04/11/2022
Wankan/Matsukaze November
picture a pine tree and crown
Wankan (王冠) (Japanese: "King's Crown" or "Emperor's Crown") (also called Okan)
AKA Matsukaze (松風 or "pine tree wind")
History and origin
Tomari-te kata
Mabuni Kenwa is said to have renamed the kata Wankan around 1940 for reasons only known to him. A few resources explain this, and you can dig it up in the references below.
Don't confuse this with the Shotokan kata Wankan. I practiced this initially and it is vastly different from the original Wankan.
I cannot explain why exactly. But just to warn you if your teachers name these together. I’ve heard a few explanations floating around the web but the only one that seems plausible is tracing the heritage. I have listed the above and below.
🌲 creator Unknown
Traceable lineage
K. Matsumora and K. Oyadomari both from Tomari
Kōsaku Matsumora 1829-1898 Ryukyu Kingdom
Kokan Oyadomari 1827-1905 tomari, Ryūkyū Kingdom
Teacher(s)Karyu Uku. (Aka Giko Uku) (1800 – 1850), Kishin Teruya (1804–1864), Anan, Ason?
⬇
Transmission
Taught
⬇
Iha Kōtatsu 1873 till 1928. aka Iha-gwā no Nushi from Tomari.
Descendants of The Shizoku (士族, "warrior families") was a social class in Japan composed of former samurai after the Meiji Restoration (1869-1947).
taught transmission
⬇Branch bifurcation 𓆱
Shimabukuro Tarō (1906–1980). Torikohori Village of Shuri AKA “Aburaya Sanjin” (nickname).
other influences ꔵ🌱
Kyoda Jūhatsu (1887 - 1968) and Mabuni (1889 – 1952) were taught by Higaonna Kanryō (1853–1915) and Kyoda also taught Murakami Katsumi’ (1927-2013).
Kyoda trained Torite with Motobu Chōyū and Shimabukuro Tarō trained Kumite with Motobu Chōki.
Nagamine Shōshin 1907-1997 naha, okinawa
Wankan, Nagamine Shōshin (1978: 240) said: 'This kata is said to be the creation of a master in ancient times, but the creator is unknown.'
Murakami Katsumi
Kyoda trained Torite with Motobu Chōyū and Shimabukuro Tarō trained Kumite with Motobu Chōki.
“secret techniques,” gokui waza (極意技) kakush*te
Murakami Katsumi mentions Irimi-Nage and notes the similarity of Wankan techniques to jujutsu and Aiki, and also seen in Tai Chi Quan (supreme ultimate fist) and Kempo of Baguazhang.
Many of the techniques are hidden or concealed from the untrained eye.
So we can call them a secret. Secret in the sense here means camouflaged.
I have discussed this aspect of karate before, so no need to go over the familiar ground if you have been keeping up.
In Wankan there are some hidden throws that if you are careful you may be able to spot. But the element of surprise in fighting means you will not know what's coming.
The person thrown doesn’t know how he got thrown.
he doesn't expect it.
Entering in (Irimi) is often initiated with a block movement using Tai Sabaki and entering (Irimi).
I disguised this myself in a previous post. Haha, With Rohai featuring an Irimi technique on one of the pictures. So if you spotted this well done.
Aikido and Tai chi often try and harvest this subtle energy in a way that fools the person unaccustomed. It inevitably always ends in control (this is for your safety) but then the release of that control when the person loses heart and hopefully a change of attitude towards their aggressive behavior towards you.
In the dojo, we practice this in a more considerate manner.
We are not trying to humiliate or discourage anyone.
Although you always have that one bad apple to contend with.
who knows, in time they might change and start to learn from your example.
Torite means entering the opponent’s attack at the moment they come in (and then controlling and throwing them).
This is in Itosu's 10 precepts
6. Practice each karate technique repeatedly, the use of which is passed by word of mouth.
Learn the explanations well, and decide when and in what manner you should apply them when needed. Enter, counter, and release is the rule of releasing hand (Torite).
There is also a 'Hente' element mentioned here where variation according to circumstances is indicated and adaptation is foundational to change.
Te (hand) techniques in Wankan
Shuto uke
Kaisho Juji (Jodan) x block open hand into Seiken (closed fist) Hikite Kosa Uke Chudan, into Morote Yoko Kentsui Uchi (double side punch)Waza
into Neko Shuto uke turn 90 °
Gedan Sukui Uke scooping block Jodan Nagashi (flowing upwards) uke
Stances
Neko dachi
Sagi-Ashi Dachi (crane-foot)
Exercise
(I have started you off)
Name five techniques of applications from the three katas listed below.
Write them down in the comments section. (Use your imagination when doing the kata) If you get stuck do some research.
Magic 5 chunks
Kaisho Juji (Jodan) x block open hand into Seiken (closed fist) Hikite Kosa uke Chudan, into Morote Yoko Kentsui Uchi (double side punch)Waza into neko Shuto uke turn 90 ° (take down)
Shuto catches punch or kick, lock under the arm, controlled with the hikite, strike Shuto or use as a lever for taking down.
3...
4...
5...
You can make a video of this for yourself as I do.
references
Wankan in Murakami 1976: 121–132
Wankan in Nagamine 1975: 240–247
https://ryukyu-bugei.com/?p=7359
Unante: The Secrets of Karate
Book by John Sells
Entering Through the Gateway of Gojuryu
Book By C. Michial Jones
