Shipsu and What You Learn From It - - Chief Instructor's Blog October2013

In my April 2013 blog, I discussed the Kibon series and what you learn from it. In my June 2013 blog, I discussed the Pyung Ahn series. In this blog, I will discuss Shipsu. If the Kibon series is about learning to crawl and walk, and Pyung Ahn series is more about learning to run Shipsu is about learning to run with style, control, finesse, and independent of the physical body.

In Okinawan it is called Jitte and in Japanese it is called Jutte. It is most often translated as meaning “Ten Hands” (i.e., the weapon with the power of ten hands).

As in the Pyung Ahn series, Shipsu also helps students focus and practice linear strikes. This includes all the techniques in the opening moves:
• Outward Ridge Hand (short strike at waist level)
• Cat Stance Variant Upper Punch
• Cat Stance Variant Inward Low Block
• Horse Stance Outward Ridge Hand

In Shipsu, more techniques are thrown without reciprocals. This is intentional and provides students ways to practice and become effective in throwing techniques without relying on reciprocals to provide power. Examples include:
• First of the three Horse Stance Knife Hands
• Side Medium Blocks

In Shipsu, more combinations are introduced including combinations of two techniques at the same time.
• Sweeping Attack Stance Combination Split Double Palm Strike
• Elongated Attack Stance Combination Downward Hammer Fist/ Medium Block

Pyung Ahn series also provides more opportunities for the students to practice becoming more competent in staying centered and balanced in techniques. Examples include:
• Cross Step Upward ‘X’ Block
• Transition from one Sweeping Attack Stance to the next one
• 180 degree turn from Sweeping High Block to Sweeping High Block

Shipsu also provides more opportunities for the students to practice and become more competent in grounding. The techniques test students through physical movements intentionally designed to make grounding challenging. Examples include:
• Foot movement in opening moves
• Inward Low Block with preparation raised above head
• Cross Step Upward ‘X’ Block
• Sweeping Attack Stance High Block
• Transitions (e.g., transition from Side Medium Block to Ready Stance, transition from Sweeping Double Palm strike to first Elongated Attack Stance, transition from the first Elongated Attack Stance to the second one, etc.)

The ultimate goal is to maintain ground (floating ground) throughout the form.

The real challenges and what Shipsu is trying to teach us is control of our energy. The four aspects of energy Shipsu challenges us to study, practice, and learn are:
1. Keeping our energy linear while our physical body moves in an arc.
• Sweeping Attack Stance Combination Split Double Palm Strike
• Sweeping Attack Stance High Block
2. The use of “In-power” – internal energy
3. Maintaining presence as you split energy
• Elongated Attack Stance Combination Downward Hammer Fist/ Medium Block
• Sweeping Attack Stance Split Double Palm Strike
4. Staying focused as you separate power (mostly energy) from the physical body; working with the two independently

As in the Kibon and Pyung Ahn series, students should also practice and study the techniques and combinations in Shipsu in self-defense applications, including the transitions and the turns.

In addition, students should take any aspect of a technique or concepts learned in Shipsu and apply it to the Pyung Ahn series and the Kibon series.

Even though Shipsu is just one form (as opposed to the Pyung Ahn series and Kibon series each which has five forms), each technique in Shipsu has several challenges and aspects of it to learn and study. The form is complex and the techniques are filled with applications that will enable a person to become very competent and effective. It is no wonder that the meaning translates to” Ten Hands” (i.e., the weapon with the power of ten hands). While some aspects of this form may take longer than others to execute well, the training is part of the journey.

In future blogs, I will describe the overall goals of No Pe Hyung and the Mepojan series.

Regards,
Kelly

"Karate-do may be referred to as the conflict within yourself, or a life-long marathon which can be won only through self-discipline, hard training, and your own creative efforts." ~ Shoshin Nagamine (1907-1997), Founder of Okinawan Matsubayashi-Ryu Karate