Mark Murray
29th September 2006, 15:40
Aikido Journal and Brian Kagen highlighted an article today.
The article is Mudra in the Martial Arts by Wayne Muromoto.
http://www.furyu.com/onlinearticles/mudra.html
There was a part in there that I wondered if anyone here would know more about. Here's the part:
I earlier noted that most modern budo are bereft of mudra and other esoterica. But I am actually not so sure that they are totally without any mikkyo influence. Look at the karate kata Kusanku (Kosokun). The opening movement has sometimes been described to me as a stylized example of how to break a grip and strike an opponent's kidney area when he tries to bear-hug you. But in esoteric Shinto, a similar movement, with a hand clap, welcomes the Sun Goddess. By doing that movement in the direction of the rising sun, you absorb the sun's positive spiritual energy. Is it possible that there are other mudra and esoteric movements hidden in other karate kata? Okinawan karate, after all, was related to ancient Okinawan dance and court rituals, which themselves incorporated some aspects of Okinawan folk beliefs. I'm not sure and not even positive that this one example or any other has any real significance. I leave that up to you, the reader, to figure out.
Well, I am the reader and I know almost nothing about Okinawan karate, but I thought it was worth asking about. Anyone know if there are mudra or esoteric movements in karate?
The article is Mudra in the Martial Arts by Wayne Muromoto.
http://www.furyu.com/onlinearticles/mudra.html
There was a part in there that I wondered if anyone here would know more about. Here's the part:
I earlier noted that most modern budo are bereft of mudra and other esoterica. But I am actually not so sure that they are totally without any mikkyo influence. Look at the karate kata Kusanku (Kosokun). The opening movement has sometimes been described to me as a stylized example of how to break a grip and strike an opponent's kidney area when he tries to bear-hug you. But in esoteric Shinto, a similar movement, with a hand clap, welcomes the Sun Goddess. By doing that movement in the direction of the rising sun, you absorb the sun's positive spiritual energy. Is it possible that there are other mudra and esoteric movements hidden in other karate kata? Okinawan karate, after all, was related to ancient Okinawan dance and court rituals, which themselves incorporated some aspects of Okinawan folk beliefs. I'm not sure and not even positive that this one example or any other has any real significance. I leave that up to you, the reader, to figure out.
Well, I am the reader and I know almost nothing about Okinawan karate, but I thought it was worth asking about. Anyone know if there are mudra or esoteric movements in karate?