KATAS GEI KI SAI

KATAS GEI KI SAI

KAISHU KATAS - "Empty hand Katas"

GEI KI SAI ICHI and GEI KI SAI NI - "to attack, to squash"

The kanji means "to attack; to squash; to destroy; or to demolish".

These katas are very powerful and introduce combinations of hand and leg techniques, as well as basic leg trainings.

Typical basic Katas of GOJU, called GEI KI SAI ICHI (first KANJI) and GEI KI SAI NI (second KANJI), or GEI KI SAI ONE and GEI KI SAI TWO that, paradoxically, several students of this Style don't know deeply.

About their origins, all the points converge in Master CHOJUN MIYAGI, who would have created both katas after to train - and to share experiences - with Master ITOSU.

Probably, the current form have some differences of the original ones, because GOJU RYU OKINAWAN LINE, as well as GOJU RYU of CENTRAL JAPAN LINE, wanted to differentiate these Katas with other FORMS of Chinese styles - and also Japanese - very similar.

KANJI

ROMAGI

GEI
KI

SAI

ICHI

ROMAGI

GEI
KI

SAI

ROMAGI

GEI
KI

SAI

SHO

DAN

ROMAGI

GEI
KI

SAI

DAN

Master SEIICHI AKAMINE - and his Maters (SEIKO and SEITOKU HIGA) - studied deeply these Katas, reaching to the conclusion that the base of both it was inspired from two Chinese forms of TAI CHI CHUAN and PA CHI CHUAN (TAI CHI SHU GEI SHO and TAI CHI GERI GEI NI) that taught the handling of the sword and the short sable.

Then, they called GEI KI SAI SHO DAN (third KANJI) and GEI KI SAI NI DAN (fourth KANJI), giving to the first one a modality "GO" (with most of the arm techniques with closed fist), and to the second a modality "JU" (with all the arm techniques with open hand).

These two Katas GEI KI SAI of KENSHIN RYU are richer than the GOJU RYU versions, since not only are executed by "empty hand", but also with weapons (one - or two - SAI), being characterized the first one because of show empty hand defenses against SAI and fist counterattacks; while the second show defenses and counterattacks of SAI against SAI.

Although GOJU RYU sustains - with reason - that KARATE don't train weapons, KENSHIN RYU thinks that it is important the practice of defenses against armed opponents, as well as the training of some weapons (SAI, NUNCHAKO and BO) as an excellent complement for the advanced students.

KENSHIN Style also argues that their form, path and interpretation, are more adjusted to the original versions, and that, as its own names indicate it, are Katas thought as base of SAI training; without stopping to recognize their utility - and importance - in the "empty hand" practice.

In KENSHIN RYU Style, both Katas shown bigger quantity of technical and postures (DACHIS), as well as big differences, with the form; execution and path - mainly in the second one - with regard to GOJU RYU Style.

Likewise, both forms are "FUNDAMENTAL" Katas for both styles, in what concerns about their "empty hand" execution.

Other important differences are: the technique in which the KIAI are emitted; GOJU RYU simplifies the techniques arguing a supposed bigger forcefulness and effectiveness; and In KENSHIN RYU Style the first Kata differs more flagrantly of the second.

FERNANDO PRIETO
7th. DAN