Kata: Seisan

Seisan (renamed Hangetsu by Gichin Funakoshi) is unique in that most of the Wado Kata reflect the Shuri-Te influence that Otsuka was taught by Gichin Funakoshi. Seisan, however, along with Suparinpei, shows its undeniable Naha-Te roots; with its slow, rhythmical movements, and its focus on muscle control and internal breathing or 'ibuki'. Its origin is Chinese, having been traced back to the ancient Pangia-noon style (c. 1700 Fukien). Seisan is also called the 'The Half-Moon' or '13 Hands' kata.

Note: Because of its overwhelming use in Wado techniques, if only one hand is mentioned, the other hand is performing a back hikite. Also, unless otherwise mentioned, all jun-tsukis are at the chudan (solar plexus) level.

Opening

1. Rei. Masuba dachi.
2. Yoi. Heiko dachi.
3. Hajime.

Body

Note: The first 14 movements are performed very slowly, utilizing ibuki (breath control).

1. Gedan kosa uke. Left seikan turns palm-up moving forward into chudan ura-tsuki, as right seiken retracts to obi. Left sanchin dachi. (This stance is introduced here. It is formed by standing in naihanchi stance, then retracting one foot backwards one foot length.)
2. Right seiken moves forward into chudan tsuki as left seikan retracts to obi.
3. Right Tae Uke. Right seikan turns palm-up moving forward into chudan ura-tsuki. Left ashi straightens, right ashi 'sweeps' inward ½ distance, and steps forward into right sanchin dachi.
4. Left seiken moves forward into chudan tsuki as right seikan retracts to obi.
5. Left Tae Uke. Left seikan turns palm-up moving forward into chudan ura-tsuki. Right ashi straightens, left ashi 'sweeps' inward ½ distance, and steps forward into left sanchin dachi.
6. Right seiken moves forward into chudan tsuki as left seikan retracts to obi.
7. Retract right seiken and extend left seiken so that ippon yubis meet, and both seikens extend downward performing a morote kinteki uke. Then similar to the same movement in Passai, execute age (rising) motion with both arms so that the seikens stop about throat level; with empis pointing upward; then return to morote kinteki uke position.
8. Morote age shooto ukes, then descend both in an hourglass pattern to a gedan morote shooto uke position.
9. Mawata 180° left. Right ashi stepping, left pivoting. Left chudan/right gedan kosa shooto uke. Left sanchin dachi.
10. Simultaneously, left kosa shooto descends into left gedan shooto uke. Right gedan shooto rises, palm-up fully extended chudan level then retracts to obi with tsukami not seiken.
11. While stepping forward, execute right chudan/left gedan kosa shooto uke. Left ashi straightens, right ashi 'sweeps' inward ½ distance, and steps forward into right sanchin dachi.
12. Simultaneously, right kosa shooto descends into right gedan shooto uke. Left gedan shooto rises, palm-up fully extended chudan level then retracts to obi with tsukami not seiken.
13. While stepping forward, execute left chudan/right gedan kosa shooto uke. Right ashi straightens, left ashi 'sweeps' inward ½ distance, and steps forward into left sanchin dachi.
14. Simultaneously, left kosa shooto descends into left gedan shooto uke. Right gedan shooto rises, palm-up fully extended chudan level then retracts to obi with tsukami not seiken.

From this point forward, the kata changes style, from a slow and powerful ibuki display to the normal fast, efficient display.

15. Mawata right 90°, right soto uke, left tae uke. Left gyaku-tsuki, right jun-tsuki. Chinto dachi to tata seisan dachi.
16. Mawata left 180°, left soto uke, right tae uke. Right gyaku-tsuki, left jun-tsuki. Chinto dachi to tata seisan dachi.
17. Mawata right 90°, right soto uke, left tae uke. Left gyaku-tsuki, right jun-tsuki. Chinto dachi to tata seisan dachi.
18. Hands to obi, mawata left 180°, left ipponken. Left hiza up to the right and step over left into sheeko dachi.
19. Right ashi steps across in front of left, left mae geri, left gedan jun-tsuki no tsukomi. Left hamni dachi.
20. Right gyaku tsuki, left jodan uke. Left tata seisan dachi.
21. Hands to obi, mawata right 180°, right ipponken. Right hiza up to the left and step over right into sheeko dachi.
22. Left ashi steps across in front of right, right mae geri, right gedan jun-tsuki no tsukomi. Right hamni dachi.
23. Left gyaku tsuki, right jodan uke. Right tata seisan dachi.
24. Hands to obi, mawata left 180°, left ipponken. Left hiza up to the right and step over left into sheeko dachi.
25. Right migatsuki geri into left hirate. Right gyaku-tsuki. Left tata seisan dachi.
26. Pull back, morote gedan shotei ukes on the left. Left gyaku neeko ashi dachi.

Closing

1. Yame. Hidari kakato drops, then hidari ashi yubis rotate straight pivoting on the kakato. Rotate migi ashi straight pivoting on the koshi, ending in heiko dachi.
2. Norei. Masuba dachi.
3. Rei.