Apart from what everyone has already mentioned, I really love how the Chinese teacher is so eager to pass on his knowledge. Without people like him, so many of us would be left in the dark. It's also thanks to you Jesse for going and bringing that knowledge out to us. It looked like he really liked having you. I hope you are able to go back and train more with him.
it's sad that Master Lin might be one of the last. I hope that videoing him will save things for posterity. I hope Jesse has more time to visit him, learn more and collect more footage!
I liked how he spoke high Chinese in the beginning of explaining the Kata but later on changed into his lokal dialect because he's like f** it, the foreigner doesn't understand anything anyways, I might as well talk comfortably then 😂
I'm so happy that this version is being preserved - It would be great for him to go through all of his Kata with 4 cameras around him, just so people can reference back to it at a later date. Thank-you very much for posting this!
This is honestly one of your best videos. A funny thing I noticed is that the instructor speaks to you in Mandarin and his students local dialect. Because, you know, Mandarin is what you'll understand. I love how animated and excited he is telling you about the form. The passion shows through
I typed up all of the movements of the first Incense Shop Boxing form in detail the best I could following the video, and then your video answered all of my questions! Thank you for your help. -Shaolin disciple & karateka
Yeah my Kempo teacher said the roots of our system go back to the meiji era but everything traceable is only to like the 40's when it got blended with Karate in Taiwan. A lot of Kempo seems to have Karate links.
I live in Hawaii. I am Uchinanchu, but was born and raised here. I am proud of my "Okinawan" heritage. I have learned Karate in my youth. I transitioned to Chinese martial arts, soon after learning of the connection with China. Your videos have taught me not only about martial arts, but also culture...my own in particular. I thank you for your videos and the in depth research that must have gone into it. Your an awesome practitioner and seem to be an even more awesome man. Thanks again for your videos and please keep 'em coming my friend. Mahalo!! (Thank you in Hawaiian)
I'm 35 years old and always wanted to start karate .. watching your videos was the push i needed to overcome the shame and signed for shorin ryu . Thanks Jesse ... Keep up the good work. Big hug from an argentinian.
I did Seisan when I was a teenager in my dojo (Shito-Ryu style), but I had forgotten it completely (I quited karate when my sensei retired at the end of the 90's due to health problems, and I never found the same connection with the one that replaced him.) I remember how good it was, the paces, the way the arms moved according to the breathe...Probably my favorite Kata. It kinds of makes me want to go back in a dojo and do karate once again, though I'm in my late 30's now!
the best age to learn martial arts. you don't have to prove nothing with fighting because you are older. you will not be in this all ufc is the best mindset. you can start any karate style and ad shito ryu in it. you can learn seisan from various karate styles and chinese styles and make it your speciality kata. you will have a new hobby,new friends,better health mental and physical and you will be more active then others that are watching tv and drinking beers. most of all whatever style of karate you are doing you can ad some other techniques from other styles or better those from your style thanks to those new training partners. a lot of them knows a few karate styles. have fun and make karate your own. so one day you could tell to yourself i did something and learn something. take a lot of training notes and photos in the training scrapbook. it's fun to remember all the persons through the techniques they have shown you. and if you take a few seminars even better.
@@alext6902 I'l think about it. September is coming near and it's the season for the inscriptions in the sport clubs for the year to come. Maybe I'll go back for Karate this time!
Martial arts and History always fascinates me. Martial Arts History fascinates me to no end. Seeing the evolution, variations and interpretations. No matter what style of martial arts you practice you can always learn, develop and be humbled by what another style or teacher can offer.
I like that you framed this as both a demonstration and a disussion - good to discuss and learn with Kata - thats one of the best things i enjoy doing with my Sensei trying to to understand the how, what, when, where, & why
Jesse I just saw your trip to China and was inspiring! You are doing a super important work here on passing down knowledge and keeping traditions alive. I would love to see the other 3 katas, you should definitely go back! Thank you for making us leave this dream trip!
Would love to see a Part 2 to this video demonstrating the last part of the Chinese version that had the more complex movements missing in the Okinawan version?
There is no diggin with Jesse. He just gives you the gold right away, but its so much knowledge way to heavy to carry right away... so you always get remembered there is always more room to grow and learn...learning and preserving what was and what will be...thank u for sharing and for your amazing work 🙏
I love this! I've been practicing traditional Northern Shaolin for 14 years now and I love history and Okinawan Karate, specially the connection with White Crane which I know a little bit. I hope to find an Okinawan Karate school where I live to practice some day! Thank you for sharing what you know and all the best to you!
Damn Jesse, I really freaking love these kinds of videos of yours!!! I come from Taekwondo, but recognise so many moves / techniques and since all martial arts are related it makes sense and I love it 💪 I'm not sure, if you are allowed to film the full kata and upload it, but I would really love to see you perform the oldest Kata in full length 🥋🔥😇🔥🥋
I learned Seisan kata back in 1978 in Isshinryu Karate in Detroit, MI. Today, it is still my favorite kata. Powerful, practical, and very, very dynamic.
Tucking the tailbone is also important for many Chinese martial arts. While I was practicing Tai Chi (both Wu- and Yang-style) I noticed how important it is and how much it changes the "kata". Great work on this video as always!
This has been my favourite kata since i learned it years ago. I feel like im doing a brand new kata today. And with more power, thank you for doing these things, please keep being you jesse! The rest of us broke karate nerds that cant travel like this appreciate every minute ! Hope you get back to china sometime! Also I believe the master has put the 4 forms of the style on UA-cam 1 by him and the other 3 by a student if anyone wants to watch
I love the way you bring so much information to your videos. It's amazing how a kata can have so many variations. I was taught shoto-kan katas by an ex special ops instructor. He followed the Book by Shojiro Sugiyama.I always look forward to your videos.
