16 ISSHIN-RYU BASICS

        Each of the original basic exercises begins in the Seisan stance, with left foot forward, the toe of the right foot lined up with the heel of the forward left foot and with feet placed at the students outside shoulder width. Body is held straight up, in a fully relaxed posture. Head is up with the eyes upon your opponent. Fists are placed on each side, upon the top of your hips, with your elbows pulled back at your sides. It is most important that, in Sei-San position, you learn to hold this stance while totally relaxed. Standing, stepping into a forward Sei-San stance or stepping back into Sei-San, your knees must be slightly bent. Properly flexed, your knees should block the line of vision of your feet just to the tip of the toes. In that stance, your knees flexed, your knee joints are not stressed nor are they as vulnerable to damage from a kick. Bent knees in Sei-San also lends strength to your stance for focus, while your body is still relaxed. In the basic exercises, advanced exercises and basic kick drills, as you throw punches, blocks and kicks, you do not allow your shoulders or hips to move forward, until the black belts feel that you are prepared to begin body shifting, to enhance technique. This is significant, since, only through this control, can you begin to obtain focus (kime/chi), which is the essence of your Isshin-ryu power. This is the foundation, upon which you will learn, become adept at and finally master the three basic elements of Isshin-ryu:

“Focus - Balance - Speed!”

        These three principles will be drilled into all students, by the instructors, since these are the elements that create the difference between the success of Isshin-ryu karate and all other styles. You will be shown that in order to gain the advantage of Focus, when a strike or kick is made, it is helpful and necessary to throw the technique approximately one-half inch past the outer limit of the target or point of impact and then immediately withdraw the blow, back to the original position. In the case of a kick, the lower portion of your leg will be withdrawn, until the back of the lower leg is set against the back of the thigh. This is called Rechambering and is required to obtain the power of Focus.  Theoretically, the strike or kick, is thrown at great speed and Rechambered faster than it is thrown.

        Speed only comes with constant practice and repetition. Speed becomes the very essence of Chi or Ki which is enhanced with control. When throwing a punch with great speed with the intent of focusing approximately an inch beyond the outer layer of skin, an instant prior to a quick rechamber, control is an absolute necessity. The ability to obtain this type of speed requires that you are always in a totally relaxed attitude, until the very moment that your blow strikes your opponent. At this instance of impact, you must envision every fiber in your body instantaneously tighten. All power in your body comes up from your toes

          Balance is basic to Isshin-ryu, since we are not given to the use of stylized, deep set stances, which create unbalance which is a disadvantage. As you move, in an actual combat encounter, it is always an advantage to be in balance and have your feet placed comfortably under your weight placement. This is your center of balance. Isshin-ryu does not throw either a strike or kick, without the elbow or knee bent. These joints never become locked, nor does the upper body come forward, creating an over-reach and therefore, an imbalance. If the student perceives that is necessary to stretch to reach a target, the technique must not be thrown, since Isshin-ryu teaches the student to strike only when the opportunity properly presents itself. Remember Hanshi McGrath’s often repeated phrase, “You study Isshin-ryu so that you won’t be hit”. 

      Now let us proceed with the basic exercises of Isshin-ryu Karate. They will be practiced from both sides, in order to become a complete, instinctive fighter. All steps will be made in a clockwise motion, by the back foot, stepping into a forward or backward return to Sei-San Dachi.

1- Step forward with the right foot and throw a right hand vertical punch to the solar  plexus, snapping the punch back to the position of initiation.

2- Step forward with the right foot and throw a right hand uppercut to the opponents chin. Snap punch back to position of initiation.

3- Step forward with the right foot and throw a left snap vertical punch to the solar plexus.

4- Step forward with the right foot, throw a right hand closed fist middle block (the block must be snapped with the palm toward you, at the outside line of your shoulder, with the fist at shoulder height, elbow one fist width from rib cage), throw a left vertical punch at the solar plexus, while simultaneously replacing the blocking fist at the hip.

5- Step forward with the right foot, while snapping a right hand outside shuto block (knife edge block, or side of hand). As block is snapped back to hip, throw a left hand upper cut, to the chin, with snap.

6- Step back with the left foot, snap a right hand low block with the right hand to the outer limit of the right leg. As the block snaps back to the hip, throw a left hand vertical punch to the solar plexus.

7-     Step forward with the right foot and throw a quick backfist punch, with the right hand to the opponent’s chin or nose, snapping the punch back to the position of initiation.

