|
OKINAWAN SHURI-RYU
KARATE-DO & O'Sensei Robert Trias
Shuri-ryu
has the longest unbroken history of any system of
karate, and its origins can be traced back to Taishi
Bodhidharma, who was the founder of Zen and of karate,
in the 6th century.
Shuri-ryu karate is
known as the ancient karate of Okinawa, whose greatest
exponents were masters Sokon Matsumura,
Ankoh Itosu and Choki Motobu. Another master who
furthered the development of Shuri-ryu karate was the
Chinese
master Shang Tsao Hsing, who integrated the internal
Chinese systems of Hsing-yi, Pakua and Chuan-fa
(kung-fu) with
the ex ternal
systems of Shaolin-chuan, Chuan Pei and Hung Kun. The
elder Hsing left his knowledge to his nephew, T'ung
Gee Hsing, whom he had raised from early childhood.
During a time when
T'ung Gee Hsing was living in the Chinese Settlement of
Kume Mura in Okinawa, he
was approached for his martial arts knowledge by the
greatest Okinawan master of this century, the
legendary Choki Motobu. Hsing and Motobu shared their
knowledge and the incorporation of their two noble
styles became the entirety of the Shuri-ryu system as
taught today.
From Okinawa T'ung Gee
Hsing traveled to the Solomon Islands as a missionary.
There, in 1942, he met with
Robert A. Trias, a young American serviceman who was
middleweight boxing champion of the U.S. Navy.
Following a now famous exchange, between the two men
Trias began training in Hsing-yi and Shuri karate-Kempo
under Master
Hsing. Later during the war, he was also able to train
with Hoy Yuan Ping in Singapore (1944). Ping was a
Cantonese master
who had been associated in the realm of the martial arts
with Hashinosuka Fukuda, of the Ten shin Sinjo school of
Kempo ju-jitsu
in Japan.
When the war ended in
1945, Trias returned to the United States and was the
first to introduce karate to America. He opened
the first karate school in 1946 and formed the United
States Karate Association in 1948.
OKINAWAN SHURI-RYU KARATE-DO
- TAIKYOKU ICHI
(1), NI (2), SAN (3) - First Cause
- WANSU - Strong
Arm Dumping Kata
- ANAKU - A
Swallow on the Beach and Pivoting Form
- NAIFANCHI KATA
Shodan(1st level), Nidan(2nd level), Sandan(3rd
level)
Iron Horse Form, to straddle a horse
- SANCHIN KATA -
Three Conflicts
- EMPI-SHO -
Flying Swallow Form
- BASSAI-DAI -
Breaking or Penetrating ones Fortress or Defense
- GOPEI-SHO -
Peacocks Methods of Tearing or Ripping
- DAN ENN SHO
-Hsing-Yi's Hand Attacks Through the Fire or Heat
- KANKU SHO - A
lesser version kata of Kusanku / in Viewing the Sky
- TENSHO -
Revolving Hands or Change of Grips
Ryukyu
Karate-do (The Okinawan Way of the Open hand)
Okinawa is the main island of an archipelago known as
the Ryukyu (rhee-you que)
Archipelago. This is a seven hundred mile long island
chain which extends from
southern Japan to Taiwan. The name Ryukyu is of Chinese
derivation, composed
of two Chinese characters RYU=meaning flow, and
KYU=meaning seek.
In
1917, an Okinawan named Funakoshi, Gichin traveled to
Kyoto, Japan to
demonstrate Okinawan Martial Arts at the Butoku Den in
order to spur interest
within the Dai Nippon Butoku kai. In 1922, he made a
second trip to Tokyo,
Japan at the request of Japanese Military Officials, and
formally introduced
Okinawan Martial Art Hanshi's (Masters) to Japan's
mainland.
OKINAWAN SHURI-RYU
KARATE-DO & Shihan Pete
Rabino
Pete
Rabino 8th Dan Shihan
- Chief Instructor
Karate-do has
been a way of life for Kyoshi Rabino ever since
he set foot into O'Sensei dojo at the age of 13
in Phoenix, Az,
by initially being t rained
by his brother Sam Rabino in Chinese Gung-fu.
Though the path was often long and arduous, it
brought
to his life a sense of peace, harmony and a
certain fulfillment of his cultural heritage,
Pete
was born to be a fighter, and today credits
Grandmaster Trias with channeling his fighting
spirit in a positive direction. With the
structured training of the Trias Dojo, Mr.
Rabino quickly
established himself as an outstanding competitor
in both Kumite and Kata. He won the USKA
Grand nationals from 69-73. He is remembered by
many for his lightning fast backhand and
deceptive drop kick, both of which he used on
the day he come out of retirement to place
in the Masters division of the 1985 World Karate
Championships in Houston, Texas. In 1971
Master Trias appointed Mr. Rabino as one of the
first Chief Instructors at the Hombu Dojo,
and in 1974 he was elected into the Trias
International Society.
