Highland wado kai kata Kushanku To Build a fortress Highland wado Kai Karate Kushanku kata
KUSHANKU KATA Kushanku is an advanced lengthy kata with sixty seven movements. From this kata fast and slow techniques can be learned. Kushanku develops techniques involving body strength, flexibility, rotation skills, jumping and ground techniques. Master Funakoshi gave a different meaning to the kata by calling it Kanku Dia (look to the sky), this refers to the opening movements of the kata. To further Kushanku techniques its practice brings into play many attacking opponents in all directions. Quick changes of technique, application of applying and withdrawal of power, maintenance of balance, breathing correctly and body shifting. Kushanku in the Wado-kai system is one of the longest kata's and a form practiced by all Dan belts. Masaru Shintani explains this kata: a combination of Chinese and Japanese techniques originating from a peace union between the two countries. Kushanku from Shintani Sensei means to build a fortress. Kushanku is one of the oldest kata's which can be traced back, it also is reported that the kata was named after a Chinese official called Kushanku, and it was brought to Okinawa around 1762. Kushanku is a kata of variety and is very similar to the Northern Shaolin Chinese style of kata. Most of the basic techniques in Kushanku kata have already been taught in the five Pinan katas. Kushanku of the Wado Kai system is actually called Kushanku Dia (dia=big). Other forms of Kushanku are Kushanku Sho, Kushanku shiho, and Chibana no Kushanku. Hironori Otsuka explains this kata: Kushan-ku was founded 200 years ago in Shina, by a person named Kushanku. Presently there are many forms to this kata. It is simply called Kushanku One must be reminded that the kata moves swiftly and in all directions. Every single movement must be correct and quickly executed. This kata places the shifting of the body as its main objective. Kushanku does look fancy as it involves large movements of the limbs. However, this is not for show or other such immature interpretations. Remember that the kata expresses what one is thinking in his mind. The kata is not a dance, or an exercise routine. These are igata, the kata is not, The kata must remain living not dead. Techniques found in Kushanku: High back hand block High knife hand block High double open palm block Front thrust kick Knife hand strike Spear hand strike Palm grab Crane stance Elbow strike Knife hand block downward Back stance Forward stance Augmented close punch Reverse forward stance Backfist strike Hammer fist block X-block X-block pressing - jodan age haishu uke - jodan age shuto uke - jodan age taisho morote uke - mae geri kekomi - shuto uchi - chudan nukite uchi - taisho uke osae uke - tsuruashi dachi - empi uchi - Gedan shuto uke - kokutsu dachi - zenkutsu dachi - morote ura suki - gykaku zenkutsu dachi - reiken uchi - gedan tettsui uke - juji uke - juji osae uke KUSHANKU
1. Come into attention stance and perform a standing bow. (heisoku dachi with tachi rei) 2. Move slowly into natural stance, (shizen hontai). This position is called 'YOI' or preparation. The natural stance taken here is slightly wider than that of the Pinan katas. 3. Open both hands from closed fist position, extend hands downward in front of body, palms down, right over left. Thumbs extended and touching left hand fingertips, extended and touching left hand fingertips, hands should form a triangle (do this slow). 4. Name the kata (Kushanku) or (Kushanku Dia) 5. Lift the arms upward and forward in an arc, follow the triangle of the hands with your eyes as they pass eye level. This movement must be done slowly and calmly. This movement shows that you do not carry weapons, the circle made with the arms symbolizes the universe, and to be one with the universe we must look through the triangle of the circle and become concentrated in the mind. 6. Follow the triangle with your eyes, looking through its centre at the sky, (do this entire movement slowly), till your arms are extended above the head elbows are slightly bent. 7. Pull the arms apart with power (quickly) hands remain open but the thumbs are now tucked in (shuto hands). Look ahead to the front position at the same time. 8. Keeping the hands in motion (downward) slowing down the hand movement, the hands are moved in a wide arc forming a wide circle from top to bottom. 9. Finish the movement with power, right knife hand strike (hidari shuto uchi) to the left palm (migi taisho). 10. Look to the left, pivot to the left moving outward with the left leg forward into left back stance ( hidari kokutsu dachi). 11. Perform a left high back hand block fast (hidari jodan haishu uke). * Block is above the shoulder level. 12. Look to the right, pivot and push off quickly with left leg with right leg forward into right back stance ( migi kokutsu dachi). 13. Perform a right high back hand block fast (migi jodan haishu uke). * Block is above the shoulder level. 14. Look to the left (front) draw the right leg inward, pivot the body to the front and move into natural stance (Shizen Hontai) with hands set to the right side of the body (left fist and arm across body, chest high). 15. Perform left straight blocking middle punch (hidari Choku chudan uke zuki), * Note: this technique is an optional move used to intercept the opponents attack by blocking with middle area downward sweeping block and following up simultaneously with left straight punch to the middle area.