The Eightfold Path

Research this website, The Eightfold Path. A home study course in Isshinryu Karate by Shihan Harry G. Smith, a direct student of the Founder of Isshinryu, Grand Master Tatsuo Shimabukuro.

Wansu Kata

Joslin's East West Karate—Wansu Kata Facts

What is Wansu Kata known for? The "Big Drop"
What technique do you get for the first time in Wansu Kata? The "Cross-body" punch
What is the new stance you learn in Wansu? Zen Kutsu Dachi
From which village in Okinawa did Wansu come from? Tomari
What is the principle of Wansu Kata? Changing distances
What does Isshinryu mean? One Heart Way
From whom did Master Shimabuku learn Wansu Kata? Chotoku Kyan
Which instructor taught Master Shimabuku Ippon kumite? Master Chokki Motobu

Shotokan practicioners call the Wansu Kata Empi which relates to the flight of the swallow. Master Funakoshi was probably reminded of the up and down movement of swallows in flight in the movement if the kata.

The kata comes from the Shorin-Ryu system and is named for a Chinese attaché. The attaché, some sources say, was shipwrecked while others say he was sent by the government about 1863 to Tomari, near Shuri. Master Wansu was known as the birdman and the Wansu art became known as Tomari Te (forerunners of Shorin-Ryu). Wansu is known as the dumping form and is also known for the hidden punch in the kata and for strong arm punches.

Bushi Matsumura taught the Kata to Choki Motobu and Chotoku Kyan, masters of Shimabuku.

—Isshin-Ryu Karate: The One Heart - One Mind Method
by Master Allen Wheeler

• Dojo cohort at home.
• Promotion demo at dojo.
  

Correct knife attack

Like most beginners, you don't know how to attack.

Test for Purple Belt 2nd Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the second stripe on the purple belt tonight. I need to work on maintaining a vertical center line.

Turns out the "big drop" in the kata is more a goshi as opposed to a katsugi.

Test for Purple Belt 1st Stripe

Renshi Bennati tested me for the first stripe on the purple belt tonight. We did the exam after Mr. Coke's sparring half of his exam for Sankyu. I felt better prepared with this kata than I have with any other.

Open vs Closed Stance

I tend to use an "opened" stance because I do jujitsu and use both hands and knees to enter in on an opponent. Last night one of the black belts in Karate spoke about getting a sparring partner to open up their stance so that you have more options to attack.

A closed stance is turning one side toward the partner so that they don't have an open shot to your midline.

Work on ways to use your opponent to open up. As they open the door draft of the energy and attack.

Another black belt suggested I jump to the side and then do my mae gari attacks. This will cause uki to move and limit their options for a second.

Bruce Lee Quotes

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless-like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."

"All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns."

"A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer."

More quotes at ThinkExist.com.