NUMEROLOGY
Some historians think that the Arabs were the first culture who studied the numbers from Numerology's point of view. They considered " ONE " and " ZERO " as the most important numbers, and from this theory they developed a complete study, that it would have been continued later by Chinese people and Japanese people.
Because of the differences among these cultures, different interpretations, and also important discrepancies, were arising..
The following interpretation relates Numerology with the names of several katas, and even with their creation.
Some people believe that the ODD numbers are considered as GOOD numbers, and the PEERS numbers as BAD. This error is because ALMOST ALL the PRIMARY numbers are ODD, except number " 2 " (TWO). Therefore, number " TWO " is considered as GOOD number, in spite of being a PEER number, and it is also important to keep in mind that a BIG QUANTITY (most) of ODD numbers are BAD numbers too.
The numbers considered as GOOD, are the PRIMARY numbers. As these numbers are only divisible among THEM and the UNIT (UNITY = number ONE) - who sustain this theory think that with the PRIMARY numbers something begins. That is to say that these PRIMARY numbers would be the BEGINNING of something.
The PEER numbers (except " 2 ", " 6 " and " 10 ") are considered as BAD numbers, because, besides other things, it is considered that these numbers don't beginning anything, and don't drive toward any GOOD thing.
The NEGATIVE numbers ( " -1 "; " -2 "; " -3 ", etc.) represeent the PREVIOUS LIFE, THE ME and OTHER ME OF THE CURRENT LIFE, A DIFFERENT LONGITUDE of WAVE, ANOTHER DIMENSION.
The following lines are an analysis of the first 15 numbers, in function of one of the theories of Numerology. This theory sustains that, in order of interpreting the meaning of each number, these numbers can be studied as an unit in themselves, but also as the sum ( and / or the conjunction ) of more than one unit.
Number 0 = NEUTER NUMBER. It represents the MATERIAL things, and therefore in itself is not a BAD, nor GOOD, number. So the number ZERO has value, it is necessary that it should be preceded by the number ONE. The MATERIAL things ( NUMBER ZERO ) don't have any value, if are not preceded by the HEALTH ( NUMBER ONE).
Number 1 = GOOD NUMBER. It represents the UNIT; the BEGINNING; the ROOTS, the EVERYTHING (like a single thing). The number ONE is the FIRST PRIMARY number, and it is related with the HEALTH.
Number 2 = GOOD NUMBER. It represents the COUPLE, the MARRIAGE (married couple). In itself this number has " a not good something ", because it drives toward the number 4 (2 x 2 = 4), and FOUR is a BAD number. Because of this reason it is preferable to take it and " to treat " this number as 1 + 1. All what the number 2 crawls, it is GOOD.
Number 3 = GOOD NUMBER. It is taken (" treated ") as 2 + 1, and represents FATHER, MOTHER ( 2 ) and DESCENDANT (1). Three is the THIRD PRIMARY number.
Number 4 = BAD NUMBER. Although it doesn't drag anything BAD, this number don't drives toward anything GOOD. Whenever could be possible, it should be taken ( " treated ") as 2 x 2, or ast 2 + 2, also looking for to avoid its continuation.
Number 5 = GOOD NUMBER. It represents the FIVE senses, the FIVE FINGERS. It is the FOURTH PRIMARY number.
Number 6 = It is a GOOD NUMBER, in spite of NOT BEING A PRIMARY number. It represents the SIXTH SENSE, and should be taken or treated as 5 + 1. It is a number directly related with several KATAS.
Number 7 = GOOD NUMBER. It represents the LIGHT, the COLORS. As all the PRIMARY numbers, number 7 doesn't drags anything, and also it drives toward GOOD THINGS. Seven x Seven = 49. Not being a PRIMARY number, forty nine is also a GOOD number because it come from the multiplication of a PRIMARY number by itself. SEVEN is the FIFTH PRIMARY number.
Number 8 = BAD NUMBER. It is a worse number than the number 4, because it is twice the number 4, and because come already crawling many BAD things. Although as compensation it drags so much GOOD things as BAD things, it doesn't drive toward any GOOD thing. 4 + 4 = 8; 8 + 8 = 16, and 8 x 8 = 64, that are not PRIMARY numbers, and therefore are not GOOD numbers.
