Friday September 25th, 2020
The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, one week ago today, saddened my family. She served her country well, was a leader of the highest moral caliber. She set a high bar for the rest of us to follow, as a person of education, determination and ethics.
I want to recount Wednesday morning’s entry. Sensei taught for us Tuesday evening, and I found his treatment of tensho enlightening.
Wednesday September 23rd, 2020
It was inspirational to do another class with Sensei. He taught tensho the Goju-ryu way. We keep the lower body: legs and abdomen, rigid, while the rest of the body remains flexible and relaxed. Here is the way he explained it: everything below your belt-knot is “the mountain,” your solid foundation. Everything above your belt-knot is “the clouds:” fluid, relaxed, but also fast, capable of “lightning” speed for effective strikes. Sensei said this metaphor of the body, a mountain with clouds above, comes from Tai Chi, which, like the Goju-ryu version of tensho, play with slow movements and fast ones, strength and fluidity. And, similar to Oyama’s overall descriptions of circles, points and straight lines in karate, Sensei pointed out that this kata, too, plays with circles and straight lines. It is a kata of contrasts, seeking balance.
He showed a video that went over the bunkai for tensho. The elderly gentleman who demonstrated the bunkai for the kata often followed up a block or grab with two fast strikes. While listening to Sensei’s explanations and watching the video, I realized that the circular move in the kata, following the up-ward, shotei block, was really a shuto hizo uchi strike. Now when I practice tensho, I try to make that move an actual strike, rather than merely quickly moving down for the lower shotei block. The upper shotei, then, is the block. Once that is executed, both the shuto hizo uchi and the gedan shotei are strikes.
Contrasts in kata: rhythm, balance, circular motion versus straight lines
I can’t find the specific video Sensei showed us. When he sends it to us, I’ll post it here. However, while looking for a good example of tensho different from my favorite one posted previously, I came across this excellent karate demonstration from the WFK World Karate Championship of 2012. These women are excellent karateka. While you watch the video, think about speed versus slowness. They are masters of rhythm. Notice when they are fluid and when they are rigid. I love the fact that they mix in bunkai with karate moves. Yes, as you would expect in such a competition, they are excellent showmen. Look for circular motion punctuated with straight lines.
I’d like to think that Ruth Bader Ginsberg would have enjoyed watching this performance of skilled, strong young women.
Two Kyokushin Tensho demonstrations
Since this entry is about tensho, I’ll end with an excellent IFK rendition of tensho that I used while practicing for my black belt test.
I am grateful to Oishi of Cape Town and his dojo for posting this kata:
If you are learning this kata, he makes it easy to follow along. Also, his karate is simply beautiful.
Finally, Masutatsu Oyama loved tensho, so I have to include this:
He certainly demonstrates the mountain and clouds, circles, points, straight lines, slowness and speed.
