This Seisan kata is clearly related to the Goju Ryu Seisan that I practise, but it is much longer and more elaborate (and, I have to say, more impressive). I suspect that it is much closer to the Chinese original than the one taught by Higaonna/Miyagi and passed down to the Goju Ryu karateka of the present day. I rather wish I had studied Uechi Ryu as a young man! Thank you for this very accomplished performance. I have noticed before the distinctive breath exhalations that Uechi Ryu practitioners seem to make during kata. I wonder if you could explain it for those of us who are ignorant of why it is done?
Just came across this again and noticed I was addressing the wrong kata. Sorry about that. It would be a mistake to think that the two Seisan Katas are necessarily related. Also, it is possible that Kanbun Uechi made it up himself and based it on Goju's, as much is not known about what he brought back from China, just a lot of speculation and unsubstantiated stories. Many old Chinese boxing styles originally contained no "forms", which are generally relatively recent additions.
This Seisan kata is clearly related to the Goju Ryu Seisan that I practise, but it is much longer and more elaborate (and, I have to say, more impressive). I suspect that it is much closer to the Chinese original than the one taught by Higaonna/Miyagi and passed down to the Goju Ryu karateka of the present day. I rather wish I had studied Uechi Ryu as a young man! Thank you for this very accomplished performance. I have noticed before the distinctive breath exhalations that Uechi Ryu practitioners seem to make during kata. I wonder if you could explain it for those of us who are ignorant of why it is done?
Just came across this again and noticed I was addressing the wrong kata. Sorry about that. It would be a mistake to think that the two Seisan Katas are necessarily related. Also, it is possible that Kanbun Uechi made it up himself and based it on Goju's, as much is not known about what he brought back from China, just a lot of speculation and unsubstantiated stories. Many old Chinese boxing styles originally contained no "forms", which are generally relatively recent additions.