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Seienchin

The word
‘Seienchin’ can be translated as "control", "pull" or "fight". It’s
possible that this is a hint toward the various grappling and
grabbing techniques contained within the Seienchin Kata.
Seienchin is a
long Kata with a lot of slow movements which are executed in Kiba
Dachi. The hook blocks within the Kata hint at its Chinese origin
and some of the blocks appear very much like their Taijiquan
counterparts. In the Goju Ryu, Seienchin belongs to the Ju-Kata
(soft Kata) and (together with Suparinpei) is considered the highest
level of Kata.
Steps
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Begin the
Kata in Fudo Dachi. |
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Move into
Musubi Dachi and Mokuso on the command "Mokuso".
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On the
second command "Seienchin", open eyes, move into the Yoi
position with Ibuki. |
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On the
command "Hajime" move the right leg forward to the right in a
circular movement into Kiba Dachi at 45° and simultaneously
bring both fists back to the ready punch position.
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Quickly
block Morote Shotei Gedan Uke with the hands crossed to finish
levelwith and in front of the groin so that the fingers of the
left hand are on top of the right.
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From this
position slowly bring both hands up level with your chin, thumbs
facing out (this movement begins by twisting your hands towards
your body so that the backs of the hands are touching).
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Close both
hands and, as if gripping bring both fists down vertically to
chin level then slowly bring the fists in a downward twisting
and outward direction as in the photograph.
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Still in
the same stance cover with a fast left Shotei and execute a
right Haito Uchi Uke returning the left hand open to the ready
punch position. |
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Now from
the same hand position execute a right Tensho Uke and pull
towards the body and simultaneously execute a left Yonhon Nukite
Chudan. |
(The
techniques above are executed so that the hands are at an angle
which is just inside the line of the right leg. In addition all
the movements are executed slowly, with the exception of the cover
which is done quickly. Finally you should look at 45° whilst
performing the movements. This principle is maintained in the
following similar movements.)
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Move the
left leg forward in a circular movement into Kiba Dachi at 45°
and as previously explained returning both fists to the ready
punch position, block Morote Shotei Gedan Uke, bring both hands
up level with your chin and twist both hands out.
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Execute a
fast right Shotei cover and perform a left Haito Uchi Uke and
execute a left Tensho Uke pulling the hand towards the body and
perform a right Yonhon Nukite. |
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Move the
right leg forward in a circular movement into Kiba Dachi at 45°
as previously explained, returning both fists to the ready punch
position, block Morote Shotei Gedan Uke, bring both hands up
level with your chin and twist both hands out.
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Execute a
fast left Shotei cover and perform a right Haito Uchi Uke and
execute a right Tensho Uke pulling the hand towards the body and
perform a left Yonhon Nukite. |
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From this
position bring your right foot back and kick Age Kakato Ushiro
Geri and at the same time strike right Ushiro Hiji Ate with the
left palm placed on top of the right fist.
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Move
forward into right Moro Ashi Dachi and punch right Chudan Tsuki
with the left palm placed on the right wrist.
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Quickly
move the right foot back into left Zenkutsu Dachi and position
the left hand (arm extended palm facing down) as if to grab an
opponent’s neck, the right fist is simultaneously brought back
to the ready punch position. |
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Quickly
strike right Jodan Age Hiji Ate hitting the palm of the left
hand. |
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Slowly move
forward with the right leg in a circular movement into right
Kokutsu Dachi at 45° and at the same time slowly block right
Morote Chudan Uchi Uke with the left palm placed on the inside
of the right arm so that the finger tips are touching the wrist.
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Move
forward with the left leg at an angle into Kiba Dachi and block
left Mae Gedan Barai. |
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Take your
left foot back at the same angle into Kiba Dachi and block right
Mae Gedan Barai. |
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With your
left leg move forward in a circular movement into left Kokutsu
Dachi at 45° and slowly block left Morote Chudan Uchi Uke as
previously explained. |
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Move
forward with the right leg at an angle into Kiba Dachi and block
right Mae Gedan Barai. |
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Take your
right leg back at the same angle into Kiba Dachi and block left
Mae Gedan Barai. |
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Move the
left foot back into Mae Kiba Dachi (i.e. moving the body 135°)
and execute a Kata Guruma (throw) (the hands should be open at
the beginning of the throw and the upper hand should be held
slightly above the head as indicated, with the thumb pointing
straight out). |
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By moving
clockwise 180° take the right foot back into Mae Kiba Dachi and
repeat the Kata Guruma as previously described.
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Move
forward covering with a left Shotei into right Moro Ashi Dachi
by moving the right leg initially into age Ushiro Kakato Geri
and block right Chudan Soto Uke hitting the palm of the left
hand, followed immediately by moving forward into right Moro
Ashi Dachi simultaneously covering with a left Shotei in a
downward direction and strike Uraken Oroshi Ganmen Uchi and
KIAI (the left hand remains open, palm down, with the right
elbow placed on top of the left hand).
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Quickly
cross the right foot in front of the left and turn 45° into left
Sanchin Dachi and block left Chudan Uchi Uke, right Mae Gedan
Barai. |
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Covering
with a left Shotei step forward into Kiba Dachi and strike right
Age Tsuki and KIAI. In the same stance immediately cover
left Shotei and strike right Uraken Sayu Ganmen Uchi. Again in
the same stance block right Mae Gedan Barai.
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Move the
right foot back at the same angle into Kiba Dachi and block Mae
Gedan Barai. |
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Turn your
body to the front pulling the right leg into Neko Ashi Dachi and
simultaneously execute a left Ushiro Hiji Ate and right Chudan
Mae Hiji Ate and with a slight backward slide, move your right
foot back into left Neko Ashi Dachi and simultaneously execute a
right Ushiro Hiji Ate and left Chudan Mae Hiji Ate.
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Cross the
left foot into right Sanchin Dachi at 45° and block right Chudan
Uchi Uke and left Mae Gedan Barai.
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Covering
with a right Shotei step forward into Kiba Dachi and strike left
Age Tsuki and KIAI followed by left Uraken Sayu Ganmen Uchi and
left Mae Gedan Barai. |
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Move the
left foot back at the same angle into Kiba Dachi and block right
Mae Gedan Barai. |
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Turn your
body to the front pulling the left leg into Neko Ashi Dachi and
simultaneously execute a right Ushiro Hiji Ate and left Chudan
Mae Hiji Ate. |
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With a
slight backward slide move your left foot into right Neko Ashi
Dachi and simultaneously execute a left Ushiro Hiji Ate and
right Chudan Mae Hiji Ate. |
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Move
forward covering with a left downward Shotei cover into right
Moro Ashi Dachi by moving the left leg initially into age Ushiro
Kakato Geri and strike right Uraken Oroshi Ganmen Uchi (the left
hand remains open palm down with the right elbow placed on top
of the left hand). |
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From this
stance jump backwards and upwards kicking left Tobi Jodan Mae
Geri. |
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From the
kicking position land into left Kokutsu Dachi with the arms
positioned with the elbows together, hands open at face level.
Push the elbows down to groin level with Ibuki (fingers touching
and pointing to the front and thumbs touching). |
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The Kata is
completed by moving the left leg back into Musubi Dachi and the
Mokuso position is retained until the command "Naore" when the
Fudo Dachi position is taken. |
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