水手 (Suishu): Part 1 - Brief Written Summary

This post is for the attendees of my recent seminars in Freital, Germany, on February 4th and 5th, 2023. It outlines the unique version of 水手 ’Suishu’ (Water hands) Kata, which I was personally taught. My hope is that these notes will help all of you to retain this kata; moreover, its relaxed use of energy/power, water like adaptability, and combat applicability that it transmits. Greetings and best wishes from my dojo here in Oita City, Kyushu, Japan. — 押忍！

  

水手

Suishu (Mizu no te)

 

Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei also called this kata 水の手  (ミズノテ ) or ‘Mizunote‘. His official description is as follows: “This bujutsu kata incorporates movements of water into taijutsu. A jutsu for mastering the concept of water, which is expressed in ‘the change of speed and strength’ in the various waza (sometimes intense, sometimes gentle) . Accordingly, Suishu mimics the flow of water. It is one of five ‘natural energy’ kata, which function to perfect fluidity, adaptability, and the optimal use of power to transcend muscular strength”. — Andre Bertel.

 

[58 movements with kiai applied on the actions 27 and 58]

 

Kata overview:

 

Rei: (Musubi-dachi).

 

Yoi: Ryoken daitai mae (Shizentai).

 

1. Step back diagonally rightward into migi ashi mae fudo-dachi with sasho jodan sotonagashi-uke following into migi te osae-uke. Asai Sensei also taught this as Hidari kokutsu-dachi; however, that for higher grades, the less distribution of weight to the rear leg is more effective. Thus, Fudo dachi should be used by higher grades in this action.

 

 

2. Change into migi zenkutsu with migi gedan uke-zuki.

 

3. Hidari chudan oi-zuki.

 

4. Draw in the right foot and face diagonally to the right in heiko dachi with migi haishu/haiwan uchinagashi-uke

 

5. Move back diagonally into hidari ashi mae fudo-dachi with usho jodan sotonagashi-uke flowing into hidari te osae-uke.

 

6/7. Repeat steps two and three on the opposite side.

 

8. Execute hidari jodan uchi-uke diagonally to the left.

 

9. Step diagonally on the line of the previous uke into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with hidari uraken jodan tatemawashi uchi.

 

10. Hidari ashi soto-uke and at the same time make hidari jodan soto-uke.

 

11. Migi chudan gyaku-zuki (hidari zenkutsu-dachi).

 

12-15. Repeat movements 8–11 on the opposite side.

 

16. From where you are deliver hidari jodan uchi-uke.

 

17. Pivoting into hidari zenkutsu make migi jodan uchi-uke.

 

18. Advance on the centerline into migi zenkutsu-dachi with hidari chudan gyaku-zuki.

 

19. Turn 90 degrees leftward into hidari ashi mae nekoashi-dachi with hidari jodan soto-uke flowing into sasho gedan-barai and a simultaneous usho hitai-gamae, then counterattack with migi shuto jodan sotomawashi uchi (saken hidari koshi). Complete this action, by expanding from hidari ashi nekoashi-dachi into hidari zenkutsu-dachi; thereby, utilizing the transfer of weight into zenkutsu-dachi to make your impact with your 'shuto' both relaxed and heavy.

 

20. Turn 180 degrees and repeat movement 19 on the opposite side.

 

21. Pivot into hidari ashi mae hiza-kutsu with migi shuto sokumen harai-uke.

 

22. Okuriashi by drawing the left foot half way to the right with migi shuto jodan age-uke/kamae.

 

23. Advance into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with hidari chudan mae enpi-uchi.

 

24. Migi teisho chudan gyaku-zuki.

 

25. Turn 180 degrees into migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi with migi shuto gedan-barai.

 

26. Migi kizami mae-geri.

 

27. Without returning to neko ashi advance directly into migi zenkutsu-dachi with hidari chudan gyaku-zuki (KIAI).

 

28. Yori-ashi rearward and slightly leftward into hidari ashi mae neko ashi, turning to face the left side, with hidari shuto gedan sotomawashi uchi/uke.

 

29. Hidari chudan kizami mae-geri.

 

30–31. Repeat movements 28-29 on the opposite side.

 

32. Kosa-aiyumibashi to the left simultaneously loading both shuto diagonally rearward at the right lower waist.

 

33. Move into hidari ashi mae fudo-dachi with a slow hidari shuto jodan uchimawashi uchi doji ni usho sokumen hitai gamae.

 

34. Kaiten shinagara migi jodan shuto uchimawashi uchi in kiba-dachi.

 

35. Turn leftward into hidari ashi mae neko ashi dachi and make ryo sho jodan age-uke.

 

36. Move into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with shuto hasami-uchi.

 

37. Step forward into migi zenkutsu-dachi with ryo ken gedan uke-zuki flowing into tateken chudan morote-zuki.

 

38. Turn clockwise to face ura shomen in kiba-dachi with migi tekubi jodan kake-uke diagonally to the right.

 

39. Transfer into migi zenkutsu-dachi with hidari chudan gyaku-zuki.

 

40. Migi teisho jodan age-zuki. A stationary and subtle switch into migi ashi mae fudo-dachi is utilized here. Asai Sensei also taught a return to kiba-dachi.

 

41-43. Repeat movements 38-40 on the opposite side.

 

44. Step forward with the right foot into migi zenkutsu-dachi. When doing this defend with hidari hidari te sotonagashi uke flowing into migi haishu jodan age uke. Note — the wind up for migi haishu jodan age uke is from behind your back whilst making the hidari te sotonagashi uke. In actuality this is a Kamae for striking the eyes and, when used in defense, is applied as kamae then usho osae uke.

 

45. From this position make a migi enpi-uchi (keep the hand of the striking arm open with the shuto formation).

 

46. Step forward into hidari zenkutsu-dachi with a pressing/pushing migi shuto jodan uchimawashi uchi. Asai Sensei emphasized t me that this is a press, opening the neck and off balancing, to attack with the next two waza.

 

47. Hidari koko jodan oi-zuki.

 

48. Migi koko jodan gyaku zuki. Movements 47 and 48 are ren-zuki both impacting with the ‘tiger mouth’.

 

49. Turn 270 degrees into migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi with migi shuto jodan tatemawashi uchi

 

50. Migi uraken jodan tatemawashi uchi moving into migi zenkutsu-dachi. Note, this is done with a large

scale rolling action like a wave coming on to a beach.

 

51. Hidari chudan oi-zuki. Asai Sensei stresses that movements 50 and 51 (and 53/54) are continuous.

 

52-54. Turn 180 degrees and repeat movements 47-49 on the opposite side.

 

55. Stepping 90 degrees to the right into Kiba-dachi make a big clockwise circle with the arms (ryo sho jodan-uke) that immediately flows into a large circular migi shuto jodan sokumen uchimawashi uchi. Note, hidari shuto suigetsu kamae is utilized here.

 

56. Kaiten shinagara counterclockwise into kiba-dachi with hidari yoko enpi-uchi. Note, the striking elbows hand is in the shuto formation.

 

56. Mawari nagara sagatte with both shuto raised up high—then slowly make ryo sho gedan te osaeuke—whilst simultaneously moving into migi ashi mae neko ashi dachi.

 

 58. Drive forward into migi zenkutsu-dachi with ryo sho shuto jodan uchikomi (KIAI). Asai Sensei taught me that this waza is to impact with boshiken on both sides of the carotid artery. 

 

Naore: Ryoken daitai mae (Shizentai).

 

Rei: (Musubi-dachi).

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2023).