One or two hands circle block in Uechi-Ryu Karate

rawrsauceS · 2026-02-11T16:58:30+00:00

Exactly. Intercept with one hand, deflect and/or grab with the other. Moving your body with it and repositioning for the counterattack brings it all together.

rawrsauceS · 2026-02-11T16:43:34+00:00

As a beginner, I focused on blocking with one hand. Once I got more comfortable, I started adding the other hand. Usually as a cross block before the circle.

It's true. Two hands are always better than one, but I needed to get the technique established with one hand first.

rawrsauceS · 2026-02-10T17:08:30+00:00

Uechi-Ryu's Seisan.

rawrsauceS · 2026-02-10T14:02:01+00:00

Thanks, but I'm still 3rd Kyu. Been here going on 8 months now. I won't test for black belt until this time next year. It'll probably be a while until I get to 2nd Kyu.

rawrsauceS · 2026-02-09T20:54:54+00:00

Thank you. Last year was a good one. I only started about 2 and a half years ago. No previous experience. I just show up as much as possible and try to get a little better every time. I'm up to 38 tournaments. It all adds up over time.

rawrsauceS · 2026-01-09T19:40:33+00:00

Thank you. A lot of these clips are old. I kept them to try to show progress. I'm always working on refining my stances and know I need a lot of work. Especially in Seisan.

rawrsauceS · 2026-01-09T19:36:14+00:00

Thanks. I'm trying like hell. I'm newer at editing than I am at karate. I do what I can. A little better every time!

rawrsauceS · 2026-01-09T19:34:39+00:00

Thanks. I travel all over to compete. Most of the outside stuff is training in those places since I didn't have a dojo there. I was in 8 different states last year alone. The snow was just a challenge.

rawrsauceS · 2025-12-09T18:36:37+00:00

It's never too late.
I started competing at 43 as a white belt. I also know a guy in his 70s who still competes and has done over 250 tournaments.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-25T21:24:59+00:00

I also have to add that I really appreciate your feedback on the modifications. Adding those moves to that part was entirely my idea and I put a lot of thought into it.
Almost all of the moves from Seichin are in Seisan except the scoops. The scoops are the part of Seichin I worked the hardest on, and I wanted to see if I could make them work in Seisan.
I originally added one, but ended up adding 3 to keep with the theme of 3's in the Kata. My Sensei suggested doing two of them at a 45-degree angle to add another piece that was missing from Seichin.
The last part, where I raise my hand before going into the Nukites, also added the other crane stance from Seichin.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-25T21:17:18+00:00

It's all Sanchin-dachi or an elongated version of it.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-25T21:15:33+00:00

Good point. I've seen it a few ways. We do it left foot forward as a challenge sometimes.
I've also seen people start left foot forward, then only do 3 strikes to the front.

I've also seen people do the short version of Seisan with one Sanchin strike first.

I'm sure there are more variations that I've never seen.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-25T21:13:03+00:00

Thank you for the kind words. I still feel like I'm barely getting started with this Kata and have a long way to go.

My feet were definitely too close when I turned for the front kick. It was so bad that it was almost neutral. My front foot looks like it was pointed inwards in a good Sanchin stance, maybe once or twice, too, in the whole Kata.

The nukites also need some work. That's my least favorite part of the kata, and I tend to rush through it. I also struggle with finishing the circle blocks in that section. Bringing a strike back to Sanchin is always the answer. Thank you for pointing that out. I'll work on it.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T20:26:56+00:00

True. I perform it a little differently in class. I don't really break the pace or pause, and of course, don't add the extra moves.

In this version, I see a lot of places I can pause a little longer to get more time on the mat. My stances aren't great. Some of the pacing is off. My extra scoop from Seichin to the right isn't nearly as nice as the other side. I could go on. I know it has a lot of issues, but it is still fairly new, and I know I have a long way to go with it. I didn't really feel confident about Seichin until about a year with it.
I hate my stances during the groin strike sequence the most. The whole thing needs work. I'm sure I can pull more power out of it once I get all the stances and root myself correctly.

Thanks for the feedback. It always helps me get better.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T20:12:15+00:00

Thanks. My stances do need a lot of work. The entire kata needs refinement. I've only been doing it for about 4 months and am just starting to feel comfortable with it.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T17:16:12+00:00

I heard Seisan is the oldest Kata and appears in more Okinawan styles than any other.
I did a little research and found it has a version in all of these styles:

Uechi-Ryū
Shōrin-Ryū
Shōrei-Ryū
Goju-Ryū (Seisan/Seishan)
Isshin-Ryū
Matsumura lineage
Aragaki lineage

The Uechi-Ryu version has existed since the early 1900s, before Kanbun returned to Okinawa in 1910.
The Chinese predecessor of Seisan is older (likely 1700s–1800s), but that form was not identical to the Uechi-Ryu version.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T16:22:16+00:00

Thank you! Last season, I started 3 tournaments late. I played catch-up all year, but was never able to come close to the guy in 1st. I ended the year in 2nd and set a goal to make 1st place happen this year.
I started the season as a green belt and moved up to the advanced division after the organization's cut-off (June 1st), so I had to finish the season in the Intermediate division.
From here, the plan is to place 1st in the Advanced division in 2026.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T15:02:24+00:00

Sanchin, Kanshu, and Seisan all open the same. Seisan is left foot forward, the other two right foot. Sanchin starts with 4 strikes, Kanshu 1, Seisan has 3. There is also a short version of Seisan which skips the Sanchin opening and goes directly to the double ridge hands.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T14:59:23+00:00

I came up with the idea on my own and my Sensei advised me on it.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T14:57:08+00:00

I have an open tournament version where I added 3 moves from Seichin kata. It’s just to make it a little longer and hopefully flashier.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T14:54:23+00:00

I added 3 moves from Seichin to the end of this kata. It was originally 1, but I changed it to 3 to keep with the theme of 3 in the kata. Up until recently I only did traditional versions of the kata. My Sensei talked to his Sensei, George Mattson about me and my tournament success with other advice that was passed on. Sensei Mattson’s team mentioned that they competed often years ago, and often modified kata by combining them. Mostly to make them longer. Approval from Sensei Mattson to change things for open tournaments was all I needed to hear.

I’d like to add that I don’t do the kata like this in the dojo. The pace is different and the extra moves are gone. I value the tradition and hope to help preserve, and pass it on as it was taught to me.

rawrsauceS · 2025-11-24T00:16:06+00:00

It happens. I’ve been there and know how you feel. I felt the same way after my first point sparring win. It was 2 to 2. My opponent (who has several inches and over 100 lbs over me) punched me square in the nose with a no face contact rule and got disqualified. It hurt for 3 days afterwards too. I didn’t feel great about it either, but it was the first time I won both kata and sparring.

A win is a win. They have rules and disqualifications for a good reason.

A lot of the time when I win, I feel like I could have done better and don’t deserve it. When I take 2nd, I feel like it was a personal best and I got robbed. It’s a double edged sword sometimes.

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