Seisan Katas

Seisan Katas

Aikite

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History Of Seisan

Many regard Seisan to be the oldest existing form in Okinawan karate. It is unique because it is perhaps the only
traditional form that was practiced in the all three major Okinawa styles; Shuri-te, Tomari-te and Naha-te.
Variations of Seisan can be found in almost every major ryuha (style) and no-one can truly say that their version is
the true correct version.

Being regarded as the oldest Okinawan form and having a unique lineage tracing back to all three major Okinawan
styles, Seisan is both well-respected and well-researched. All this again leads to one thing - debate - and with no
written Okinawan records to clarify any theory 100%, people can only speculate best on the evidence they can
accumulate.
There are varying schools of thought relating to Seisans name.

To begin, lets look at the formation of most karate kata. Many of the old masters of Okinawa-te would travel to
live and train in China. There they would learn Chinese forms and bring these back to Okinawa, reshaping stances,
hand techniques and movements to suit them to their indigenous style. In essence they were taking the best of
Okinawa-te and Kung-fu to create the first styles of kara-te. Seisan however is believed by many to be its true
Chinese name as Tiger Style Quan-fa (Tora kenpo) still has a form called Seisan, though it is much longer and
more complex than all Okinawan versions. Believers of this theory back it up by the fact that a number of Okinawan
masters who traveled to China all ended up teaching it under the same name back in Okinawa and all had a very
similar embusen (lines of movement).
The Lineage They Put Forth Is As Follows:
In the mid 1800s Bushi Matsumura studied in China and there is a version of Seisan attributed to him (Shuri-te).
In the late1800s Kanryo Higaonna studied in China and the Goju Ryu, Toon Ryu and Shito Ryu Seisan traditions
are all attributed to his teachings.
In the late 1800s, Kanbun Uechi (founder of Uechi-Ryu) studied in China and the Uechi-Ryu Sesian traditions is
attributed to his teachings.

This seems very plausible but there are many who disagree strongly and bring heat to the debate of this great kata.
These researchers claim that Seisan (or Seishan) has no relation to the tiger form of the same name and was
actually given its name by Okinawans, naming the kata after a famous Chinese martial artist who lived on the
island of Okinawa around 1700 and practiced the kata there. It is said that he was one of the greatest karate men
of that era.
They not only back this theory up, they raise some doubt to the other popular theory. Prior to the Okinawan
masters traveling to China, each was proficient in Okinawan-te and could easily have learnt the kata prior to their
pilgrimage.
Take the Shuri-te lineage of Seisan that is credited to Bushi Matsumura. Matsumura did study in China as stated

Seisan Katas
above, but the kata is linked back to astronomer and map-maker Takahara Perchin. Takahara was the first teacher
of Tode Sakugawa (Matsumuras first master in Okinawa). This implies that Matsumura learnt the kata long before
traveling to China therefore possibly linking it back to the man, Seisan (seishan).

Now take the Naha-te lineage of the kata credited to Kanryo Higaonna. After training in China he formed Naha-te
and introduced to this style many of the kata we practice in Go-Kan-Ryu). Prior to Higaonnas travels, his Okinawan
instructor (master Seisho Aragaki) was already teaching him Seisan kata in Okinawa. Aragaki was a member of the
aristocracy and a close confidant of the Ryukyu King. This meant he was in regular contact with Bushi Matsumura
and they most likely trained together. It is probable that Aragaki either learnt the kata from Matsumura (as we
know Matsumuras lineage with this kata) or that Aragaki already knew his version and they exchanged ideas.
So when one considers the age of kata Seisan, it is most likely that all learnt the kata prior to their studies in
China.

There is also debate over the interpretation of the Japanese translation of Seisan. The Japanese kanji is made up of
two figures, the first Sei translating as 10 and the second San as 3. So it is generally translated as 13 (the
number for good luck in China) or as 10 hands and 3, symbolizing 10 fighting sequences where most techniques
are repeated 3 times. Yet with this in mind, two things must be noted. Firstly, Kata were not written in kanji until
they reached Japan, so no-one can say if the Japanese name or translation is correct. Secondly, there are two
popular kanji interpretations, both with different translations. This is not uncommon in kata, as Seiunchin for
example has four majorly different kanji interpretations, each with a different meaning).
As previously mentioned, Seisan heavily utilises sequences of techniques repeated three times. It has a broach
range of hard and soft techniques, representing a complete arsenal of punching, kicking, striking, locking,
throwing and strangling. Unusual techniques are included, and it includes releases (hazushi waza) from bear hugs
and body holds.
Many of the applications of Seisan are really quite brutal. This is not a punch/kick/block kata. The techniques in
this kata range from locks and holds, to nerve strikes and even a couple of examples of a rarely employed
technique that is similar to what modern street fighters might call fish-hooking

Final note: Gichin Funakoshi (of Shuri-te lineage) who introduced karate to Japan changed the name of Seisan to
Hangetsu (also a kata of Go-Kan-Ryu) for his Shotokan style. While the name was changed, by this time, the Shurite lineage of this kata had also greatly changed the techniques, embusen (performance lines) and even stances.
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Name of Kata: Seisan, Sesan, Seishan, see also Hangetsu. The following meanings:
Se=1,San=3;"13 Taten des Gwan J",
13 layers of defense and attack,

Seisan means "13". 13 is a prime number and a lucky number in China, the health and wealth of promises,

Ju / Be = ten, San = three, this is the original Chinese Kanji Dr Seisan and it says 13 (13 process, not
movements). After the Okinawa Karate researchers Kinjo Akio Kata had 13 procedures, but due to the long process of
developing additional methods have been added,
Morio Higaonna tends to the following declaration of the number 13: "The name of the Kata Sesan is based on 13
principles of Buddhism pacifist"
Seishan: Thirteen hands

Your old Chinese name was Shi San Shi, which means that "13 Power", which are already described in the Book of
Changes (I Ching).