Hi Jesse, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your videos. I’ve practiced a variety of arts in the past 30 some odd years, isshinryu, shotokan, northern preying mantis, wing chun, under qualified instructors, and a few others as a result of a curiosity to just compare different styles. It is so fantastic what you’ve done in finding the source of it all, not to mention the father of “ The oldest known Kata”! WOW! Tremedous!
I have been fascinated by martial arts for over 40 years since being a child. I remember reading Terry O'Neil's magazine Fighting Arts International with it's beautifully written articles many of which centered on Karateka visiting Japan but also with well written pieces on a variety of martial arts. Your channel is one of the VERY few internet channels that represents taht quality of martial arts journalism / history, keeping out of politics and therefore staying relevant throughout the passage of time by representing quality.
I don’t feel qualified, it’s so difficult! 😫 The same goes for the other original Kung-Fu kata I learned in China... It really makes sense why the Okinawans simplified the forms 👍
In my school of Shorinji ryu, we practice this kata also. We focus on the Okinawa/Chinese connection a lot, as our system is from Okinawa as opposed to Japan. We're pretty old school. So much so, that I've only ever encountered one other school of our system, which is where my instructor learned from. Nobody ever even knows about our system really. So it's pretty awesome to see what we practice being validated here. Never change Jesse san! Oss!
Yo también practico shorinji ryu, pero mi estilo es del derivado yushimon, y ya eh aprendido seisan Postdata: el dojo en flash que entreno queda en República Dominicana
Thanks. This is pretty much the way I learned the original and it’s evolution in Okinawa karate. A lot of people don’t seem to get it that the Okinawan masters often adjusted Chinese forms to conform to Okinawan karate kihon, which makes them look a little different, as you show so clearly. Fun to watch.
Seisan! 😮😄 I learned it as a kid, awesome! If I remember correctly we learned it as the first actual kata at yellow belt, with the understanding that it was one of the most important, and that we learned it early so that after years when we got advanced we’d be able to do it correctly. EDIT: just watched a video of the Isshin Ryu version; it’s been close to 30 years but I remembered about 2/3 Ed’s of it, maybe I should get back into karate!
Never let karate go completely. Even if you just move thru stance and punch. Pick 1 or 2 katas. Sounded like you let your karate go. It's not about fighting. There's so much more to it as I think you know.
Interesting how varying lineages developed this kata in different ways. Of note for me is that when I learned this kata well over 30 years ago, when studying Ryukyu Kempo, the whole kata was practiced more slowly with dynamic tension. Though I have moved on to different systems, I have always been fascinated by history of the arts. These are fantastic videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I don't practice karate ( I practice aikido) but your enthusiasm and passion literally mesmerize me and show me the complexity ( I never doubt about) of this martial art. Thanks
I am very appreciative and happy with your efforts to find out about KATA from the original martial arts BECAUSE now KATA in karate is just a movement without content in the sense that many people do it without knowing the essence of the movement! hopefully you will share more of these things with us
@@KARATEbyJesse sensei, this is kata so beautiful!! and graceful!! (and towards the end of the video, the master started to speak Fuchow hahahaha) appreciate you went all the way to China to get all of us this valuable piece of information (and during Covid outbreak!!) appreciates
Good to see where it came from, I got my Dan grade when I was 60 three years ago, in our association Seishan is used to grade to 3rd Dan. It is very intricate and is a challenge to get right !
I was taught Seisan via Chito Ryu / Tsruoka and many years later saw and then learnt Hangetsu. The connection was and still is great and it’s a good test for me to do after the other! Thanks.
@@KARATEbyJesse I"ve done a bit of work-related travelling so I've had my sensei, Sensei Burke from Canada make intro's and I've been fortunate to workout in different dojos, some brief others a bit longer! Always interesting takeaways from all.
Thank you for this. I studied Kempo and Shotokan as a kid. Currently studying To-Shin Do, classical Taijutsu, and Kung Fu. This video put certain karate moves into a better perspective. 🙏
Thank you so much, sensei. You are a great teacher. I practice shotokan karate and hangetsu is one of my favorite kata. So strong, so beautiful. Thank you for your videos.
Shorei-Ryu Karateke here! In our style we call this kata Sanchin and we perform 80-90% of the kata in tension. Our stance is a more narrow version of his original and we call it Sanchin Dachi (Hourglass Stance). I call it Tommy Pickles Leg Syndrome, but I digress haha. Our entire second portion of the kata is vastly different than the Seisan performed here, but I'd know those opening 3 moves anywhere
He explains it in his China Trip videos. It's called Incense Shop Boxing. Jesse first visited a White Crane master but it felt not close enough. Then he had a disappointing experience at the Southern Shaolin site. They were wandering about until they bumped into two student with whom they exchanged ideas, to then be kicked out by staff; off that received some intel that one of the 'original' styles is now known as Incense Shop. The story is that when the fighting monks got kicked out by the CCP, some of them regrouped and secretly practised behind an Incense Shop. That guy is one of the few left that still knows about the style. Given the circumstances over the years, it was difficult to gather a large enough group of students to keep the style alive. They might but but I think this footage will become a historic document for future karate history researchers! (By the way, there were a few other encounters with different Southern style practitioners but they seemed tangential to the main thrust of the story. Don't skip them, though! The form applications they show are real eye-openers. Lots of trapping going on that is not evident from the form moves, moves that have a lot in common with moves in katas.)
Absoletly fasanating! The finer details you mention are so important, and get lost over time. I appreciate your scholarly endeavor to understand and preserve this knowledge that is vanishing. Thank you!
Your Video is a most generous gift, highlighting the vital details of this remarkable form and it's Martial DNA. Deepest Thanks and Best success in your training.
It's very interesting how Seisan Kata became the seed of karate by laying the framework from which all forms of karate share. Fundamentals like wide stances, circular blocks, and short range strikes make it a must know for any practitioner of the art. Had the joy to learn the Uechi-Ryu version many years ago. Excellent overview on it, Jesse.
