Kaisai no genri is a theory and set of rules of thumb which were used by Gōjū-ryū karate masters (Chōjun Miyagi, Seikichi Toguchi) to extract the primary fighting applications (Oyo) encoded into karate kata by the creators. These rules were historically kept secret and passed on to the most senior students of a school only near the death of the head of the organisation. Without such a rule set describing how kata are constructed, the likelihood of deciphering the original combative meaning of the movements in the kata is very low.
Contents
Theory
The theory behind Kaisai no genri is that originally kata began as sets of paired drills or "sparring sets" practised by ancient martial artists. Over time large numbers of these drills became difficult to remember and so the defensive portion of the drills were assembled together into units and became the first kata. It is worth noting that these would probably have been Chinese martial art forms. By the time kata were created in Okinawa, the concept would have been well established.
The attacking methods were not recorded in the forms and are therefore unknown. However, they may be inferred from limb and body positioning and preceding and following movements through the process of bunkai or in Gōjū-ryū karate the process of Kaisai. It has been theorised by Patrick McCarthy that the drills and defensive routines recorded were responses to Habitual Acts of Physical Violence (HAPV Theory).
The rule set
The rule set is broken down into three basic rules and nine advanced rules.
Shuyo san gensoko - Three basic rules
- Don't be deceived by the shape (embusen) of the kata.
- Techniques executed while advancing are offensive. Those executed while retreating are defensive.
- There is only one opponent and he is in front of you.
Hosoku joko - Advanced rules
- Every movement in kata is significant and is to be used in application.
- A closed pulling hand returning to chamber usually has some part of the opponent in it.
- Utilize the shortest distance to your opponent.
- If you control an opponent’s head you control the opponent.
- There are no blocks.
- Angles in kata are very important.
- Touching your own body in kata indicates that you are touching part of your opponent.
- Don't attack hard parts of your opponent with hard parts of your body.
- There are no pauses in the application.
Kenwa Mabuni
In his book Kobo Kenpo Karatedo Nyumon, Shitō-ryū karate master Kenwa Mabuni wrote that when kata change direction, the angle turned to does not indicate turning to face additional attackers, but instead indicates the angle taken with respect to a single opponent attacking from the front.