Source 1: The
kata of okinawa Ishin ryu karatedo by Joe Swift
Often described in Isshinryu as a "night fighting kata," this
form was passed down from Kyan Chotoku to Shimabuku Tatsuo.
Interestingly enough, no references to night fighting are found in the
primary references coming out of Japan and Okinawa, leading this author
to conclude that such interpretations were contrived to fit movements
that are not very well understood.
In the year 1762, a tribute ship sent to Satsuma from Ryukyu was blown
off course during a storm, and ended up landing at Tosa Province in
Shikoku, where they remained for a month. The Confucian scholar of Tosa,
Tobe Ryoen (1713-1795), was petitioned to collect testimony from the
crew. The record of this testimony is known as the Oshima Hikki
(literally "Note of Oshima", the name of the area of Tosa
where the ship had ran aground). In this book, there is some very
provocative testimony by a certain Shionja Peichin, describing a man
from China called Koshankin, who demostrated a grappling technique
(McCarthy, 1995; Sakagami, 1978).
It is commonly accepted that this Koshankin was the originator of the
Okinawan Kusanku kata, or at least inspired it. However, there are
several unknowns in this equation. First of all, was Koshankin his name
or a title, or even a term of affection towards him? Second, if it was a
title or term of affection, what was his real name? Thirdly, what
martial art(s) did he teach, and how do they differ from the modern
karate kata of Kusanku? Most of these questions are still being
researched by this author and others.
For now, suffice it to say that Kusanku is a highly important kata in
the Okinawan martial arts, and has spawned many versions over the years.
Some of them include the Kusanku Dai/Sho Itosu Anko lineage styles, the
Chibana no Kusanku of Shudokan, the Takemura no Kusanku of Bugeikan and
Genseiryu, the Kanku Dai/Sho of Shotokan, the Shiho Kusanku of Shitoryu,
and the Yara no Kusanku of Kyan Chotoku lineage styles, including
Isshinryu. Of course, there are numerous others as well.
Kyan Chotoku is said to have learned Kusanku in Yomitan under a certain
Yara Peichin (Nagamine, 1975; 1976). It is unknown at this time whether
there is a familial relationship between this Yara Peichin and the
Chatan Yara who is believed to have studied under Koshankin during his
mid-18th century visit to Okinawa.
Source 2:
"Kanku"
in Japanese can be translated as "to view the sky" which is
often used to explain the opening movement of the kata (Ota 1). However,
according to most experts, Kusanku or Kung K'ung is the name of a
Chinese military envoy who introduced the kata in Shuri around 1761.
Many believe the kata Kusanku derives from Sokon Matsumura. Kusanku
instructed Tode Sakugawa, Matsumura's principal indicate an earlier
origin than Matsumura. The Matsubayashi-ryu version of the kata comes
down from Chotoku Kyan who learned the kata from Yomitan Yara, The
grandson of Chatan Yara. Kyan aiso was familiar with the both
Matsumura's and Matsumora's version of the kata.
According to Grandmaster Nagamine, Kusanku is most magnificent of all
Matsubayashi-ryu kata. It is also the most difficult to perform. The
signature stance (use picture of Nagamine) of Kusanku is a perfect
example of the athleticism required to perform this kata. The
practitioner is also required to go down to the ground (Ota 2) and leap
in the air to execute a kick. Furthermore, Kusanku is clearly the
longest kata in Matsubayashi-ryu and requires advanced levels of stamina
and strength to perform well.
Many experts have asserted that Kusanku is the form that Itosu based the
Pinan series of kata. Clearly many movements are used in Pinan.
Therefore, for technical explanations on these important sequences, it
is best to refer to the chapter on Pinan kata.
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