Wow. You are a great Sensei. Even showing the Bunki Thank you for the history lesson. I have not been in a Dojo in over ten years. You have made me want to return. Arigatou gozaimasu
Best Martial Arts Video ever. It's great to see the connections amongst styles (not only of Karate) coming down to a simple set of movements with specific breathing techniques
7:20 the move is almost identical to the way a lot of goju ryu practioners perform their osai-uke, particularly those who've trained under the jundokan such as myself. A prime example would be before the last punch in saifa kata or after the sets renzoku punches in sesan
Good Educational video for Neophytes. Hidetaka Nishiyama based a lot of his budo concepts on Seisan. In his goal of One Karate beyond Ryuha the Kata Kitei was created in about 1985. Keep up the good work on promoting You are a true ambassador. Oss.
This is getting very interesting! For military practice I expect to see more arm breaks in martial arts. We see them in the European manuscripts. Even though we haven't kept up on that as being a continuous art we have The manuals of fiore, tollhoffer, and others that demonstrate the necessity of grappling with swordplay. What is often referred to as winden und binden ( winding and binding) which is this sort of circular motion has during contact with your enemy in order to change your position to gain mechanical advantage. Fiore in his manual promotes his techniques with the idea of how often he's broken people's arms. But you'll see no groundwork at all in the manual. all of these holds and breaks are done from standing positions. A single arm wrap followed by a strike very similar to what we're seeing here. He goes to show the universality of combat arms and the military practice of martial arts. It's roots in military practice rather than self-defense.
dude, your sentence is somewhat confusing: Winden und Binden has very little to do with ringen and arm breaks. That is not to say that winding and binding is not important, or is not the art of getting a mechanical advantage; nor is it to say that Wrestling is not important in Swordplay, because especcially arm entrapments and jolting "breaks" are really important. ( I have some vid's on my channel highlighting wrestling, especially arm wrestling techniques) It's just to say that your sentence makes it look as if these two concepts were intertwined, which they are only peripherally.
Thank you Jesse for posting, sharing, and Explaining what was shared and imparted to you. I hope you share the second part of the kata that you referenced earlier in this video. Grateful.
I study Traditional Kung Fu and Karate (also) who does Seisan great stuff Seisan means 13 in Fukienese and maybe in the Okinawan dialect. I was fortunate to study in both Taipei Taiwan and later in The peoples Republic of China. I’m glad to say I’m forever a student😊
That old man swings his arms in the strangest way. It's like they're abnormally flexible or something. He looks like he's trying to snap his arms like whips.
It would be exactly that. That loose whipping force is common in many Kung Fu systems. Water flowing around a solid object and then crashing. The Iron Ball and Chain instead of an Iron Bar as Bruce Lee described it.
To see more whipping forms, you can look up another Chinese kungfu style called Piguaquan/Piguazhang (or "Pi Kua Chuan/Chang" 劈挂拳、劈挂掌、披挂拳) which, in the variant names, literally translates to "Chopping/Cleaving/Unrolling" + "Hanging" + "Fist/Palm". The older (and my preferred) 披 name primarily describes the action of unrolling something (e.g. a carpet) or throwing on something (e.g. a covering) but can also mean to scatter/spread apart (typically solid, non-granulated) objects or used in context of opening something. The younger and current 劈 name is much more aggressive and means chopping/cleaving/hacking as with an axe. Interestingly, the Chinese characters reflect this ideological change from a "hand" radical to a "blade/knife" radical.
American Kenpo, Ed Parkers modified Chinese Kenpo came from Japan to Hawaii, then he brought it to the mainland US. It has all the elements, movements and sequences, but becoming more involved and spread among other things throughout the kata's. Such as double factor blocking, using a fluid quick parry or block just before the primary blocks for more options.. Nice seeing the knowledge is there. Thanks!
Hello Jesse! My name is Fernando Ingles I’m from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I’m a professional musician and currently I’m also a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor. Although due to the pandemic all activities at the academy have stopped, while things were ‘normal’ I taught Jiu-jitsu for kids ages 3-15 and also helped with adult beginners. The first thing I want to say is to extend an invitation for you and your brother to come down to Rio to spend some time here, I think you’ll like it a lot and I’m certain you will be very welcomed by us all. Another is that earlier in my life, before I went to live in the US for my University years, I practiced Capoeira. I absolutely loooove it and as soon as I’m able to heal properly from my recent knee surgery I’ll also start Capoeira back again. But what I want to say most of all about Capoeira is that the professor that taught me (Master Di Mola) has been residing in Sweden for quite a few years now, in Norrkoping. He is one of the best Capoeiristas (Capoeira practitioners) ever, a true master! I think it would be really wonderful to see you interact with him and exchange knowledge with someone from such a different art-form. I’m a recent subscriber of your channel and I’m enjoying it tremendously!! Congrats on all your success it is clearly earned and well-deserved! Oss!
I have learned a lot in your videos. All are in depth- i think you should have your PhD. The WuDang Baguazhang has only one kata. It took me 3 years. Its no use in practicing it, even my sifu couldn't be close to perfect. But back in 1973, I saw tis kata performed by an Is shin Ryu expert. The hip power, is tremendous and the stability is awesome. Someone tried to wrestle him but , the Is shin ryu guy just face the wrestler side ways. the wrestler attacked- double palm strikes . The wrestler goes: " you're not suppose to hit". Very educational and cerebral.