Number 9 = DANGEROUS NUMBER. In itself it is not a BAD nor a GOOD number. Then, if it is not well treated well, it transforms in a DANGEROUS number, and therefore a NOT GOOD number. In its favor, all what it crawls is GOOD, although it doesn't drive toward any GOOD thing. It is better to take it as three times three, or the multiplication of 3 x 3, because being treaty in this way, when coming from the multiplication of a PRIMARY number by itself, the BAD thing is blocked..
Number 10 = GOOD NUMBER. In spite of not being PRIMARY, TEN is a GOOD number because it comes from two PRIMARY numbers, ( 5 + 5 = 10; and 5 x 2 = 10 ). It represents the balance between the HEALTH and the MATERIAL things. In order of " treating " it correctly, it is preferable to take his number as the conjunction of the PRIMARY number 1 ( one ) with the NEUTER number 0 ( zero ).
Number 11 = GOOD NUMBER. It is the SIXTH PRIMARY number, and it should be taken as the conjunction of ONE with ONE, or the sum of TEN + ONE.
Number 12 = BAD NUMBER. Idem to the number EIGHT.
Number 13 = GOOD NUMBER. It is the SEVENTH PRIMARY number, and it is related with the GOOD LUCK. In order of better " to treat " this number, it should be taken as the conjunction of the PRIMARY numbers 1 ( one ) and 3 ( three ), or the sum of those also GOOD numbers 10 ( ten ) + 3 ( three ), or 7 ( seven ) + 6 ( six ).
Number 14 = BAD NUMBER. It is necessary to invert this number, so that it changes to a GOOD number ( 41 ), because FORTY ONE is also a PRIMARY number. Another form of blocking it, is " to treat " this number as 7 x 2; or as 7 + 7.
Number 15 = GOOD NUMBER. In spite of not being PRIMARY, this number is " treated " as the conjunction of ONE with FIVE; or the sum of TEN + FIVE; or as THREE times the number FIVE, and also as FIVE times the number THREE.
Other theories of Numerology sustain that, in order of interpreting the meaning of each number, all of them (beyond their digits) should be taken as an unit. These theories affirm that the numbers already existed before the man existence; reason why the numbers would not be a creation of the human being, but a discovery.
But this theory doesn't change the essence of this article, that only seeks that could be known these occult aspects of the oriental cultures, and of their Martial Arts.
RELATIONSHIP of the NUMBER 6 ( SIX ) with KENSHIN RYU's katas and GOJU RYU's katas
There are four katas of the styles Goju Ryu and Kenshin Ryu that originally were pronounced and written in original Chinese language, and these four katas are :
“ Sanseiryu ” ( SANSEI ROKU TE ), “ Seisan ” ( SEISAN TE ), “ Seipai ” ( JU HACHI TE ), and “ Shuparunpei ” ( ICHI HYAKU HACHI TE ).
Some Masters of Karate sustain that the kanji “ TE " is not pronounced, and that it is written in order of evidencing this writing form, as well as to remind to the reader the Chinese pronunciation, and ( even more important ), to perpetuate the origin of the katas.
The four names of these katas are Chinese numbers, and some lines of Goju Ryu sustain that originally they symbolize some Buddhist concepts. According with this theory, it is not correct to translate the kanji “ TE ” as " hand ", nor to assume that the quantity of techniques of the mentioned katas coincides with their names. Always according to this theory, in these katas the kanji “ TE” would not have translation. Some lines of Goju that sustain this theory, don't pronounce the word " TE ".
Kenshin Ryu and all Goju Ryu's lines ( although agree with the symbolic Buddhist concepts ) both Styles sustain that the quantity of hand's techniques ( or arm's techniques ) of these four katas coincide with their names. Then, according to this theory, it would be correct to translate the kanji “ TE ” as “ hand ” .
Always according to this theory, “ Sanseiryu ” ( Sansei roku te ) originally would show 36 techniques of hand ( or arm ), beside the leg's techniques..
In the same way, “ Seisan ” ( Seisan te ) would show 13 techniques of hand ( or arm ), besides the techniques of leg; “ Seipai ” ( Ju hachi te ) would show 18 techniques of hand ( or arm ), besides the leg's techniques, and “ Shuparunpei ” ( Ichi hiaku hachi te ) would show 108 techniques of hand, or arm ( 54 double techniques ), besides those of leg. For who sustain this theory, the names “ Sanseiryu ”; “ Seisan ”; “ Seipai ” and “ Shuparunpei ” are those that Japan's Masters of Martial Arts gave to these katas.