(hidari chudan bari uke choku zuki). 16. Perform right straight middle punch (migi choku chudan zuki), shifting body to the left putting weight on left leg,(hidari sabaki waza) move into reverse forward stance (migi gyaku zenkutsu dachi). 17. Quickly perform a right inside to outside block,(migi uchi ude uke). 18. Shifting body weight back to the right (migi sabaki waza) into natural stance, (shizen hontai) perform right middle straight blocking punch (migi choku chudan uke zuki). *Note: technique performed here is the same as #15 only on the opposite side. 19. Perform a left middle straight punch, (hidari choku chudan zuki), shifting body weight to the right (migi sabaki waza) putting weight on right leg, reverse forward stance (migi gyaku zenkutsu dachi). 20. Quickly perform a left inside to outside forearm block (hidari uchi ude uke). 21. Draw the left leg inward, look to the right and the rear, come quickly into high informal attention stance, (heisoku dachi) at the same time draw left and right hand, fist closed, quickly to and through the left side set position.
22. Simultaneously perform a right front kick (migi kekomi mae geri) and a right forearm block (migi uchi jodan ude uke) to the rear. 23. Coming down from the right front kick look to the left (front) pivot body around (hidari sabaki waza) with the left leg forward in back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform a left high shuto block, (hidari jodan shuto uke). 24. Stepping forward with right leg into back stance (migi kokutsu dachi), perform a right high knife hand strike (migi jodan shuto uchi). 25. Stepping forward with left leg into back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform a left high knife hand block, (hidari jodan shuto uke). 26. Stepping forward with the right leg into right forward stance ( migi zenkutsu dachi), perform a right vertical spear hand strike (migi tate nukite uchi). Left fist is at the hip position. 27. Pivot to the left 180 degrees (rear) (hidari sabaki waza) into left back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi). At the same time as moving into the left back stance position perform and pass through with a left downward sweeping palm block and a right high open hand rising sweeping knife hand block (hidari gedan bari taisho uke, migi jodan age bari shuto uke). Without pausing from above movement quickly pivot from left kokutsu into left immovable stance with left foot turned outward (hidari fudo dachi) perform right sweeping, pressing, downward palm block (migi gedan bari osae taisho uke). and a left high open hand rising sweeping knife hand block (hidari jodan age bari shuto uke). 28. Perform a right front kick ( migi mae geri), this kick is performed outside of the right hand pressing block which remains stationary till after front kick. 29. Coming down off of right front kick look to the left (front) shift to the front with the body (hidari sabaki waza) with left leg forward in reverse forward stance, (body bent _forward low to the floor), (hidari gyaku zenkutsu dachi). The front leg (left) should have the foot turned inward as if performing a side kick, the back foot (right) should be slightly up on the toes, this is for balance for attacks from the front and rear and gives better balance and practice for soft and hard knee. Front leg can also be used to sweep. Simultaneously perform a left downward sweeping block (hidari gedan bari uke), and perform a right high rising forearm block (migi jodan age uke). 30. Perform a right hammer fist strike and draw the left fist back to protection position to the right side of the head, Ç(migi tettsui uchi, hidari jodan ude uke). Draw both hands Slightly inward to perform gedan x-block, (gedan juji uke). this technique is the preparation for the next movement. 31. Draw the left leg back and stand up into natural stance,(quickly), (shizen hontai) perform left downward sweeping blocking punch, (hidari gedan bari zuki uke). This technique can be used to (a) scoop attackers leg or arm with your right arm when low to the floor with gedan x-block, as you are rising into natural stance position the left hand is used as downward block or breaking block. (b) block attackers leg or arm with inside block and turn opponent, while rising perform a left sweeping punch. 32. Pivoting the body forward into left back stance (hidari Kokutsu dachi) perform techniques from applications #27, #28, #29, #30 and #31 again. *Note: do not make the 180 turn as in application #27. 33. Stepping forward slowly with the right leg into attention stance, (heisoku dachi) set hands to the right _side. 34. Look to the left, pivot body left performing left front lunge kick (hidari kekomi mae geri) and left downward sweeping block, (hidari gedan bari uke). 35. Coming down off of left front kick into left forward stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi) perform a right elbow sideways strike to left palm, (migi yoko empi uchi). *Note here that the left hand performs a grasping block technique and draws the opponent into the elbow strike. This is not seen clearly in the kata. 36. Stepping up with right leg into informal attention stance facing the rear look to the right and set hands to the left.
