Kamae 構え

Sui Shi Kamae

If we look at the opening position for Sui Shi no Kon, it is obviously meant to be an active part of the kata, but the static nature of the posture can be misleading.  The common evaluation only considers the blocking potential in the static position and misses the effectivity that is embodied by the motion of getting there. As has often been said, it's the in-between that counts.

This opening sequence sets-up the theme of the kata with the remaining sequences being variations on it.

In all the classical bo kata, there are no engagement pauses. There is no back-and-forth exchange that might stop briefly (disengage) and then continue (re-engage). The opponent gets the first attack and is then dealt with continuously until dispatched.

Intercepting the initial attack (kamae)

First strike

Second strike

Begin takedown

Finish takedown

Third strike

So, what of the openings of the other classical bo kata? Choun and Tsuken seem to be telling us something. While the opening of Choun is along the lines of Sui Shi (a functional dynamic not really meant to be a static posture), I don't know what the opening of Tsuken is trying to say. I haven't been able to find any viable martial application for such movement. It has been suggested that it's just an historical nod to the workaday function of a bo; perhaps, but that seems a bit obvious and out of place in a martial kata.

If only this stuff had been transmitted through time with the original meanings attached, wouldn't our lives be easier; less interesting perhaps, but easier.