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Mark B
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Application for Aragaki Seisan

Hi all

This application from my study of Aragaki Seisan is in response to a front head lock,  which is an extremely common situation to find yourself in once a conflict descends into extreme close quarter grappling range.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Regards 

Mark 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi Mark,

Nice escape. Do you have a video of the solo-form you could link to? That way people – like myself, who are not familiar with that version of the kata – can compare bunkai with solo form? It may help open the thread up to those who don’t know the kata themselves?

Thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
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Hi Iain 

Thanks.

That's a good idea!

I'll make a point of recording the kata when i'm back in the dojo on Monday and share it on here.

Regards 

Mark 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Mark B wrote:
I'll make a point of recording the kata when i'm back in the dojo on Monday and share it on here.

Awesome! Is there not one online that already exists? Maybe save you a job? :-)

What would be good would be a single thread with the solo form and all the applications videos you’ve done embedded below in order. That would be quite some “one stop shop” resource!

I know you’re a busy man, so merely a suggestion.

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain 

First of all thanks for suggesting the idea of creating a one stop resource for my take on Aragaki Seisan, it's a great idea and I'll gratefully take up the offer.

I'll begin creating the resource in the coming days and weeks if that's ok. 

As you well know,  study of kata is almost a living thing - constantly evolving. I consider my study of this kata to be in its early stages, certainly I've only recorded a small amount of the ideas I have up to this point. 

Maybe I could keep adding recordings as I do them, so regularly updating as new application possibilities present themselves? 

I've got some stuff I'll re- record for this project, as I  wasn't entirely satisfied with the original efforts.

Regarding the kata itself - Patrick McCarthy has the definitive version  (this kata is his creation based on his studies and research of Aragaki Seisho) but I'm always wary of sharing another persons work as although McCarthy Senseis version is a million times better than mine,  it's his, not mine - if that makes sense?  Do you think those sort of things matter ? (my Aragaki Seisan does aim to emulate that of McCarthys)

Anyway, thanks again

Mark 

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Mark B wrote:
As you well know,  study of kata is almost a living thing - constantly evolving. I consider my study of this kata to be in its early stages, certainly I've only recorded a small amount of the ideas I have up to this point.

Maybe I could keep adding recordings as I do them, so regularly updating as new application possibilities present themselves?

Sounds like a great idea!

Mark B wrote:
Regarding the kata itself - Patrick McCarthy has the definitive version  (this kata is his creation based on his studies and research of Aragaki Seisho) but I'm always wary of sharing another persons work as although McCarthy Senseis version is a million times better than mine,  it's his, not mine - if that makes sense?  Do you think those sort of things matter? (my Aragaki Seisan does aim to emulate that of McCarthys)

I understand. I did not realise that was the origins of the kata. If the kata is not an old one (i.e. “out of copyright” ;-)) but is a modern creation, then it’s probably best to link to a public YouTube video that Patrick McCarthy himself has posted (if there is one?) so that his work is correctly attributed and duly acknowledged. Obviously the internet is full of videos of people performing the Pinans, Naihanchi, Kushanku, etc and that’s obviously no issue because they are firmly “in the public domain”. However, in this case it would not be right have someone performing the kata unless it was Patrick McCarthy himself.

All the best,

Iain

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

One quick google later …

That video is from Patrick McCarthy himself and embedding is enabled.

I’m not sure where you would stand with your applications (which are your own work) to Patrick McCarthy’s kata (which is his work)? Maybe wise to reach out and ask?

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain Re: the kata. I agree entirely. That's the link I would have shared myself. It comes from the dvd of Aragaki Seisan by Patrick McCarthy, which I do have. If I remember correctly what I read on the subject he was taught the form in the seventies by his instructor - Richard Kim. I believe McCarthy Sensei made adjustments based on his own deep study of Aragaki Seisan. I don't post that as fact, so any faults in that statement are mine, but made in good faith. I know the Kissaki Kai group of Vince Morris practice Aragaki Seisan. Whether the actual form is exactly the same as Patrick McCarthys, I couldn't say. As you say, to keep everything correct sharing the link you have is the way to go (and like I said it's a much better rendition than I could do anyway ). When I begin the dedicated thread on the kata I'll share the McCarthy link again as the first one, so the reference is there on the thread itself. Thanks for giving me the idea for this. I hope people will find the kata, and my interpretations interesting. Regards Mark

Marc
Marc's picture

Interesting kata. Hadn't heard of it before.

Creating a thread with all your applications, Mark, is a good idea. Like Phil McClenaghan did for his interpretation of Enpi.

I also found a two-person drill for Aragaki Seisan that seems to present some useful ideas:

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Mark B wrote:
Hi Iain Re: the kata. I agree entirely. That's the link I would have shared myself. It comes from the dvd of Aragaki Seisan by Patrick McCarthy, which I do have. If I remember correctly what I read on the subject he was taught the form in the seventies by his instructor - Richard Kim. I believe McCarthy Sensei made adjustments based on his own deep study of Aragaki Seisan. I don't post that as fact, so any faults in that statement are mine, but made in good faith. I know the Kissaki Kai group of Vince Morris practice Aragaki Seisan. Whether the actual form is exactly the same as Patrick McCarthys, I couldn't say. As you say, to keep everything correct sharing the link you have is the way to go (and like I said it's a much better rendition than I could do anyway ). When I begin the dedicated thread on the kata I'll share the McCarthy link again as the first one, so the reference is there on the thread itself. Thanks for giving me the idea for this. I hope people will find the kata, and my interpretations interesting. Regards Mark

Sounds like a good plan! I think that will make for a great resource Mark. A great addition to the collective knowledge pool too!

All the best,

Iain

Mark B
Mark B's picture

Hi Iain 

Great. I'll get some stuff up there in the coming days to start things off.

Hi Marc 

It is a wonderful form, with clear influences from its Chinese roots, which is a large part of the reason why I favour it on a personal level. 

Thanks for sharing that link. I've seen it before,  I believe it's bu a Koryu Uchinadi group from the US. There are some really nice ideas, I  think for most part it follows the approach and requirements of the Koryu Uchinadi system, some really good stuff.

The idea for one dedicated thread was Iains,  and the fact that you yourself hadn't heard of this version of the Seisan kata only supports what a good idea it was.

This is a kata and applications I'm looking to share by way of a seminar session next year, so this dedicated thread may be very helpful in making people aware of the form too, which obviously would be great. 

I hope you find my interpretation of the form interesting. 

Regards 

Mark