37. Perform techniques #34 and #35 again only to the right side with right kick and left elbow strike. 38. Draw the left leg inward into left cat stance (hidari neko ashi dachi), pivot body 180 degrees to the left facing the opposite side, (hidari sabaki waza), left leg forward in back stance, (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform left knife hand high block (hidari jodan shuto uke). 39. Step forward and out on a 25 degree angle with right leg Into right back stance (migi kokutsu dachi), perform a right high knife hand strike, (migi shuto uchi). 40. Looking to the right, pivot body to the right 180 degrees, right leg forward into back stance, (migi kokutsu dachi), perform right knife hand block, (migi shuto uke). 41. Stepping with left leg forward and on a 25 degree angle into left back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform a left knife hand strike, (hidari shuto uchi). 42. Draw the left leg back, look to the left and shift to the rear, into left forward stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi). Perform a right gedan pressing palm block and a left jodan rising shuto block. *Note: same as techniques in application #27, without the 180 turn. 43. Perform a right front kick, (migi mae geri). 44. Coming down off of the right front kick shift forward quickly and slightly with the right foot and draw the left leg forward into a high reverse cat stance (gyaku neko ashi dachi or kousa dachi), simultaneously perform a right revolving downward back fist strike and a left pressing Downward grasping block which the fist is draw back to the left hip.(migi mawashi uraken uchi, hidari chudan bari osae tsukami uke). 45. Shifting back with the left leg into right forward stance (migi zenkutsu dachi). perform a right inside to outside block,(migi uchi ude uke). 46. Perform a left reverse punch and then a right straight punch,(hidari gyaku zuki, migi choku zuki). 47. Stepping over and behind right leg with left into crossover stance, (kagi dachi) draw the hands back quickly to the hips while turning left 180 degrees (front) (tai sabaki waza) into left forward stance, (hidari zenkutsu dachi). 48. Extend the arms quickly outward to the sides, right fist closed, left spear hand, (palm down), (nukite). Both techniques are ready for hand attack. 49. Raise the right knee forward, *Note: this technique can be used as a knee strike (hittsui uchi) or be left in the Çready position for a kick, at the same time perform a right augmented close punch (migi morote ura suki), left hand remains open on augment. *Note: this technique can also be used as a left hand grasping block and drawing the opponent in to be hit with the right hand technique. The knee is raised to prevent attack to the middle section of the body. 50. After the augmented close fist strike continue the next motion as the knee drops. Fall forward and downward keep looking to the front, drop to the floor forwards on palms touching and turned inward slightly, (this dropping motion is to avoid being struck from the rear). Right leg is the forward leg and is bent taking the body weight, and heel is off the ground. Left and back leg should be extended and foot should be fully on the floor. A very deep exaggerated forward stance. (junzuki on zenkutsu dachi.) 51. Look to the rear over the left shoulder and keep the body still in a low position. Turn the body to the left, pushing up from the floor pivot to the left 180 degrees to the rear Into left back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform a left knife hand block high, (hidari jodan shuto uke) * This pivoting technique can be used to counterattack opponent that is directly behind you, as defender rotates out of the pivot to the rear the right hand grasps the attackers leg and the left hand performs shuto uchi across attackers upper body to take him off his feet. 52. Stepping with right leg into right back stance (migi kokutsu dachi) perform a right knife hand strike high,(jodan shuto uchi). 53. Stepping over and behind right leg with the left (kagi dachi) pivot around to the left 270 degrees facing the left side, with the left leg forward in cat stance (hidari neko ashi dachi), perform a left inside to outside block (hidari ude uke)
