Seienchin - Karate and the Kata

A textbook dedictaed to karate and the kata and bunkai of Seienchin. There as an architectural maxim that says “form follows function”. Many in the modern karate world interpreting kata take the form and try to fit function around the stylized motion i.e. they are having “function follow form”. Originally the kata were formed as icons to archive self defense scenarios and therefore were created on the basis of “form following function”. This text is not concerned with minor style differences (comments are of course given with regard to different styles and approaches) as one must remember that as little as 100 years ago the “modern karate styles” did not exist. Therefore, the focus of this text is on a core embusen (pattern) of the kata Seienchin and its applications – which are style universal and applicable to Goju, Shito-ryu, Kyokushin and Okinawan styles. A complete study of any kata should involve its history, philosophy, sports and medical physiology and application.