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Kyoshi
Kyoshi's picture
Kenwa Mabuni Quote - Embusen!

Hi all,

i am looking for a specifik quote by Kenwa Mabuni, that says something like: "directions of kata are an indication of where you are in regards to your opponent" - can someone help me to which book it is from, a site and the exact quote? i did try google....

please help :-)

Oerjan Nilsen
Oerjan Nilsen's picture

http://jungdokwan-taekwondo.blogspot.no/2012/03/are-poomsae-designed-to-fight-multiple.html

The quote you are looking for is probably from Kobo Kenpo Karatedo Nyumon . The whole quote and source link is provided in the above blog post.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Kyoshi wrote:
i am looking for a specific quote by Kenwa Mabuni, that says something like: "directions of kata are an indication of where you are in regards to your opponent" - can someone help me to which book it is from, a site and the exact quote? i did try google....

I think the thing you are looking for is this one:

http://seinenkai.com/articles/swift/swift-tidbits1.html

Wisdom from the Past: Tidbits on Kata Applications from Pre-War Karate Books Part One By Joe Swift wrote:
"The meaning of the directions in kata is not well understood, and frequently mistakes are made in the interpretation of kata movements. In extreme cases, it is sometimes heard that "this kata moves in 8 directions so it is designed for fighting 8 opponents" or some such nonsense. I would like to specifically address this issue now.

Looking at the enbusen for Pinan Nidan, one can see that karate kata move in all directions, forward and back, left and right. When interpreting kata, one must not get too caught up in these directions. For example, do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because a kata begins to the left that the opponent is always attacking from the left. There are two ways of looking at this:

1 - The kata is defending against an attack from the left.

2 - Angle to the left against a frontal attack.

At first glance, both of these look alright. However, looking at only number (1), the meaning of the kata becomes narrow, and the kata, which in reality must be applied freely in any situation, becomes awfully meager in its application.

Looking at an actual example, the 5 Pinan kata all start to the left, and then repeat the same series of techniques to the right. Looking at interpretation (1), the opponent must always attack from the left, and while fighting that opponent, another opponent comes from behind so the defender turns to fight that opponent. This type of interpretation is highly unreasonable.

Looking at interpretation number (2) however, the 5 Pinan kata show us that against an attack from the front we can evade either left or right to put ourselves in the most advantageous position to defend ourselves.” - Extract from Karatedo Nyumon by Kenwa Mabuni

All the best,

Iain

Kyoshi
Kyoshi's picture

Nailed it! Thanks :-)

"If you seach far and wide, for something specific Karate-Intel Go to Iain Speciél!"

:-D