Shitō-Ryū Kata:  Shisōchin (四向戦)

 

Shisōchin (四向戦) is considered to be an Itosu-kei kata, meaning that it was either created or primarily passed down by Itosu Ankō, although many historians believe that Niseishi was either created by, or one of the primary kata taught by the famous 19th century master, Aragaki Sesho.  The name means "Four Confrontation Battles," which many believe refers to the number of movements or steps in the kata.  Niseishi and its more advanced version, Aragaki-Niseishi, were among the favourite kata of Shimabukuro Hanshi . The video presented below was filmed at the Jikishin-Kai hombu dōjō in San Diego, with Shimabukuro Masayuki Hanshi performing the kata.

Niseishi Description

After bowing and announcing the name of the kata ("Niseishi") ...

Yōi (cross open hands at groin level in musubi dachi) and kiyomeri kokyū (purification breaths)
Kamaete is not performed in this kata.   

  1 Step back with right foot into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with hidari-te shotei uke , followed immediately by simultaneou hidari-te osae uke and gyaku-zuki
  2 Yori-ashi forward in hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with age ude uke to dislocate the opponent's elbow
  3 Pivoting on the left foot, turn 180 degrees into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with morote zuki
  4 Yori-ashi forward into migi neko-ashi dachi with kakiwake uke
5 Pivoting on the right foot, step 90 degrees left into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with age uke, followed by jōdan hiji ate
  6 Pivoting on the left foot, turn 180 degrees right into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with migi jōdan shutō uchi , followed by migi mae-ashi choku geri, landing in migi han-zenkutsu dachi with gyaku-zuki
  7 Pivoting on the right foot, turn 180 degrees left into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with hidari jōdan shutō uchi , followed by hidari mae-ashi choku geri, landing in hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with gyaku-zuki
  8 Draw the left foot back into heikō dachi with morote hikite
  9 Step 45 degrees right into migi han-zenkutsu dachi with morote shōtei uchi (left hand vertical, right hand horizontal)
  10 Pivoting on the right foot, turn 180 degrees left into hidari zenkutsu dachi, whilst swinging both arms in semi-circular arcs, the left hand finishing palm-up beside the left thigh and the right hand performing  jōdan ura-shutō uchi palm-down, head and body tilted forward
11 Slide the left foot forward into heisoku dachi whilst swinging the left hand upward to strike against the palm of the right hand, then step back with the left foot into migi zenkutsu dachi whilst circling both hands at knee height, pulling them up to solar plexus level as if holding a bat or sword handle, then driving them downward together with kiai
  12 Pivoting on the right foot, turn 180 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with shutō uke (normal hikite)
  13 Step forward into han-zenkutsu dachi with jōdan hiji ate and gedan barai, then gyaku-zuki
  14 Pivot on right foot and turn 45 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with shutō uke (normal hikite)
  15 Step forward with the right foot into shiko dachi with migi hiji ate against the palm of the left hand, then slow migi gedan barai, keeping the open left hand at the right elbow
16 Turn 45 degrees left into hidari neko-ashi dachi with shutō uke (normal hikite)
17 Step forward into han-zenkutsu dachi with jōdan hiji ate and gedan barai, then gyaku-zuki
  18 Pivoting on the left foot, turn 225 degrees left into hidari han-zenkutsu dachi with morote zuki
  19 Open both hands and draw them to the left hip whilst drawing the left foot back into heisoku dachi
  20 Circle both hands clockwise in mawari uke (karami nage)

Zanshin yame is not performed in Niseishi
Naotte
Rei

Key Training Aspects of Niseishi

 
The Key

Niseishi is typically taught to students of Shimabukuro-Ha Shitō-Ryū karate-dō in prepartion for advancement to yonkyū, since it is considered to be an intermediate-to-advanced kata.  Niseishi is a brief kata that does not include any unfamiliar stances, footwork, or techniques other than in movement #11.  It does, however, present students with unfamiliar combinations of basic techniques and warrants significant practice and analysis.

Important Note:  Movements #10 and #11 should be of particular interest to students learning Niseishi.  Movement #10 is a kensei waza (牽制技)—feined or diversionary tecnique—in which the sweeping strikes to the head force the opponent to lean back and shift weight onto their rear leg.  Movement #11 follows this by grasping the opponent's leading leg by the heel with the left hand and at the knee with the right hand, then pulling the heel upward whilst pushing the knee downward to topple the opponent to the ground. 

 


Additional Information

MakimonoAs with each new kata, it is important to remind oneself of the adage: "Manabu no tame ni hyakkkai, jukuren no tame ni senkai, satori no tame ni manga okonau" (学ぶのために百回、熟練のために千回、悟りのために万回行う.).  A hundred times to learn, a thousand times for proficiency, ten thousand repetitions for complete understanding.   A related Okinawan saying is "ichi kata san nen" (一型三年):  one kata three years.  To become truly proficient-to be able to perform it correctly, and with the speed, power, timing, and bushi damashii (samurai spirit) necessary to make its techniques effective in a real self-defence situation will take a thousand repetitions, which equates to 100 days at ten repetitions a day.   And to fully understand and apply all of its principles, nuances, and variations will take 1,000 days (three years) at ten repetitions per day.

When performing bunkai (分解) and considering the ōyō (応用) of Jion, it will be necessary to apply one's accumulated knowledge and vivid imagination to visualise the potential uses for the techniques in the kata.  Consideration must be given to the possibility that some movements represent applications other than obvious blocks or strikes (gōhō), but may instead—or in addition—have jūhō applications.