Kusanku

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Kusanku[1] is an open hand kata that is studied by many practitioners of Okinawan and Japanese Karate. Due to its difficulty, this kata is often reserved for advanced students. One of its distinguishing features is the jump, which incorporates two kicks.

Contents

[edit] History

The kata Kusanku is said to have been developed in Okinawa in 1761 from the fighting techniques of a Chinese martial artist named Kusanku.[2]

[edit] Overview

Kusanku is a cornerstone of many styles of Okinawan karate, including Matsubayashi-ryu and Matsumura Seito Shorin-ryu Karate-do. It is personified predominantly in these styles by the use of very flowing techniques that have ties to White Crane Kung Fu as well as its wide variety of open handed techniques. In Matsubayashi-ryu the kata is known for its flying kick and its "cheating" stance, which practitioners say robs the opponent of opportunities to attack by extending one leg along the ground and squatting as low as possible on the other. This is the highest ranking and most complex kata in Matsubayashi-ryu and is said to take more than ten years to master.[3] However, in some disciplines of Okinawan Kenpo, Kusanku is taught to intermediate level students[citation needed].

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Referred to as Kanku dai by some Japanese styles
  2. ^ The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do pp 230 (see Literature)
  3. ^ The Essence of Okinawan Karate-do pp 230 (see Literature)

[edit] Literature

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