I’m guessing because they disagree that seisan is the oldest kata. Eg Hanshi Patrick McCarthy’s research suggests Bushi Matsumura version is the oldest, yet there were a number of kata in Okinawa long before he was even born
@@toanthonythat is true, but according to history Susan was around before He was born he just adjusted the Kata to meet his needs, which is common in Okinawan Kata. In Modern Times westerners believe Kata should never be changed from masters teaching. But then again the Okinawan Sensei's taught karate only in very small groups or less and adjusted their student teaching to students physical makeup. That is why you see students from same Sensei at same time period doing the Kata a bit different. I'm talking early days, before styles, which came later. It was common for Sensei to send his students to other masters to learn that masters specialty. Something not done in modern times since styles evolved so that students need to stay and learn from one master.
did you know the first martial arts created was in Indian martial arts kalaripayattu later on an indian went to china to spread buddhism and created kung fu
All Chinese martial arts Eight methods boxing Eight overturning boxing Eight trigrams palm White eyebrow boxing White crane boxing Tibetan white crane system Eight ultimate boxing Leopard boxing Northern shaolin Family boxing Cai,li, and fo boxing Long boxing Zha shangyi's boxing Penetrating feet system Dog boxing Short boxing Emei-mountain box in Overturning boxing Buddhist boxing Black tiger boxing Hong and Buddhist boxing Hong society boxing Monkey boxing Cai mao's Hua mountain boxing Tiger boxing Jingwu system Kunlun-mountain boxing Lama system Li xiaki's family boxing Li tong's system Six harmonies eight methods. Also known as water boxing Dragon boxing Arhat boxing Plum blossom boxing Cotton boxing Lost track boxing Mo dashi's family boxing Southern system mantis boxing Southern boxing Cannon boxing Chopping and hanging boxing Flexible skill system Shaolin-temple boxing Snake boxing Wrestling Tai chi ch'uan Emperor taizu's boxing Mantis boxing Linqing-city pong leg Flicking/Springing leg Through-the-back boxing Wudang-mountain boxing Primordial chaos one chi palm Five animals boxing Five ancestors boxing Xia family boxing Shape and intention boxing Eagle claw system Intention boxing Wing chun General Yue Fei's family boxing Zhou family boxing Natural system Lee style of hand of the wind boxing Jeet kune do-The way of intercepting fist Liu seong kuntao Tian mountain system Sanshou
I searched it also on the Internet and yes, the Seisan Kata does exist in all karate styles and I didn't not know that this was the oldest. I watched your episode, Karate Nerd in China and those episodes really opened my mind and heart to studying martial arts more and more. Salute Jesse Sensei! 👍
What do you wanna learn? 👊
maybe street fight tactic and stratigy
How to be a better version of myself.
Karate foot sweep into punch on the ground for street fighting
Morote Koken Uke bunkai?
I would really like you to speak about the "Atifa" in Okinawan karate, what is called "fah jing" in chinese martial arts. Thank you
Apart from what everyone has already mentioned, I really love how the Chinese teacher is so eager to pass on his knowledge. Without people like him, so many of us would be left in the dark. It's also thanks to you Jesse for going and bringing that knowledge out to us.
It looked like he really liked having you. I hope you are able to go back and train more with him.
I had great experiences since 1990 training in Taiwan, HK, China, even Philippines...most masters are eager to share...
It was beautiful to watch him move so effortlessly.
it's sad that Master Lin might be one of the last. I hope that videoing him will save things for posterity. I hope Jesse has more time to visit him, learn more and collect more footage!
I liked how he spoke high Chinese in the beginning of explaining the Kata but later on changed into his lokal dialect because he's like f** it, the foreigner doesn't understand anything anyways, I might as well talk comfortably then 😂
@@myeramimclerie7869 Had no idea. That's funny!
I'm so happy that this version is being preserved - It would be great for him to go through all of his Kata with 4 cameras around him, just so people can reference back to it at a later date.
Thank-you very much for posting this!
100% agree
What's the name of the form in chinese?
Up
@@mrhecto7147 Sumfin-nu
The passion you express while explaining is so contagious that I feel it through the bones. Cool video as always, thanks for sharing it.
Awesome! Just doing what I love 😄
What is the original name of seisan they use in China ?
This is honestly one of your best videos. A funny thing I noticed is that the instructor speaks to you in Mandarin and his students local dialect. Because, you know, Mandarin is what you'll understand. I love how animated and excited he is telling you about the form. The passion shows through
Thanks for you, bring back the old martial arts information, useful for me in training.
I typed up all of the movements of the first Incense Shop Boxing form in detail the best I could following the video, and then your video answered all of my questions! Thank you for your help. -Shaolin disciple & karateka
Sensei Jesse, you are doing the world a great service by archiving this knowledge in video form. Please keep it up!
We do Seisan! We’re Kempo though, so a bit newer than most styles.. but still! How cool
Old is gold 🌮🌮🌮
Hello
Yeah my Kempo teacher said the roots of our system go back to the meiji era but everything traceable is only to like the 40's when it got blended with Karate in Taiwan. A lot of Kempo seems to have Karate links.
.. loved the video, was wondering if you show the complete original Chinese form ?
Do you think that Seisan maybe the seed that Karate grew from and can it be used to find when and where and between who this art started?
I live in Hawaii. I am Uchinanchu, but was born and raised here. I am proud of my "Okinawan" heritage. I have learned Karate in my youth. I transitioned to Chinese martial arts, soon after learning of the connection with China. Your videos have taught me not only about martial arts, but also culture...my own in particular. I thank you for your videos and the in depth research that must have gone into it. Your an awesome practitioner and seem to be an even more awesome man. Thanks again for your videos and please keep 'em coming my friend. Mahalo!! (Thank you in Hawaiian)
I'm 35 years old and always wanted to start karate .. watching your videos was the push i needed to overcome the shame and signed for shorin ryu .
Thanks Jesse ... Keep up the good work.
Big hug from an argentinian.
I did Seisan when I was a teenager in my dojo (Shito-Ryu style), but I had forgotten it completely (I quited karate when my sensei retired at the end of the 90's due to health problems, and I never found the same connection with the one that replaced him.)