HSING-YI (WU SHU) Chinese Martial Arts
Because Hsing Yi is a prototype of Shuri-ryu, the Shuri-ryu student should
familiarize
themselves with the core of our system. The
name, "Hsing-yi," means "imaginary intellectual
fist," and represents" the feel of the human
mind." Hsing-yi combines both Pa-Kua and Tai
chi chuan methods in a harmonious unity. It is
also believed that Pa-Kua and Tai chi chuan
took principles of Hsing-yi and adapted them to
their own use.
1. There are three main schools:
a. Shansi - founded by Tsao Chi Wu
b. Hunan - founded by Ma Hsueh Li
c. Hopei - founded by Li Neng Jan
2. There are five (5) forms:
a. Splitting - (Pi chuan) breaking with and
against the bone grain between the joints.
b. Crushing - (Peng-chuan) to push against,
press, squash, mash or squeeze.
c. Drilling - (Tsuan-chuan) twisting, turning
against vulnerable areas and nerve centers.
d. Pounding - (Pao-chuan) repeating and
repetition of heavy blows to the same area over
and over again (fatal areas, etc.)
e. Crossing - (Heng-chuan) where the bones
cross, such as strikes to joints, twisting limbs
by crossing.
3. Hsing-yi system (Pa Su Chuan style)
a. consists mostly of linear movements.
b. employs flat-footed stances.
c. uses the horse stance (kiba) as its major
stance.
d. utilizes an elaborate two-man fighting form.
e. is soft with flowing movements.
4. Forms of exercise:
a. Turning bricks over
b. Squeezing vine bundles
c. Bending bows
d. Twisting heavy rope
e. Bag grabbing and throwing
f. Snapping or pinching beans, small rocks, etc.
5. There are twelve (12) styles:
a. Dragon g. Cock
b. Eagle h. Iguana
c. Tiger i. Swallow
d. Monkey j. Ostrich
e. Hawk k. Snake
f. Horse l. Bear
6. Pushing hand techniques
a. Chi-Sao
b. Wu wei - effortlessness, non striving, non
grasping (Taoist)
c. Emptying (Buddhist)
d. Ke-chi - to subdue the self (Confucius) -
yield to others or all things, thus squashing
egoism, personal
identity, obstinacy (stubbornness) and
selfishness.
ORIGINAL
BASIC SHURI-RYU KARATE-DO EXERCISE FORMS
Hsing-Yi Chuan (Pa su Chuan style) is an
internal (yin) system which is based on the five
(5) primary elements of earth, water,
fire, metal, wood and the imperturbable flow of
chi (energy) along with converted breathing. The
five elements contain five
movements of force and directness (chuan) which
are known to us as crossing, drilling, pounding,
splitting and crushing. Part of
the five elements philosophical theory is the
notion that these elements successively produce
(generate) and destroy (counter)
each other in a rigidly defined system of mutual
complement and antagonism. Since Hsing-Yi is a
prototype of Shuri-ryu, we hope
that those that follow the Shuri way will better
understand the origins of where out system
developed. Pa su Chuan developed in
Southern China from the Hang styles that stress
power with long and short hand techniques, low
and wide stances with flowing and
quick movements when moving from one stance to
another. Southern Hsing-Yi stress the use of the
hands and the Northern styles
stress the use of the feet. It is said in
Hsing-Yi that when the hands move in straight
lines the feet move in circles and when the
hands move in circles the feet move in straight
lines.
The following are eight basic forms:
Form #1 - Stand in natural close horse stance
(guan ma bo) with hands at the sides. Raise up
both hands (palms down-arms
straight) with a deep inhale until the arms are
both in front of and slightly over the head. At
the same time raise slowly on both
balls of the feet. Bring hands and both feet
down slowly and exhale through the nose. The
hands should now be nose level and in
front of the face (palms down-arms straight).
Form #2 - Thrust both hands slowly in front of
the body (palms up) and slowly step forward with
the left foot. Bring the right foot
behind into a left short cross stance
(kosa-dachi or ding bo).
Form #3 - Step back with the right foot and draw
the left foot back into a left cross stance.
Bring the hands quickly and with power
(closed into fists) back to the body in a guard
position.
Form #4 - Step forward with the left foot, then
the right foot into a right cross stance and
execute a right punch.
Form #5 - Shuffle step with the right foot
followed by the left foot into a right cross
stance and execute a left punch.
Form #6 - Jump forward slowly into a right cross
stance and slowly execute a right augmented
middle block.
Form #7 - Step forward with the right foot into
an extended jungle or rabbit stance (Mitsurin
Dachi or tsuki bo) and simultaneously
quickly and with power execute a right high
block and a left vertical punch.
Form #8 - Pivot on the left foot quickly to the
left into a left cross stance. The left hand
extends to the front (palm down) and the
right hand pushes down to the right side into a
guard position.
EXECUTION OF FORMS
All stance movement and block is done very
smooth and slow. The striking movements are
executed quickly and with explosive power.
