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css1971
css1971's picture
line of embusen vs direction of movement

In most cases, the line of embusen (direction of performance, or line of attack) of a kata is the same as the direction of movement. However you run into some cases where it's not so clear, and it seems to be where you get interesting applications. For example the end of pinan sandan. I was explicitly taught that I should be looking over my shoulder behind me (both in shotokan and in shito-ryu), with the implication that the line of embusen continued to be to the rear, however the body movement is lateral at this particular point and if you look at most embusen diagrams they indicate the direction of movement, in fact most just indicate the shape of the kata rather than vectors pointing a direction.

Looking at youtube performances for this particular kata it seems pretty hit or miss whether people look over their shoulders. Some look in the direction of movement, some look to the front.

Any thoughts? Particularly on head position indicating the line of embusen where it differs from the direction of movement. What were you taught?

Jr cook
Jr cook's picture

css1971 wrote:
In most cases, the line of embusen (direction of performance, or line of attack) of a kata is the same as the direction of movement. However you run into some cases where it's not so clear, and it seems to be where you get interesting applications. For example the end of pinan sandan. I was explicitly taught that I should be looking over my shoulder behind me (both in shotokan and in shito-ryu), with the implication that the line of embusen continued to be to the rear, however the body movement is lateral at this particular point

I have learned Pinan Sandan the same, looking over the shoulder for the final moves.

One theory to explain this "looking away" is that the evolution of the kata has become a look over the shoulder. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was told at some point that the application for this is an escape/attack to an opponent behind the karateka.

Perhaps it was originally a look to the side at an angle closer to 90 degees? As the intent was lost and applications were re-developed this became a look over the shoulder. Maybe?

Another possibility is that the rule is not "look where you are going" but instead "look where the opponent is going".

To support this I would point to the examples in Pinan Godan where the manji uke technique is used. The hands are working in a direction that opposes the gaze for at least a portion of this sequence. If we use a shoulder throwing application here, we can see that only the later of these two rules would be true.

Just some thoughts to hopefully help get the wheels turning.

 

css1971
css1971's picture

Jr cook wrote:

I have learned Pinan Sandan the same, looking over the shoulder for the final moves.

One theory to explain this "looking away" is that the evolution of the kata has become a look over the shoulder. I'm sure I'm not the only one who was told at some point that the application for this is an escape/attack to an opponent behind the karateka.

Yes, it's the obvious "block the kick from the left" explanation. I've tried it against various holds from the rear and the rear empi can be effective if you can get off line but the over the shoulder punch is useless, and it's also useless to try grabbing anything on an opponent's forearm over your shoulder. Doesn't work, the leverage is terrible.

The problem I have with "look over your shoulder" being an evolution is I was taught both in shotokan and shito-ryu. It must have come from upstream of both i.e. itosu so I'm wondering why it's not universal. I think a more likely application though is a choke - Okuri Eri Jime matches the kata closely.

I'm just wondering on the use of the head to indicate embusen. I don't recall it being explicitly written anywhere though I'm pretty sure that I was taught to do it when performing kata. If it is the case, and the instruction to look over your shoulder is a significant hint then the embusen is towards the rear, the opponent is facing away from it and you are behind him. i.e. you haven't changed direction just because it's the end of the kata.

JWT
JWT's picture

I can't remember now whether I was originally taught that movement looking over my shoulder or to the front. I now do it to the front. I note that in Funakoshi's Kyohan picture he is looking to the front.

This is one of my preferred applications, where sight is to the side or front.

Th0mas
Th0mas's picture

I think head position is an important indicator of application in kata, however it is difficult to know whether it has been added after the original application intent was lost or been changed as part of a re-interpreation to kick-punch-block. 

I think in the case of heian Sandan, the looking direction has been added post 1950 standardisation of the Shotokan Kata's. Added in under the false assumption that you are striking someone behind you. There was a lot of "cross-fertilization" of ideas at that time, which suggests that some of the "improvements" to Shotokan may have also been adopted by other styles (certainly true for Prussian military square bashing, the belt system etc).

In fact in shotokan, specifically the JKA, there is no looking over the shoulder for Heian Sandan. However Nakayama did promote the unrealistic interpretation of defence against a bear hug from behind. Certainly looking over the shoulder whilst simultaneously striking with fist and elbow, was shown as a "self-defence" application in one of Nakayama's Best karate books ( I believe against an attack from a back seat passenger whist driving in a car of all places!). It was also repeated in Nishiyama's "Karate - The Art of Empty hand Fighting. 

I think Iain's interpretation, funakoshi's neck ring throw, is the most likely original intent - which fits with the kata's basic throwing applications theme. This interpretation does not require a head turn, unless it is part of follow-through as you yank your opponent round ( not really required IMHO - works a treat without it )

Iain Abernethy
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css1971 wrote:
In most cases, the line of embusen (direction of performance, or line of attack) of a kata is the same as the direction of movement.

For my way of looking at kata bunkai, I follow Mabuni in that the embusen represents the angle we attack the enemy from (as opposed the common view that it is the line the enemy attacks us from):

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 meagre 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

I totally agree with him and it’s fundamental to the way I view kata. I talk about that in this video too:

css1971 wrote:
However you run into some cases where it's not so clear, and it seems to be where you get interesting applications. For example the end of pinan sandan. I was explicitly taught that I should be looking over my shoulder behind me (both in shotokan and in shito-ryu), with the implication that the line of embusen continued to be to the rear, however the body movement is lateral at this particular point and if you look at most embusen diagrams they indicate the direction of movement, in fact most just indicate the shape of the kata rather than vectors pointing a direction.

Not every version looks over the shoulder. I think the best application for that motion (my primary) is a simple hip throw:

The turn, footwork and arm-motion all fit the kata. The head turn, for those that do that version, is simply the rotation of the head to facilitate body rotation (a common practise in judo, etc).

As a general point, I think the idea of the “head turns” looking for the “new enemy” is a result of always seeing the enemy attacking along the compass points … which Mabuni wrote off as “nonsense”. It’s more practical, and more in keeping with the view outlined by Mabuni, to see the head turns as simply positioning the head in the right place for that angle of attack (i.e. so you are keeping the enemy in front of you and in your line of sight as you attack) or to facilitate rotational follow through (as we often see on takedowns).

Of course, alternative ways of viewing kata are available :-)

All the best,

Iain

Steve from Watford
Steve from Watford's picture

https://youtu.be/-59-hs0MpHI?t=7m44s

Thinking of the end movements to Heian/Pinan Sandan, here's a great example with a good historic link perhaps?

JWT
JWT's picture

Steve from Watford wrote:

https://youtu.be/-59-hs0MpHI?t=7m44s

Thinking of the end movements to Heian/Pinan Sandan, here's a great example with a good historic link perhaps?

Interesting application. Certainly useful against a compliant non attacking uke.