RYU FA
Very showy Kata, that today practically all GOJU RYU trains.=
From uncertain origin, and with an exhausting execution - since the majority of its techniques are executed in SHIKO DACHI - this kata it was studied deeply by Master Seiichi Akamine, who incorporated it to the style that he created (KENSHIN RYU), as one of the most important katas of this School.=
Master Akamine study was not limited to the technical part, but rather he also intruded in the philosophical and in the metaphysical things.=
Then - although its name would be SCHOOL OF THE DRAGON - he called it as the KATA OF THE UNIVERSAL SNAKE.=
RYU HA - that it is the correct form of writing the ROMAGI that arises of the KANJIS showed in the figure - besides SCHOOL OF THE DRAGON also it means "SUPERIOR SCHOOL", and - because of this reasson - Sensei Akamine decided that it was a Kata of superior degree (1st. Dan).=
But also impacted the philosophical conception that the black belt - and the deep knowledge of this Kata - would be given to the student that was prepared to leave the purity of the white color - and the rest of the colors that compose it - and to walk "the way of the night" or - as Sensei Pa Chi says - "the way of the darkness", where, entering in the metaphysics field, other forces act and are opposed to us.=
In KENSHIN RYU the black belt is considered as degree of maturity, not only in Karate but also in the life.=
On the other hand, Shihan Akamine understood that the execution that was known was too hard (GO) for the characteristics that adorned it.=
Then he gave flexibility to this kata, with a more technique execution (JU), and - in function of the resulting execution - he called it the KATA OF THE UNIVERSAL SNAKE.=
Today practically all the styles that practice Ryu Fa, know it as the Kata of the Snake.=
The SHOREI KAN claims the paternity of this kata, but the same thing happens with UECHI RYU.=
Sensei Juan Carlos Rius ("PA CHI") - Master Akamine's faithfulest student - was designated as his successor by the own Master Akamine, receiving the maximum degree KENSHIN RYU.=
"Pa Chi" Sensei continued the philosophical and metaphysician study that his Master had begun of this kata, but in my opinion this deserves a separated chapter.=
In turn, Sensei "Pa Chi" asked me to continue studying technical and historically this Kata, and then I could reach the following conclusions:
| = |
It would come from some Chinese forms of the soft methods PA KUA CHUAN and PA CHI CHUAN, whose Chinese names have gotten lost in the time, and that initially Japaneses would have known as PA CHI RYU y MAMUSHI.- The symbolic meaning of PA CHI RYU would be SUPERIOR as the DRAGON; SILENT and COLD AS THE SNAKE, and the textual translation of MAMUSHI is " VIPER or SNAKE ".= |
| = |
The good performer should be transformed in a SNAKE that slithers (low positions), that it moves quickly, that it bites (NIHON NUKITE and IPPON KEN techniques), that it fascinates, it wraps and fundamentally it defends anticipating its opponents.= |
| = |
It shows a great quantity of applications (BUNKAI) that allow to those who are not * strong *, through " JU " techniques (soft, quick and skilled), to equal the effectiveness of those that - because of they are stronger - uses " GO " techniques (strong, hard).= |
| = |
The GO of the GOJU RYU doesn't neglect, as it shows mainly in the last techniques that are executed in SHIKO DACHI.= |
| = |
It shows a great quantity (most) of double techniques, where both arms - and sometimes arm and leg - act simultaneously.= |
FERNANDO
PRIETO
6th. DAN