Form #1 - (Hsing Yi - Yi Huo) It is performed by
moving forward (I pattern) with the first five
forms. Jump-shift around and go back
with the same 1 to 5 forms only this time in a
reverse position.
Form #2 - (Hsing Yi - Er Mu) The performer goes
through the first five forms of Hsing-Yi -Yi Hu
and adds forms 6 to 8 (I pattern).
Jump-shift around and go through the entire 1 to
8 forms again this time in reverse.
Form #3 - (Hsing Yi - San Tu) The performer goes
through the first five forms of Hsing-Yi - Er Mu
(I pattern) and turns to the right
(L pattern) and performs forms 6 to 8. Jump
shift around and perform the same pattern in
reverse.
Form #4 - (Hsing Yi - Si Pi) The performer goes
through the first five forms of Hsing-Yi Er Mu
(I pattern) and turns to the left (L pattern)
and performs forms 6 to 8. Jump-shift around and
perform the same pattern in reverse. |
|
Karate-Do
loosely translated means "the way of the empty hands."
Its origin can be traced back thousands of years to China, and
later
to Okinawa. In the early twentieth century, a Karate master by
the
name of Gichin Funakoshi introduced Okinawa Karate to Japan,
and subsequently to the world.
Benefits of Karate-Do
Traditional
Karate-Do is an effective means of self-defense.
It is also a holistic activity which strengthens all parts of
the
body, increasing cardio-vascular fitness as well as balance and
agility. It fosters the traits of courage, courtesy, integrity,
humility and self control, i.e. it builds character. To the
sport
conscious Karate-ka, Karate skills can be tested in regularly
organized competitions.
 
Karate-do History
Most
Western students of Asian martial arts, if they have done
any research on the subject at
all, will surely have come
across references to Bodhidharma. He is known as "Daruma" in
Japan
and as often as not, this Indian Buddhist monk is
cited as the prime source for all martial arts styles
or at
the vary least, for any style which traces its roots back to
the fabled Shaolin Temple. However,
the question of his
contributions to the martial arts and to Zen Buddhism and
even of his very existence
has been a matter of controversy
among historians and martial arts scholars for many years
(Spiessbach,1992).
As legend has it, the evolution of karate began over a
thousand years ago, possibly as early as the
fifth century
BC when Bodhidharma arrived in Shaolin-Matsu (small forest
temple), China from India and
taught Zen Buddhism. He also
introduced a systematized set of exercises designed to
strengthen the mind
and body, exercises which allegedly
marked the beginning of the Shaolin style of temple boxing. Bodhidharma's
teachings later became the basis for the
majority of Chinese martial arts. In truth, the origins of
karate appear
to be somewhat obscure and little is known
about the early development of karate until it appeared in
Okinawa.
Okinawa is a small island of the group that comprises
modern day Japan. It is the main island in the chain
of Ryukyuan Islands which spans from Japan to Taiwan. Surrounded
by coral, Okinawa is approximately 10 km
(6 mi) wide and
only about 110 km (less than 70 mi) long. It is situated 740
km (400 nautical mi) east of mainland
China, 550 km (300
nautical miles) south of mainland Japan and an equal
distance north of Taiwan. Being at the
crossroads of major
trading routes, its significance as a "resting spot" was
first discovered by the Japanese. It later
developed as a
trade center for southeastern Asia, trading with Japan,
China, Indo China, Thailand, Malaysia, Borneo
and the
Philippines.
In its earliest stages, the martial art known as "karate"
was an indigenous form of closed fist fighting which was
developed in Okinawa and called Te, or 'hand'. Weapons bans,
imposed on the Okinawan's at various points in their
history, encouraged the refinement of empty-hand techniques
and, for this reason, was trained in secret until modern
times. Further refinement came with the influence of other
martial arts brought by nobles and trade merchants to the
island.
Te continued to develop over the years, primarily in three
Okinawan cities: Shuri, Naha and Tomari. Each of these
towns
was a center to a different sect of society: kings and
nobles, merchants and business people, and farmers
and
fishermen, respectively. For this reason, different forms of
self-defense developed within each city and subsequently
became known as Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te.
Collectively they were called Okinawa-Te or Tode, 'Chinese
hand'.
Gradually, karate was divided into two main groups:
Shorin-ryu which developed around Shuri and Tomari and
Shorei-ryu
which came from the Naha area. "It is important
to note, however, that the towns of Shuri, Tomari, Naha are
only a few
miles apart, and that the differences between
their arts were essentially ones of emphasis, not of kind.
Beneath these
surface differences, both the methods and aims
of all Okinawan karate are one in the same" (Howard, 1991).
Gichin
Funakoshi goes further to suggest that these two
styles were developed based on different physical
requirements
Funakoshi, 1935). Shorin-ryu was quick and
linear with natural breathing while Shorei-ryu emphasized
steady, rooted
movements with breathing in synchrony with
each movement. Interestingly, this concept of two basic
styles also exist in
kung-fu with a similar division of
characteristics (Wong, 1978).
|