I remember how good it was, the paces, the way the arms moved according to the breathe...Probably my favorite Kata. It kinds of makes me want to go back in a dojo and do karate once again, though I'm in my late 30's now!
the best age to learn martial arts. you don't have to prove nothing with fighting because you are older. you will not be in this all ufc is the best mindset. you can start any karate style and ad shito ryu in it. you can learn seisan from various karate styles and chinese styles and make it your speciality kata. you will have a new hobby,new friends,better health mental and physical and you will be more active then others that are watching tv and drinking beers. most of all whatever style of karate you are doing you can ad some other techniques from other styles or better those from your style thanks to those new training partners. a lot of them knows a few karate styles. have fun and make karate your own. so one day you could tell to yourself i did something and learn something. take a lot of training notes and photos in the training scrapbook. it's fun to remember all the persons through the techniques they have shown you. and if you take a few seminars even better.
@@alext6902 I'l think about it.
September is coming near and it's the season for the inscriptions in the sport clubs for the year to come.
Maybe I'll go back for Karate this time!
@@MoreAwsomeMetal don't think.just do it. the more you think the less you do. just show and train. and keep a note book.
Martial arts and History always fascinates me. Martial Arts History fascinates me to no end. Seeing the evolution, variations and interpretations. No matter what style of martial arts you practice you can always learn, develop and be humbled by what another style or teacher can offer.
I like that you framed this as both a demonstration and a disussion - good to discuss and learn with Kata - thats one of the best things i enjoy doing with my Sensei trying to to understand the how, what, when, where, & why
Jesse I just saw your trip to China and was inspiring! You are doing a super important work here on passing down knowledge and keeping traditions alive. I would love to see the other 3 katas, you should definitely go back! Thank you for making us leave this dream trip!
Would love to see a Part 2 to this video demonstrating the last part of the Chinese version that had the more complex movements missing in the Okinawan version?
Same
Me too, but seems it sadly won't happen.
My thougts exactly!
@@danieldubaj4776 :(
There is no diggin with Jesse. He just gives you the gold right away, but its so much knowledge way to heavy to carry right away... so you always get remembered there is always more room to grow and learn...learning and preserving what was and what will be...thank u for sharing and for your amazing work 🙏
I love this! I've been practicing traditional Northern Shaolin for 14 years now and I love history and Okinawan Karate, specially the connection with White Crane which I know a little bit. I hope to find an Okinawan Karate school where I live to practice some day!
Thank you for sharing what you know and all the best to you!
It's so amazing to see these old grandmasters at work. So humbling and inspirational. Great detective work on this project, thank you!
Much appreciated!
Damn Jesse, I really freaking love these kinds of videos of yours!!!
I come from Taekwondo, but recognise so many moves / techniques and since all martial arts are related it makes sense and I love it 💪
I'm not sure, if you are allowed to film the full kata and upload it, but I would really love to see you perform the oldest Kata in full length 🥋🔥😇🔥🥋
Thank you! Hopefully I’ll be able to perform it. It’s harder than it looks!
I learned Seisan kata back in 1978 in Isshinryu Karate in Detroit, MI. Today, it is still my favorite kata. Powerful, practical, and very, very dynamic.
Tucking the tailbone is also important for many Chinese martial arts. While I was practicing Tai Chi (both Wu- and Yang-style) I noticed how important it is and how much it changes the "kata". Great work on this video as always!
This has been my favourite kata since i learned it years ago. I feel like im doing a brand new kata today. And with more power, thank you for doing these things, please keep being you jesse! The rest of us broke karate nerds that cant travel like this appreciate every minute ! Hope you get back to china sometime! Also I believe the master has put the 4 forms of the style on UA-cam 1 by him and the other 3 by a student if anyone wants to watch
I love the way you bring so much information to your videos. It's amazing how a kata can have so many variations. I was taught shoto-kan katas by an ex special ops instructor. He followed the Book by Shojiro Sugiyama.I always look forward to your videos.
Absolutely fascinating. Thank you for sharing your research Jesse. Without you we wouldn't have access to this knowledge.
Outstanding work here Jesse. Thanks for passing along this knowledge to help us understand, not only application, but history. Thank you.
Hi Jesse, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your videos. I’ve practiced a variety of arts in the past 30 some odd years, isshinryu, shotokan, northern preying mantis, wing chun, under qualified instructors, and a few others as a result of a curiosity to just compare different styles. It is so fantastic what you’ve done in finding the source of it all, not to mention the father of “ The oldest known Kata”! WOW! Tremedous!
Missed your vids mate, great to see you back
Never left! 😄
I have been fascinated by martial arts for over 40 years since being a child. I remember reading Terry O'Neil's magazine Fighting Arts International with it's beautifully written articles many of which centered on Karateka visiting Japan but also with well written pieces on a variety of martial arts. Your channel is one of the VERY few internet channels that represents taht quality of martial arts journalism / history, keeping out of politics and therefore staying relevant throughout the passage of time by representing quality.
Are you gonna perform for us at one point the entire kata ? Great work K-nerd! 🔥
I don’t feel qualified, it’s so difficult! 😫 The same goes for the other original Kung-Fu kata I learned in China... It really makes sense why the Okinawans simplified the forms 👍
@@KARATEbyJesse I don't blame you man. Nobody with bit of intelligence would judge you for trying but the Net is the Net! Take care
@@paulr.8365 AppreCiate, yoUr *hint* (☸️🔐).,
Believe it was too ☯️ *subtle* tho. 🤷🏻♂️🙏
Very Cool!! Thanks for sharing that was very interesting and informative!! 🙏👍
In my school of Shorinji ryu, we practice this kata also. We focus on the Okinawa/Chinese connection a lot, as our system is from Okinawa as opposed to Japan. We're pretty old school. So much so, that I've only ever encountered one other school of our system, which is where my instructor learned from. Nobody ever even knows about our system really. So it's pretty awesome to see what we practice being validated here. Never change Jesse san! Oss!
Yo también practico shorinji ryu, pero mi estilo es del derivado yushimon, y ya eh aprendido seisan
Postdata: el dojo en flash que entreno queda en República Dominicana
En el que entreno*
I don't even practice any martial arts but I love your enthusiasm so much! I love hearing you explain the history behind different movements.
