Secrets of Miyagi - TENSHO?

テンショウ

Most traditional Karate-ka of Okinawan disciplines, regardless of style or affiliations, have come to know of the famed teacher and founder of Goju-ryu Karate, MIYAGI, Chojun sensei. I think it is also safe to say that there may be non practitioners of Karate that have also become acquainted to some degree with respect to this master (Hollywood blockbuster The Karate Kid).

In this article, a very brief discussion of the kata TENSHO and how / why it was developed along with an opinion.

I will not go into the historical data with regards to when MIYAGI sensei was born etc., but I will streamline the event(s) that initiated the development of kata TENSHO.

MIYAGI sensei made two trips to China, one in May 1915 before the death of his teacher Kanryo Higashionna and the second after the death of his teacher in October 1915. MIYAGI sensei was accompanied by GOKENKI sensei where they traveled to Fuzhou. It was this second trip that MIYAGI sensei observed the the form ROKKISHU (turning palms / revolving palms) which initiated the development of TENSHO kata.

Here is an interesting point. The kata TENSHO has been reported to have been developed / released in 1921 (a very interesting time in the evolution of KARATE-DO!)

Now with persistent practice, study and research with like minded colleagues, of what MIYAGI sensei called the BIBLE of KARATE, THE BUBISHI and within it in particular, THE 6 JI HANDS, we have found that those very important hand postures can be found within the kata TENSHO!

So, the question is...

Did MIYAGI sensei leave us with a gift? A key(s) or a secret to the old ways of BUDO for those persistent enough to maintain a deeper study of the pre 1920's TODE JITSU? My experience(s) reverberates YES!

My opinion is, TENSHO is NOT an old mans SANCHIN (in Okinawa, TENSHO is practiced with hard breath and dynamic tension of the body), as many have stated that this is the purpose of the kata. It is more. A treasure map, a gift from our master. 先生、ありがとうございます.

I have come to the conclusion in my nearly 40 years of study in Goju-ryu Karate (Canada, mainland Japan, Okinawa) that TENSHO is the real starting point of the old intended ways of Budo, before the advent of KARATE-DO. TENSHO, MIYAGI sensei gives us the key(s) to unlocking a deeper understanding of the other kata in the syllabus.

WHAT!? Starting point? TENSHO?

YES. With the key (and there are many more), the BUBISHI and 6 JI HANDS from TENSHO, I find myself in practice, the 6 JI HANDS are manifesting themselves through the other kata (SAIFA, SHISOCHIN etc.). Yes, what a gift indeed.

I hope you enjoy this post and please feel free to share your thoughts.