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What did the ancient karate look like?
By careful examination of Bubishi, we are able to reconstruct the ancient Okinawan karate -
tote jutsu. The most useful information are in the section dealing with vital points, then in the article on 48 techniques, as well as in article #16, "Grappling and Escapes"[9]. I took liberty to illustrate a few techniques, which are in
Shorin katas with applying of principles from Bubishi. Therefore what useful information can we draw from this article, in order to apply them in our training? In ancient Okinawan karate, hand techniques are apparently the most important. To support this ill mention an old name for karate -
tote, ("Chinese hand"). When executing hand techniques, almost all surfaces are used: (1) fingers (four fingers -
nukite; one finger - ipon nukite; "cranes beak" - kakushiken), (2) palm (teisho), (3) ridge of hand (shuto), (4) fist (knuckle fist -
hiraken; one knuckle fist - shoken; hammer fist - tetsui), (5) elbow -
empi, as well as grabbing techniques (torite) by testicles, throat, hair, triceps or thigh. It is interesting that the use of fingers and palm surpasses the use of the fist. The predominant use of the fist today is probably a result of the changes made by master Itosu, when karate was included into the educational program on Okinawa. Namely, the palm and the fingers are very efficient, but the use of the fist decreased the possibility of injury of younger trainees. Special attention is given to practicing of techniques with open palm in the article #20, "Six hands of Shaolin".
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Rokkusho, that is "6 palms of Shaolin" presents: (1) ridge hand (shuto), (2) palm (teisho), (3) fingers (nukite), (4) "grabbing hand", (5) "Cranes beak" (kakushite) and (6) one finger poking technique (ipon nukite).
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Picture 1., The technique is used to demonstrate the defense against the most usual type of attack, when the attacker reaches his arm in order to hit, seize or push. Arms are raised in a defensive position and moving away from the direction of attack is performed, then comes grabbing and a hit with ridge hand (shuto) into the neck (carotid sinus). In my opinion, this technique is presented in Bubishi, "48 techniques", #6 and is drawn from kata
Kushanku.
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Picture 2., "Phoenix spreads his wings" ("48 techniques", #32), a very interesting technique, showing the use of the fingers in a fight parrying of opponents punch/grab and then trust with fingers into the eyes. In my opinion, this technique is found in many katas. Here presented sequence is drawn from kata
Patsai (Kyan no Patsai).
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