It's amazing. What you show at 10:30 can be found in a lot of our traditional Pencak Silat styles here in Indonesia. Great video!
Thanks. This is pretty much the way I learned the original and it’s evolution in Okinawa karate. A lot of people don’t seem to get it that the Okinawan masters often adjusted Chinese forms to conform to Okinawan karate kihon, which makes them look a little different, as you show so clearly. Fun to watch.
Seisan! 😮😄
I learned it as a kid, awesome!
If I remember correctly we learned it as the first actual kata at yellow belt, with the understanding that it was one of the most important, and that we learned it early so that after years when we got advanced we’d be able to do it correctly.
EDIT: just watched a video of the Isshin Ryu version; it’s been close to 30 years but I remembered about 2/3 Ed’s of it, maybe I should get back into karate!
Never let karate go completely. Even if you just move thru stance and punch. Pick 1 or 2 katas. Sounded like you let your karate go. It's not about fighting. There's so much more to it as I think you know.
Great to find someone that studies the history of it and explains it too not only the moves!!Its a subscribe for me
Wow Jesse , you’re inspiring me to get back into karate.
Interesting how varying lineages developed this kata in different ways. Of note for me is that when I learned this kata well over 30 years ago, when studying Ryukyu Kempo, the whole kata was practiced more slowly with dynamic tension.
Though I have moved on to different systems, I have always been fascinated by history of the arts. These are fantastic videos. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I don't practice karate ( I practice aikido) but your enthusiasm and passion literally mesmerize me and show me the complexity ( I never doubt about) of this martial art. Thanks
Domo arigato! 🙏
I am very appreciative and happy with your efforts to find out about KATA from the original martial arts BECAUSE now KATA in karate is just a movement without content in the sense that many people do it without knowing the essence of the movement!
hopefully you will share more of these things with us
Yay!! the full Intro Theme song is back
Haha glad you like it! 🙏
@@KARATEbyJesse sensei, this is kata so beautiful!! and graceful!!
(and towards the end of the video, the master started to speak Fuchow hahahaha)
appreciate you went all the way to China to get all of us this valuable piece of information (and during Covid outbreak!!)
appreciates
Thank you for sharing. Of everything you have shown in your videos this kata is the one thing I most want to learn.
Good to see where it came from, I got my Dan grade when I was 60 three years ago, in our association Seishan is used to grade to 3rd Dan. It is very intricate and is a challenge to get right !
I was taught Seisan via Chito Ryu / Tsruoka and many years later saw and then learnt Hangetsu. The connection was and still is great and it’s a good test for me to do after the other! Thanks.
Excellent! Glad to hear you studied multiple styles 👍
@@KARATEbyJesse I"ve done a bit of work-related travelling so I've had my sensei, Sensei Burke from Canada make intro's and I've been fortunate to workout in different dojos, some brief others a bit longer! Always interesting takeaways from all.
6:06 "You kind of connect your glutes to your abs and you get this super strong posture"
*I Have no Abs* ಥ_ಥ
Thank you for this. I studied Kempo and Shotokan as a kid. Currently studying To-Shin Do, classical Taijutsu, and Kung Fu. This video put certain karate moves into a better perspective. 🙏
What kinda kung fu?
Thank you Senseii! Love your work
Much appreciated!
Make his knuckles bleed!
YES, SENSEI!
Thank you so much, sensei. You are a great teacher. I practice shotokan karate and hangetsu is one of my favorite kata. So strong, so beautiful. Thank you for your videos.
My absolute pleasure! 👍
Loved this video. I love how sensei explains the history. He makes history interesting 😊
Shorei-Ryu Karateke here! In our style we call this kata Sanchin and we perform 80-90% of the kata in tension. Our stance is a more narrow version of his original and we call it Sanchin Dachi (Hourglass Stance). I call it Tommy Pickles Leg Syndrome, but I digress haha. Our entire second portion of the kata is vastly different than the Seisan performed here, but I'd know those opening 3 moves anywhere
This is a brilliant comparison Jesse. Thank you for that!
That's an amazing piece of information about all katas. I had no idea of this connection. Thanks
Oldest version looks like southern kung fu. For sure it comes from the shaolin.
Yea Karate is based off Shaolin.
Im teaching wing chun kung fu, and lots of the movement in there are in our style.
I think karate was based off of kungfu
Shaolin was a martial arts hub. Not necessarily a place of invention. A lot of the Shaolin forms you learn used to be complete styles.
He explains it in his China Trip videos. It's called Incense Shop Boxing. Jesse first visited a White Crane master but it felt not close enough. Then he had a disappointing experience at the Southern Shaolin site.
They were wandering about until they bumped into two student with whom they exchanged ideas, to then be kicked out by staff; off that received some intel that one of the 'original' styles is now known as Incense Shop. The story is that when the fighting monks got kicked out by the CCP, some of them regrouped and secretly practised behind an Incense Shop.
That guy is one of the few left that still knows about the style. Given the circumstances over the years, it was difficult to gather a large enough group of students to keep the style alive. They might but but I think this footage will become a historic document for future karate history researchers!
(By the way, there were a few other encounters with different Southern style practitioners but they seemed tangential to the main thrust of the story. Don't skip them, though! The form applications they show are real eye-openers. Lots of trapping going on that is not evident from the form moves, moves that have a lot in common with moves in katas.)
Absoletly fasanating! The finer details you mention are so important, and get lost over time. I appreciate your scholarly endeavor to understand and preserve this knowledge that is vanishing. Thank you!
Thank you! The smallest details can make the biggest difference 👊
if it's possible, perhaps jesse can work with naka sensei in kuro-obi world? cheers
You are so excited about what you've learnt your breathing is unmeasured Jesse! Must have been fantastic discovering - and being taught this.
finally!!!!
hope you eventually go back to china and learn some more Incense Shop Boxing!