SANSEIRYU or SANSERYU or SANSEI ROKKU TE = “ thirty six ”
6 x 6 = 36. The first six represent the eyes, the ears, the nose, the tongue, the body and the spirit. The second six it represents the color, the voice, the scent, the taste, the tact, and the justice. In both cases the first five articles ( items ) represent the “ five senses” , while the spirit and the justice are related to Buddhist concepts about as how to act in the life to arrive to the “ sixth sense ".
“ Sanseiryu ” develops gedan kicks, and double techniques of hands, but for Goju Ryu Style the technique that characterizes the original version of this kata is the “ Nidan tobi geri ” that is executed in the first technique of leg ( in the current version it has been substituted by “ hidari gyaku mae geri ” followed by “ migi gyaku mae geri ”, while the hands execute “ juji uke " ).
Kenshin Ryu Style executes the original version ( that includes " Nidan tobi geri " ), and Master Seiichi Shikan Akamine called it " San Sei Ichi Ryu ".
SEISAN or SESAN = “ thirteen ”
This kata represents the number thirteen. Thirteen is a " primary number ,” and in China is the number that represents the good luck and prosperity. “Seisan” is an aesthetic kata that summarizes the ideals of Goju Ryu, because it show several hard techniques, and several soft techniques. For most of the lines of Goju is one of the two more important katas, and it is said that it was the favorite of the Sensei Chojun Miyagi.
The style Kenshin Ryu executes the version based on the form " Pangainoon Seisan " of Okinawa's Bubishi, and, according to indication of Master Seiichi Shikan Akamine, is called " Seisan Te ".
SEIPAI or SEPAI or JU HACHI TE or SEI HACHI TE = “ eighteen ”
3 x 6 = 18. In this kata the "six " represent the same thing that the " second six " of Sanseiryu ( color, voice, scent, taste, tact, and justice ); while the " three " represent the good thing, the bad thing, and the peace.
Because of its inclined postures, the surprising way of rotating, and the evasive work of legs, some Masters sustain that this kata is based on techniques of the crane.
The style Kenshin Ryu also executes the version based on Okinawa's Bubishi, that Master Seiichi Shikan Akamine it called " Ni Sei Ichi Te ".
SHUPARUNPEI (SUPARINPEI) or ICHI HYAKU HACHI TE = “ one hundred and eight ”
3 x 36 = 108. This number ( 108 ) has special importance in the Buddhism. It is believed that the man has 108 bad passions. Because of this reason, when arriving the midnight, in the Buddhist temples a bell it sounds 108 times.
The number 108 is calculated 3 x 36. For the first six of this number (" 36 "), the symbolism is the same one that in Sanseiryu (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and spirit), and the symbolism of the second six is color, voice, scent, taste, tact and justice.
The symbolism of the number " 3 " is also the same one that in Seipai (the good thing, the bad thing and the peace).
“ Suparinpei ” is the longest kata of Goju Ryu, and it shows a really big number of arm's techniques, with the particularity that all are double techniques. It also shows “ nidan tobi geri ”, being the only kata that in this double geri, it executes “ hidari kizami mae geri ” at first time, and later “ migi giaku mae geri ”. It also Includes breathing control, and it contains the biggest number of applications (bunkai), and the biggest depth in its meaning.
In the second half of the 60s, Master Seiichi Shikan Akamine stopped to teach this kata. Nevertheless, when finished of consolidating the style " Kenshin Ryu ", he incorporated again this kata, but with the name " Ichi Hyaku Hachi Te ".
RELATIONSHIP OF THE NUMBER 6 ( SIX ) WITH OTHERS KATAS
The number 6 is not only related with the katas of the styles Goju Ryu and Kenshi Ryu.
The katas “ Gojushiho ” and “ Nijushiho ” of Shotokan are translated as:
GOJUSHIHO = " fifty four movements "
9 x 6 = 54
Originally, " Gojushijo " was known as “ USESHI ” ( USEISHI ) and “ HOTAKU ”.
Not by chance when it was changed its name, it was chosen a number multiple of “ six ”.
NIJUSHIHO = " twenty four movements "
4 X 6 = 24
The kata “ NISEISHI ” of the style Shito
Ryu
it is
also translated as “ twenty four ”.
FERNANDO PRIETO
6th DAN