Origins of Shotokan (DVD) is now available through Amazon.co.uk or direct via Paypal (please email seanwt@hotmail.co.uk for this option, should you wish to choose it), for £11.99 + postage. (Introductory Offer ends 30th November, subsequently rising to £13.99 on Amazon, whilst remaining £11.99 direct.) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Origins-Shotokan-Funakoshis-Okinawan-Japanese/dp/B00GMT8QMW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid;=1384439203&sr;=8-1&keywords;=origins+of+shotokan The new, original film comprises Okinawan Shorin Ryu karate kenpo of Master Gichin Funakoshi's lineage, primarily. Sean R. Marshall demonstrates and narrates the origins of Japanese Shotokan karate. The clip shown is from "Hohan Soken: The Life of a Grand Master", by Yamazato Productions. It is the kata ūsēshi (ueseishi/useshi/useishi/ueseshi), known as gojūshiho (gojushiho) in Japanese, both meaning "54 [steps]". The former name is the Okinawan pronunciation of Mandarin Chinese. There are many versions of ueseishi (gojushiho), written by Master Gichin Funakoshi in his text "Karate Jutsu" ("Ryukyu Kenpo Karate") to be individual kata. When more than one version was known, it came to be standard practice to name one version of the kata with the suffix "dai", and the other (if there were just two) with the suffix "shō". In modern Shōtōkan karate, two versions of gojūshiho are practised - gojushiho dai and gojushiho sho (54 steps [big], and 54 steps [little]). This is a practice that dates back centuries in China, so was not an Okinawan addition. But some versions were, and may still be, separated by including the name of the creator, for example Itosu ūsēshi, or Itosu no ūsēshi. Note that "no" is Japanese, while "nu" is Okinawan. But Itosu no useshi is a mix of dialects anyway. According to Sensei Kanazawa of Shotokan karate, in his book "Karate: The Complete Kata", the version of gojūshiho which is commonly known as the "dai" version ("shō" in Kanazawa's school) was introduced (or re-introduced) by Master Kanken Toyama, while the version commonly known as "shō" was from Master Kenwa Mabuni, and apparently carried some changes from Master Mabuni. Both kata are similar to each other, and appear to be from Master Itosu. Either one of them is the original Itosu gojushiho, or both are similar to the original, or they are both different versions originating from Master Itosu. They both possess great similarities with Matsumura gojushiho (ueseishi), which is the demonstrated version in this upload as well as the version of ūsēshi that I practise (included in the DVD, Origins of Shotokan). Gojūshiho [shō] appears closer on one hand (with shihon nukite techniques, for example), while gojūshiho [dai] seems closer on the other hand (for example, stepping back for the third punch in the "double punch, front kick, punch" combinations near the beginning of both kata). And then both have similarities with each other which differ from Matsumura gojushiho. Master Tōyama's gojūshiho was apparently called koryu gojushiho. It cannot be determined for certain without some other evidence, whether these kata are altered versions of Itosu's or if one is or both are actually the original Itosu kata. But what is certain is that they are related to each other and to Itosu's ūsēshi kata, as well as being descended from Master Matsumura's ūsēshi. Note that both Tōyama and Mabuni studied under Master Itosu. Therefore, Master Funakoshi would have known what the most appropriate name was for each version (dai/shō). And Funakoshi may have known one or more versions of ūsēshi, which may have included Matsumura no ūsēshi. This video clip is for educational purposes. The DVD, Origins of Shotokan, is an original recording by Sean R. Marshall of Marshalls' Art-Productions. It does not feature any content from anyone else's footage, such as from the DVD from which this clip (two clips which I edited together to aid the educational purpose of the upload) was taken, entitled "Hohan Soken: The Life of a Grand Master".

• published: 14 Nov 2013
• views: 237