end of the initial post; that way they are all in one place. Is the order OK? Please let me know when you are happy for me to share.

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

That's great Iain. Many thanks Regards Mark

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain

Here's one more to add for now.

There are lots more I'll need to add in due course,  but this might be the last for a few weeks as we're working on Naihanchi in the dojo at present.

Best regards 

Mark 

https://youtu.be/-W9IMf-2Szg

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Thanks Mark. I’ve embedded the video. Are you OK with me sharing the link now?

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain Many thanks. Yes, please do. I'll look to do more recording for the form in the near future, in a way we're almost at halfway in the kata, so that's a sensible place to break off for now. We're focusing on Naihanchi in training at the moment and for the next few weeks, so I don't want to disrupt my students training. As I say, I will get several more examples for Aragaki Seisan recorded soon so we can at least have application practices for the whole kata. Many thanks for suggesting this in the first place Regards Mark

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Mark,

I added in the extra video. Am I OK to launch now? Lots of info there for people to make their way through! :-)

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Yes please Iain. Hopefully people will find them interesting. Regards Mark

Stevenson
Stevenson's picture

Thanks for this Mark. Very interesting. As it would happen we were drilling techniques last night that look very much like your opening sequence. Timely. I haven't looked at Seisan in a long time - the Aragaki version looks a lot different to the one I remember. :)

Mark B
Mark B's picture

The opening sequence is a pretty standard idea and principle - redirect the linear energy whilst shifting to a more advantageous position/angle before delivery of a telling impacting technique.  Aragaki Seisan suggests palm heel strike, which suits my own preference. The use of Age Uke as a receiving and redirecting option is just one possibility,  but the single knuckle strike is certainly appropriate for targeting the areas I mention on the video.

Although the Aragaki version itself has what appears to be many differences to more common versions of Seisan the Embusen is more or less the same,  and the structure of the kata is very similar to the more commonly practiced forms.

I'm glad you found them of interest

Regards 

Mark