Your Video is a most generous gift, highlighting the vital details of this remarkable form and it's Martial DNA. Deepest Thanks and Best success in your training.
As usual ..... Brilliant! Thx Jesse Sensei! Who would have thought?!
It's very interesting how Seisan Kata became the seed of karate by laying the framework from which all forms of karate share. Fundamentals like wide stances, circular blocks, and short range strikes make it a must know for any practitioner of the art. Had the joy to learn the Uechi-Ryu version many years ago. Excellent overview on it, Jesse.
Loved it! Always great to learn how to do a new kata and what the moves mean. Thank you!
I love this kind of videos where Jesse explores ancient roots of Karate.You are great presenter.Thank you.
Wow. You are a great Sensei.
Even showing the Bunki
Thank you for the history lesson. I have not been in a Dojo in over ten years. You have made me want to return.
Arigatou gozaimasu
A teaching video of the original seisan would be fabulous. I'd love to learn it. Be great to be part of keeping it alive.
Beautifully explained and executed.
Thank you! 🙏
Best Martial Arts Video ever. It's great to see the connections amongst styles (not only of Karate) coming down to a simple set of movements with specific breathing techniques
Wow, it's cool to see how similar the moves I learned in Isshin Ryu are to the originals.
I did isshin ryu too! What is you lineage
I’m under Nagle/Lizotte. I think it’s interesting seeing how we still do the semi block like traditional Kung Fu.
Oh my God!!! This is the very source. Can't be more greatful for this content
7:20 the move is almost identical to the way a lot of goju ryu practioners perform their osai-uke, particularly those who've trained under the jundokan such as myself. A prime example would be before the last punch in saifa kata or after the sets renzoku punches in sesan
How long since you have trained at the Jundokan? I'm planning on going asap
Love ya!!! Always good teaching and info. Thanks 🙏 again for your show. The bubishi is a classical text every martial artist should study.
All Japanese martial arts
Aikido (合気道/合氣道)
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Bajutsu (馬術)
Battōjutsu (抜刀術)
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Taikiken?
That's not even close to being all.
Good Educational video for Neophytes. Hidetaka Nishiyama based a lot of his budo concepts on Seisan. In his goal of One Karate beyond Ryuha the Kata Kitei was created in about 1985. Keep up the good work on promoting You are a true ambassador. Oss.
A lot of Hangetsu in my training recently. A personal favourite. Lovely to see the Chinese version. Osu.
An amazing video Jesse....!!! we are so happy for your work , keep it on..... salutes from Atlanta, GA....
This is getting very interesting! For military practice I expect to see more arm breaks in martial arts. We see them in the European manuscripts. Even though we haven't kept up on that as being a continuous art we have The manuals of fiore, tollhoffer, and others that demonstrate the necessity of grappling with swordplay. What is often referred to as winden und binden ( winding and binding) which is this sort of circular motion has during contact with your enemy in order to change your position to gain mechanical advantage.
Fiore in his manual promotes his techniques with the idea of how often he's broken people's arms. But you'll see no groundwork at all in the manual. all of these holds and breaks are done from standing positions. A single arm wrap followed by a strike very similar to what we're seeing here. He goes to show the universality of combat arms and the military practice of martial arts. It's roots in military practice rather than self-defense.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing 😄👍
@@JosephKerr27 I'm not familiar with Matt but would be interested in additional standing breaks
Cool, you in EU now?
Michael Pierce He is referring to Matt Easton, a Historical European Martial Arts instructor from Britain. “ context” is one of his key catch phrases.
dude, your sentence is somewhat confusing:
Winden und Binden has very little to do with ringen and arm breaks.
That is not to say that winding and binding is not important, or is not the art of getting a mechanical advantage;
nor is it to say that Wrestling is not important in Swordplay, because especcially arm entrapments and jolting "breaks" are really important. ( I have some vid's on my channel highlighting wrestling, especially arm wrestling techniques)
It's just to say that your sentence makes it look as if these two concepts were intertwined, which they are only peripherally.
Thank you Jesse for posting, sharing, and Explaining what was shared and imparted to you. I hope you share the second part of the kata that you referenced earlier in this video. Grateful.
Very cool but this also show that Karate Masters were really modernizing Kung Fu. Could you show the complete today's Seisan bunkai?
I study Traditional Kung Fu and Karate (also) who does Seisan great stuff Seisan means 13 in Fukienese and maybe in the Okinawan dialect. I was fortunate to study in both Taipei Taiwan and later in The peoples Republic of China. I’m glad to say I’m forever a student😊
That old man swings his arms in the strangest way.
It's like they're abnormally flexible or something. He looks like he's trying to snap his arms like whips.
It would be exactly that. That loose whipping force is common in many Kung Fu systems. Water flowing around a solid object and then crashing. The Iron Ball and Chain instead of an Iron Bar as Bruce Lee described it.
To see more whipping forms, you can look up another Chinese kungfu style called Piguaquan/Piguazhang (or "Pi Kua Chuan/Chang" 劈挂拳、劈挂掌、披挂拳) which, in the variant names, literally translates to "Chopping/Cleaving/Unrolling" + "Hanging" + "Fist/Palm".
The older (and my preferred) 披 name primarily describes the action of unrolling something (e.g. a carpet) or throwing on something (e.g. a covering) but can also mean to scatter/spread apart (typically solid, non-granulated) objects or used in context of opening something.
The younger and current 劈 name is much more aggressive and means chopping/cleaving/hacking as with an axe. Interestingly, the Chinese characters reflect this ideological change from a "hand" radical to a "blade/knife" radical.
@@bladesxf hey thanks for the suggestion
Absolutely amazing analysis! So well done!
Yamagushi taught Front heel in line with the back toe in sanchin stance.
American Kenpo, Ed Parkers modified Chinese Kenpo came from Japan to Hawaii, then he brought it to the mainland US. It has all the elements, movements and sequences, but becoming more involved and spread among other things throughout the kata's. Such as double factor blocking, using a fluid quick parry or block just before the primary blocks for more options.. Nice seeing the knowledge is there. Thanks!
