Important Facts
Name:  Seisan
Meaning:  Thirteen Conflicts
Origin:  China (date unknown)
Creator:  Unknown
 

 

Seisan


Seisan is the fifth kata in the Uechi-Ryu system, but the second kata in Pangainoon. According to Sensei George E. Mattson, a student of Pangainoon worked on Sanchin for three years before learning Seisan. In Uechi-Ryu, however, students are taught three intermediate katas between Sanchin and Seisan in order to help them to better understand Seisan. It is wise for students to practice and perfect Seichin before moving on to the more advanced techniques of Seisan. When students attains this level, which is usually around first degree black belt, they are considered serious students of Uechi-Ryu, because they have shown both patience and a desire to understand the basics of style. Very few people get to this point, and those that do understand the importance of going back to the beginning to re-examine everything they have learned from a different point of view.


Seisan

  a Stand with heels together and feet at 45 degrees.  
  b Bow, and perform the first eight movements of Sanchin, stepping out with the left foot.
  c Throw a right sanchin thrust and step through to a right sanchin stance.
  d Throw a left sanchin thrust and step through to a left sanchin stance.
  e Throw a right sanchin thrust. Place both hands in at the solar plexus, palms facing the ground and fingers extended forward and slightly raised
  f Slide forward and throw a circular strike with both hands to face level (striking with the ridgehands). Bring the right hand back to the belt-knot, and strike up in a circular motion to face level (striking with the bushiken) while bringing the left hand back to the belt-knot as the right hand extends out. Throw two more strikes in the same, rotating manner (right, left, right).
  g Bring both hands to the belt-knot, with the right hand over the left, and strike to face level, striking with the bushikens. After the arms are extended, throw an hiza geri to the chest area with the right knee while bringing both hands to post position.
  h Step forward to a right sanchin stance and throw a left groin strike to the front and a right groin strike to the rear at the same time.
  i Turn around to a left sanchin stance and throw the same groin strikes again, followed by a left chudan uke.
  j Step through into a right sanchin stance and throw a right groin strike followed by a right chudan uke.
  k Step through into a left sanchin stance and throw a left groin strike followed by a left chudan-uke. Place both hands at the waist, slide forward and thrust straight out, striking with the bushikens at waist height.
  l Squeezing into shoken fists, lift both hands to chest level while turning to the right in a right sanchin stance.
  m Throw a left chudan uke, slide forward to a right leaning stance and throw an empei strike with the right elbow. Slide the right foot back to a right sanchin stance and throw a right chudan uke, followed by a left bushiken (face level). Then, throw a left chudan uke followed by right nugite (rib level).
  n Migate to the left in a left sanchin stance. Step through and throw a left chudan uke and a right tetsui-uchi. Make sure to stabilize the strike with the left hand. Throw a right chudan uke followed by a left bushiken face level.
  o Migate to the right in a right sanchin stance. Throw a right, chudan uke followed by a left nukite (rib level).
  p Miwate to a left sanchin stance. Throw a left chudan uke and a left shomen geri.
  q Throw a right hiza geri. Stabilize the knee with the left hand and push it back to the original foot position (rear foot of left sanchin stance). Bend slightly at the waist, and perform three shoken punches low, starting with the right hand.
  r Bring the hands back to sanchin position, and then throw a right sanchin arm thrust.
  s Migate to the right in a right sanchin stance and throw a left sanchin arm thrust.
  t Miwate to a left sanchin stance and throw a right sanchin arm thrust.
  u Slide forward and throw a left chudan uke followed by a right nukite (rib level).
  v Step through to a right sanchin stance. Throw a right chudan uke followed by a left nukite (rib level).
  w Step through into a left sanchin stance. Throw a left chudan uke followed by a right nukite (rib level).
  x Step through into a right fighting stance placing the hands into sanchin position by circling the right arm under the left. Because of the fighting stance, the right hand should be slightly forward of the left hand.
  y Jump back on to the right leg by lifting the right foot straight off the ground and moving the knee back through chamber position. The left foot should be lifted to a chambered position. In order to keep balance upon landing, push the right foot down to the ground and keep the knee bent.
  z At the same time the left leg moves to a chamber position, the right hand moves to a position by the side of your head. Bring the left hand down to kokken position by the side of the left knee. Then, jump forward into a right fighting stance and throw a left chudan uke. Follow that with a right empei (stabilize the strike with the left hand), an uraken (chin height), and a shoken (chest level).
  aa Move the right foot back to a neutral stance, placing the right hand in a sanchin position and the left hand in post position.
  bb Put the hands by the sides, heels together and bow.