8- Step forward with the right foot, snapping a right hand rising block one inch above the crown of your head with the wrist bent and back of fist facing directly up, snap a left vertical punch to the solar plexus, simultaneously snapping the blocking hand to the original hip position.         

9- Step back with the left leg, simultaneously throwing a right hand shuto grasping block, which draws the opponent toward you. As the block returns to the hip, drive a spear hand (Nukite) to the solar plexus.

10- Step forward with the right foot, fire a shuto blow to the solar plexus with the right hand and then as that hand returns to the ready position, throw a left hand shuto to the right side of your opponent’s neck. Hands then return to hip position.

11- Step forward with the right leg, block down with a low block with right hand, stopping at the outer edge of the forward leg. Throw a snap vertical punch with the left hand, right hand - slight pause - left hand, right hand - slight pause - left vertical punch. Return to ready position.

12- Step forward with the right foot while throwing a snap mid-block with the right arm, elbow a fist width from the rib cage, throw a left, right  vertical fist punch, pause, throw a left, right vertical fist punch, pause, throw a left vertical fist punch. 

13- Step forward with your right foot, right fist coming to the left of your chest, while simultaneously throwing the left arm out to the side and back, the block will trap your opponent, who is holding your collar on both sides, from bringing his arms down momentarily. Then snap your left arm in a circular motion with the fist striking your opponent in the lower rib cage. That fist then returns to it’s hip position, simultaneously your right arm moves in an arc with the right fist striking the lower rib cage on the left side of your opponents body.

14- Step forward with your right foot, while throwing a right hand “shuto” or knife edge of the hand, block and grab. Then instantly throw a left hand “shuto” strike to the right side of the attackers neck.

15- Step back with the left foot into a “T” stance (Nikko Dachi), right foot forward and on ball of foot, left foot in a position perpendicular to the forward stance. Lock wrists, with the right arm horizontal to the deck and left arm with elbow toward the deck. Release wrist lock and drive left elbow into opponent standing behind you, while swiveling left hip to the right.

16- Step back with the left foot, throwing simultaneous right hand low block to the outer limit of the right leg, throw left fist block to groin area with knuckles to block second groin kick and then snap a right vertical punch to the solar plexus.

  Note - Each of the Basic Exercises will be done, in turn, from both the left and right Seisan Stance.

        In all of the basic exercises, indeed, in Ippon Kumite (self defense techniques) and Ju-Kumite (free style sparring), the hands and feet must work in a synchronous pattern. Since Isshin-ryu karate depends on quick reaction, with speed, balance and focus (Chi or Ki) as the very basis of Isshin-ryu's success, your mind must permit and finally subconsciously will your hands to work in the exact opposite plane. That is to say, that when one hand is up, the other is down and when one hand is close to your body the other must be on the outer edge of your defensive perimeter. When one moves, the other moves. In Isshin-ryu, Hanshi McGrath uses this example. “Pretend that you have a rope with a small ball attached to each end. You are holding a ball in each hand and the rope goes through the space between the middle and ring finger of each hand, with your fist closed. Now picture your fists resting upon your hips, in the vertical position, with the rope across your back Now, if you have the right fist in a block position and you throw a left vertical punch, the right hand will automatically be returned to your hip. This is the way you must make your hands work at all times.” The foot synchronization comes in assuring that your feet are always directly under you, no matter how you move, in order to maintain perfect balance. This is the only way that you can be ready to defend yourself, at all times, or move instantly in another direction, to avoid an attack and counter it. The only way that this can become an unconscious instinct, is constant practice and that is what basic exercises have been designed to achieve. Repetition is the principle behind instinctive reaction. Your ability to do this is the defensive edge that you need to defend yourself. The first principle of Isshin-ryu that you will be taught by any of the Instructors in an Isshin-ryu school, or (place to learn the way) run by Hanshi Ed McGrath, is to defend yourself.

          Our motto is, “Don’t get hit”. It is our goal and central to the manner in which we teach Isshin-ryu. Isshin-ryu is meant as a martial art that provides you with confidence, poise, self-assurance and fosters discipline and the will to succeed, by eliminating the self defeating elements of your personality, which everyone has buried in their subconscious. If you are required to use the skills of Isshin-ryu to avoid being harmed, the ability to simply keep from being hit, would inevitably spell victory for you. If they can’t hit you, they can’t defeat you, or harm you, in any way.

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