Looks like Wing Chun, White Crane and Hung Kuen forms, perhaps there's missing link?
You should check out my webseries ”Karate Nerd in China” ua-cam.com/play/PLnepTzrhzuB-6k93Klo0L5GDwiMym3Y9a.html
It's five ancestors 五祖拳
YOU BLOW MY MIND, YOUR MOST INTERESTING VIDEO SO FAR , THANKS A LOT
Love from india
You are best. Your explanation of Technics is very easy to understand. Great deep knowledge received from your side. Domo aregeito.
I really thought the Chinese master demonstrated Karate. Wow.
I knew the version taught in karate, now I'm gonna learn the full Chinese version! Ty Jessie, excellent
Cool. I would have thought 4 directional punching would be the oldest kata because of its simplicity?
That’s not really a ”kata”
Hello Jesse!
My name is Fernando Ingles I’m from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I’m a professional musician and currently I’m also a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and instructor.
Although due to the pandemic all activities at the academy have stopped, while things were ‘normal’ I taught Jiu-jitsu for kids ages 3-15 and also helped with adult beginners.
The first thing I want to say is to extend an invitation for you and your brother to come down to Rio to spend some time here, I think you’ll like it a lot and I’m certain you will be very welcomed by us all.
Another is that earlier in my life, before I went to live in the US for my University years, I practiced Capoeira.
I absolutely loooove it and as soon as I’m able to heal properly from my recent knee surgery I’ll also start Capoeira back again.
But what I want to say most of all about Capoeira is that the professor that taught me (Master Di Mola) has been residing in Sweden for quite a few years now, in Norrkoping.
He is one of the best Capoeiristas (Capoeira practitioners) ever, a true master!
I think it would be really wonderful to see you interact with him and exchange knowledge with someone from such a different art-form.
I’m a recent subscriber of your channel and I’m enjoying it tremendously!!
Congrats on all your success it is clearly earned and well-deserved!
Oss!
That's amazing
Thank you 👊
I have learned a lot in your videos. All are in depth- i think you should have your PhD. The WuDang Baguazhang has only one kata. It took me 3 years. Its no use in practicing it, even my sifu couldn't be close to perfect. But back in 1973, I saw tis kata performed by an Is shin Ryu expert. The hip power, is tremendous and the stability is awesome. Someone tried to wrestle him but , the Is shin ryu guy just face the wrestler side ways. the wrestler attacked- double palm strikes . The wrestler goes: " you're not suppose to hit". Very educational and cerebral.
its disturbing my peace, that someone disliked this (?)
I’m guessing because they disagree that seisan is the oldest kata. Eg Hanshi Patrick McCarthy’s research suggests Bushi Matsumura version is the oldest, yet there were a number of kata in Okinawa long before he was even born
@@toanthonythat is true, but according to history Susan was around before He was born he just adjusted the Kata to meet his needs, which is common in Okinawan Kata. In Modern Times westerners believe Kata should never be changed from masters teaching. But then again the Okinawan Sensei's taught karate only in very small groups or less and adjusted their student teaching to students physical makeup. That is why you see students from same Sensei at same time period doing the Kata a bit different. I'm talking early days, before styles, which came later. It was common for Sensei to send his students to other masters to learn that masters specialty. Something not done in modern times since styles evolved so that students need to stay and learn from one master.
So cool , it’s rekindling my roots of the style I was taught. 👍🏾🙏🏾
did you know the first martial arts created was in Indian martial arts kalaripayattu later on an indian went to china to spread buddhism and created kung fu
Probably wasn't the first bro
Such a wealth of information born from years training, devotion and diligent study. Thank you for sharing the fruits of your journey.
Imagine being early and having nothing to say...
Story of my life 🤪
It is actually one of my favorite kata to look at! So much history and connection from China to Okinawa.
All Chinese martial arts
Eight methods boxing
Eight overturning boxing
Eight trigrams palm
White eyebrow boxing
White crane boxing
Tibetan white crane system
Eight ultimate boxing
Leopard boxing
Northern shaolin
Family boxing
Cai,li, and fo boxing
Long boxing
Zha shangyi's boxing
Penetrating feet system
Dog boxing
Short boxing
Emei-mountain box in
Overturning boxing
Buddhist boxing
Black tiger boxing
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Hong society boxing
Monkey boxing
Cai mao's Hua mountain boxing
Tiger boxing
Jingwu system
Kunlun-mountain boxing
Lama system
Li xiaki's family boxing
Li tong's system
Six harmonies eight methods. Also known as water boxing
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Arhat boxing
Plum blossom boxing
Cotton boxing
Lost track boxing
Mo dashi's family boxing
Southern system mantis boxing
Southern boxing
Cannon boxing
Chopping and hanging boxing
Flexible skill system
Shaolin-temple boxing
Snake boxing
Wrestling
Tai chi ch'uan
Emperor taizu's boxing
Mantis boxing
Linqing-city pong leg
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Through-the-back boxing
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Primordial chaos one chi palm
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Wing chun
General Yue Fei's family boxing
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Lee style of hand of the wind boxing
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Liu seong kuntao
Tian mountain system
Sanshou
Choy le fut
Wudang snake fist (and other snake fist systems)
Splashing hands
Hung Gar...
Bagua
I guess there are others too...
Man seriously, i appreciate the time u took to type these..
@@Hy-jg8ow yeah some of it i translate it to English
This is a pretty good list! I'm sure there's more but this is a pretty good start.
Ba gua quan and yang family spears system
I searched it also on the Internet and yes, the Seisan Kata does exist in all karate styles and I didn't not know that this was the oldest. I watched your episode, Karate Nerd in China and those episodes really opened my mind and heart to studying martial arts more and more. Salute Jesse Sensei! 👍
Muchas gracias! 👍