Versions of
Seisan taught today have roots in Shuri-te, Naha-te and Tomari-te streams of karate that are believed to have been traditionally taught in the Okinawan towns of
Shuri,
Naha and
Tomari respectively.
Uechi-Ryū Seisan This is the second of the three
kata of
Pangai-noon learned and then taught by Kanbun Uechi. It has obvious foundations in
Sanchin, relying primarily on the "Sanchin stance" or and opening as does Uechi-Ryū
Sanchin for three strikes then later returning to these strikes near the end of the
kata. Compared with other versions of the
kata, Uechi-Ryū's is very different. The
kata introduces some of the basic techniques such as knee strikes, the one-knuckle punch , spearhand , and the front kick which were then incorporated in the "bridging"
kata created by Kanbun Uechi's son and senior students between
Sanchin and
Seisan. In modern Uechi-Ryū, it is the fifth
kata learned and the one tested for the first "black belt" or grade.
Isshin-Ryū Seisan Isshin-Ryū traditionally teaches this
kata as the first one to be learned in their curriculum, unlike other styles. As is a feature of the style, all punches are performed with a vertical fist. The founder's primary teacher of the
kata was Chotoku Kyan of the Shorin-Ryū style, but the Isshin-ryu version also shares many features with the Goju-Ryū style, including tension and breathing techniques. Meaning 13, some people refer to it as 13 hands, 13 fists, or 13 steps. Following the tradition of Chotoku Kyan, is the first kata the Isshinryu student learns. This kata is of Chinese and Shorin Ryu origin. It is one of the original kata from the ancient Pangia Noon style. Its name is derived from Master Seshan. The kata teaches the student how to fight several opponents directly in front of him and how to turn and face opponents coming from different directions. It emphasizes the "Seisan Stance" (SHO ZENKUTSU DACHI) of fighting. Bushi Matsumura developed Seisan as part of Okinawan Shuri – Te Style. He passed the kata to Chotoku Kyan, who passed it to Tatsuo Shimabuku.
Goju-Ryū Seisan The Goju-Ryū (Naha-te) version of the
kata is a more complicated version that contains close range fighting techniques such as short-range punches, low kicks, and directional changes to unbalance the opponent. It contains techniques performed under full tension through the range of motion, as well as strong fast techniques. Seisan is said to complement
Seiunchin. Although rooted in the same form, significant differences can be seen in the Goju version compared to the other versions mentioned above.
Seibukan Shorin-Ryū Seisan The version of Seisan taught in the Seibukan Shorin-Ryū syllabus can be traced back to
Sōkon 'Bushi' Matsumura (a highly influential teacher to Shorin styles, hence the name Matsumura-no-Seisan). The form predominantly features the stance
Shiko-Dachi (common in
Tomari-te kata) accompanying a block which often sets up a powerful pivot and punch into
Zenkutsu-dachi. This form introduces many recurring concepts used in higher level Seibukan Shorin-Ryu kata.
Okinawa Seidokan Shorin-Ryū Seisan Very closely resembling the Seibukan Shorin-Ryū Seisan from the same lineage the Okinawa Seidokan system traditionally teaches Matsumura-no-Seisan as the first kata in their curriculum. Though not considered a basic kata, the Okinawa Seidokan version is foundational in teaching
koshi (trunkial twist power) from a beginners onset. The use of the , , and serve to build up the legs of the practitioner for low travel and centered transitioning. Traditionally the regular performance is performed to a regular counting cadence maintaining the same tempo throughout the
kata. However, Okinawa Seidokan also teaches a slowed down version where every count performs breathing similar to Goju-Ryū's Sanchin
kata where breathing in and out is timed upon every outward movement. This slower version is called 'Seisan Breath' and taught to higher level students to develop internal martial arts. This kata is considered a gateway kata to understanding applications of many Shorin-Ryū
kata following in the system.
Shotokan Hangetsu Hangetsu contains many slow movements under tension, popular in Naha-te schools such as Goju-Ryū, but rare in Shotokan and Shuri-te influenced styles making the
kata quite unique. Funakoshi was taught by Sokon Matsumura (Shuri-te), Kodatsu Iha (a student of
Kosaku Matsumora of Tomari-te) and
Seisho Aragaki (associated with Goju-Ryū) all of which had knowledge of a version of Seisan. Funakoshi's could have taken the best from these contrasting styles synthesising them into Hangetsu, which possibly explains why the form is so different from other kata in the Shotokan canon.
Aragaki no Seisan Another more obscure version of this
kata known as Aragaki-no-Seisan, bears the closest surface resemblance to the
Shotokan kata Hangetsu. The Shotokan version was probably renamed when Gichin Funakoshi formed his school in
Japan. Hangetsu translates to 'Half Moon' or 'Half Month' a reference to the half-moon stance used extensively and the semi-circular stepping actions in this
kata. The name Seisan could have been a reference to the 13-day cycle of the Moon's phases, and knowing this Funakoshi named the
kata 'Half Moon/Month'. A more obscure and unlikely theory is that the
kata was taken from a Chinese folk dance where the performer is explaining the importance of the tides as they cycle on 13-day intervals as the Moon revolves around the Earth. ==References==