54. Perform a right forefist reverse punch, (migi gyaku seiken zuki). 55. Stepping forward slightly look over the right shoulder and pivot around to the right 180 degrees facing the right side in right cat stance, (migi neko ashi dachi). Perform a right inside to outside block, (migi ude uke). 56. Perform a left reverse punch, (hidari gyaku seiken zuki), and right straight punch, (migi choku seiken zuki). 57. Drawing the right leg back to the left leg position, (maintain a slight bend to the left leg and the heel of the Right foot should be slightly off the floor), set the fist to the left side of the body. Looking to the right (rear) pivot body to the right and perform right front kick (migi mae geri), and right inside to outside block (migi ude uke). *note: when drawing the right leg back do not maintain the set position standing up but draw back and move into the kick to the rear quickly. Above should be performed as one technique. 58. Coming down off of front kick look to the left and shift body around to face the front, simultaneously perform a right palm block in front of the body and have the left open hand back hand block set across the right side of the face for protection. As the left pivot is completely finished be in Left back stance (hidari kokutsu dachi), perform a left knife hand block high, ( hidari jodan shuto uke). 59. Stepping forward quickly with the right leg into a high reverse cat stance ( migi kousa dachi) perform a left pressing palm block across the middle section of the body reinforce the block with the preparation of a right spear hand strike on top of block. * This technique should be done quickly and with strong set, there should be no breaking of the next movement with this block. 60. Continuing stepping forward with right leg into forward stance (hidari zenkutsu dachi), perform a right spear hand strike, (migi nukite uchi), over top of the left palm block under arm. Maintain palm block under the arm. 61. Twist the right hand in a counter clockwise direction, bending the arm at the same time (the back of the left hand remains in contact with the right upper arm), push your weight to the front. * Palm of right hand should be up. 62. Stepping over and behind right leg with left leg into Left crossover stance, (hidari kagi dachi) simultaneously drop the right hand downward palm up, the left fist should be drawn back at the same time to set at the right hip position, pivot around to the left 360 degrees still facing the front with left side forward. As the pivot is in progress draw the Right hand in behind the back and when pivot to the front is completed the right hand should be on the hip position. At the same time the left hand performs a left hammer fist. This should be done from straddle stance, (kiba dachi). 63. Perform a left inside to outside block, (hidari ude uke), at the same time shift back into left back stance, (hidari kokutsu dachi). 64. Shift weight forward into left forward stance, (hidari zenkutsu dachi) and perform a right side elbow strike to left palm, (migi yoko empi uchi). 65. Look to the right draw the right leg back, shifting body to the right (rear) in a natural stance, (shizen hontai), perform right downward block,( migi gedan bari uke), and left high inside to outside block, (hidari jodan ude uke). 69. Lifting and moving the left leg forward pivot body facing the left side in straddle stance, (kiba dachi), perform a X block left hand open right closed over top of left, (juji uke). *note: this technique can be used to stop a kick the Left hand block first with a downward knifehand block,(hidari gedan shuto uke), the right hand is an actual strike with the vertical fist to the shin of the attackers leg, (migi tate zuki). 70. Step up quickly into natural stance with left leg, (shizen hontai) and perform high open hand x block, (jodan morote shuto juji uke). 71. Keeping hands extended (quickly) look to the right (front) step over and in front of right leg with left (crossover stance), (kagi dachi), pivot to the right 270 degrees facing the rear in right forward stance, (migi zenkutsu dachi), draw the hands quickly into the body, fist closed. 72. Stepping forward with the right leg perform a left leg jump kick, (hidari tobi mae geri), perform a right jumping front kick (migi tobi mae geri). 73. Coming down off of front kick in right forward
stance, (migi zenkutsu dachi) perform a right diagonal back fist (kiai), (migi reiken uchi). 74. Stepping with left leg over and in front of right in a deep crossover stance, (junzuki on kagi dachi), pivot to the right maintaining stance 180 degrees facing front perform a right downward block, (migi gedan bari uke). 75. Stepping out with the left leg into kiba dachi facing the Front perform a low downward closed fist x block (gedan bari morote juju suki uke). 76. Quickly step up with left leg into natural stance, (shizen hontai), at the same time perform a double scoop Block drawing arm (fist closed) across and then outward in an arc, extend above shoulders, (morote sukui uke). 77. Step up into natural stance position moving left leg in, (shizen hontai). 78. Extend hands in front of body, palms down. 79. Move into attention stance and perform standing bow, (heisoku dachi with tachi rei). 80. Move into natural stance position, (shizen hontai). barry lane/kushanku/91 Highland Wado Kai - New formulated revised kata