霞の剣 (Kasumi no ken)

Deceive the opponent with a forward pressure, telegraphed arm movements and a 'must block' action.

 This is an example of the HAZE...

Attention taken,and the center of gravity high, also the balanced knocked sideways KUZUSHI is achieved by easily sweeping both legs. This is the SWORD.

Finish the opponent by making a tsuki or keri to the temple, jaw or neck. I used this combination many times with great success in kumite competition. This is the KIMEWAZA.

The term 霞の剣 (KASUMI NO KEN) literally means translates as the ‘HAZE OF THE SWORD’. This does not only relate to swords, but all other weapons as well; and indeed, this includes 体の武器  (karada no buki: ‘the weapons of the body’). Here it’s appropriate to consider the 15th precept of Funakoshi Gichin Sensei: 人の手足を剣と思へ  (Hito no teashi o ken to omoe: “Think of one’s hands and feet as swords”).

Kasumi no ken in all forms of budo/bujutsu is “…the methodology of concealing movements which telegraph one’s actions”. This can: (1) be in the form of how one moves, via higher refined kihonwaza (fundamental techniques); (2) one’s kamae (guard); unsoku (footwork/leg movements); (3) in the form of kenseiwaza (feinting techniques); and (4) psychological domination, thereby, interfering with their judgement in responding to your techniques.

Indeed, all four of these—or any mix of them—can be done simultaneously or staggered, depending on your technical objective and your opponent(s).

According to Nakayama Masatoshi Sensei, Asai Tetsuhiko Sensei was the JKA’s greatest master of this skill in Jiyu-Kumite. He was “the master of unpredictability”; hence, his nickname 雷嵐 (Kaminariarashi, ‘Thunderous Storm’). This made up for his small physical stature, especially in comparison to his peers such as Kanazawa Hirokazu Sensei, Enoeda Keinosuke Sensei et al.

Again, let’s consider Master Funakoshi’s wisdom, from his 13th precept” 敵に因って轉化せよ (Teki ni yotte tenka seyo: “Make adjustments according to your opponent”).

The founder of our style SHOU-TOU-KAN-RYU, and the father of modern-day karate: Funakoshi Gichin Shuseki Shihan.

霞の剣  (Kasumi no ken) also applies to the naming of 雲手型 (Unsu Kata). To quote Nakayama Sensei, from ‘Best Karate Volume 10’: “In Unsu, there are constant transformations, signified by the name meaning “Cloud Hands.” All parts of the body are used as weapons, with feints and provocations leading to unique combination techniques and multi-directional kicks.”

Deceiving the opponent via a technical and/or psychological ‘hazing’ of their senses/perception is clearly an important skill in the execution of kihon, kata and kumite; therefore, it is an integral aspect of 護身術 (Goshin-jutsu: ‘The art of Self-Defense’.

The name UNSU represents 霞の剣 (KASUMI NO KEN).

© André Bertel. Oita City, Japan (2024).