Seisan Changes

Its about time I write something on this blog. At least to keep notes for myself.

So lets talk about Seisan Kata.

There are a series of three moves where we are stepping to Seisan Dachi.  During these steps both hands are at the side with the fingers raised, the wrist or "heel" of the hand being at the lowest point (this provides a form of Hikite). As we step, the hand on the same side as the forward leg performs a sote-uke movement (move the hand to the opposite waist and move it across your front in a sweeping Soto movement). However the hand was arranged like a Heito but the thumb was set to provide the hook in what we called Tekube-kake-uke (hooked wrist block).

But this appears to have changed (or I was just doing it wrong). Regardless, the goal of this movement now is an intercepting block using the back of the hand. This actually improves completing the next step which is to then rotate the wrist and grabbing the attackers arm/wrist to pull them off balance.

This approach is much easier and softer and takes a lot less energy.

This form of block is called Kote - Uke

Metsuke

Where you look is important, not just to keep from walking into telephone poles or driving over your neighbour's pug but also when performing Karate. The beginner Karate student does not usually pay attention to where they are looking when performing a kick or punch. When I was first introduced to this concept I too was skeptical of its importance. However, I soon learned otherwise when practicing applications or bunkai.

So I practised Hen Chu Ho with metsuke(pronounced "met-ski") and it seemed that the direction of my gaze affected my body posture. My improved posture put my opponent further into Kasushi (off balance) than without proper metsuke. With this improved kasushi I was able to throw my opponent with greater ease.

Metsuke refers to gaze or focus point. Often I have heard the term "look at the mountains". In this case it refers to looking at the whole body of my opponent and not focusing on their arms or feet. In a way, it is looking at something without focusing on a single point.

So it helps me improve my bunkai technique but there are other applications of metsuke.

In sparring your facial expression affects your opponent. Churchill once said: "I like a man who smiles when he fights". I am not sure I agree with smiling in the sparring ring (someone might call a therapist for you) but metsuke in this case refers to two things. How you view what your opponent is doing and how your opponent perceives your confidence during the competition.

When sparring I avoid staring at my opponents feet or hands. Often I try to look past my opponent through their eyes. This way, my peripheral view will catch all arm and leg movement, and their eye movement will divulge their intentions.

In the second case, a calm, impassive face is considered the ideal situation.

http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/ji/data/4460.html
http://web.mit.edu/jpnet/ji/data/4153.html