Form I: Shii-Cho

[Kannik]

Three. Do NOT READ TOO MUCH INTO THE FORM. If you start comparing one practitioner to the other, you have officially missed the point of a kata. It's not about "Well look how this one did that one and that one did this one." Look at their understanding and their technique. Sun, five years after making that Form, has changed significantly, as has his understanding of the form which in turn has changed the form. It's subtle, but it's much improved.

-nods-  It is one thing my Sifu has always encouraged us to do, which is to see others' forms and understand what they are going for, then test for ourselves if it is a working expression of the concept of the style or not.  And over time all lineages of even the same style will begin to do things differently, yet if the core fundamentals remain there they are still the same style or form.   Similarly over time each practitioner will have their form alter as they gain greater understanding of their style. 

It is like all martial arts considered 'real'(I have this discussion with a collegue of mine who doesn't see this as a real martial art development but merely as playing with a toy. The further evolution of a martial arts and/or a dance is by introducing new elements that the current practicioner or the public like to do. Because if that person doesn't like to do it, everything will die out eventually.

There was a great quote I read by a Shaolin Monk expat in the introduction to a book on Klingon martial arts.  He stated that in times of old, martial artists looked at the animals around them for inspiration, using the essence (as they saw it) of the animal to develop their style, even fantastical creatures such as dragons.  So why not draw inspiration from other fiction as well?  So long as it is developed to a good depth upon solid principles (and usually built off the foundation of existing martial knowledge) then it can be a great development. 

And here we are trying to invent something mostly from whole cloth, or from limited scenes from a Hollywood movie.  So we've got much to do.    I appreciate the idea of this thread, to create some sort of baseline/idea/foundation/form that those who do want to develop the style has a starting point. 

...cool sketches...

Nice!  Yoinked!  I'll bring 'em out tonight and try it out...

peace,

Kannik

[Darth Cestual]

Cestual,  that's really beautiful. Would you mind if I swipe a copy to teach?

Thankee, and please do!

[Duff Man]

For those that haven't read Uilos718's paper I link it here. http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=2131.0  it is worth a look.

I was half a sleep when I posted this and didn't notice that Uilos was actually in the thread.... well I give you props any way man. 

[Darth Cestual]

I've been working on my Shii Cho interpretation/instruction banner project for several weeks now and discovered that my computer just couldn't handle so large an image, so I've broken it down into several pages for people to print off. I call it my interpretation as there are 1 or 2 slightly modified moves. I've also come up with a counterpart sequence I've called Shii Co Min ("Min" being Tibetan for "2") which once learned can be used as the other half of a choreographed fight with the Shii Cho kata. I'm still calling this a work in progress as far as the art is concerned, but the moves are presented here. I've gotten the blessing of NYJedis General Sun before posting,

This is great, I am honored that yourself and so many people practice this.
please share this work. You have my full support, if people have questions on your variation of moves, tell them to contact me or remind them that form and the individual must both be held in the same grip.
talk soon,
General Sun Yudiminour

And the counterpart kata







I'm rather pleased with the counterpart kata, as I feel like the seeds of the other forms are planted here.

[Darth Nonymous]

For those who don't know, here is our formulation of form 1. In progress. Check back often for form and velocities.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89FD30F9F512416E&feature=plcp

[Darth Cestual]

For those who don't know, here is our formulation of form 1. In progress. Check back often for form and velocities.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89FD30F9F512416E&feature=plcp

You've put out a great set of videos there. The issue I was having is that when out in the yard practicing is it's kind of a pain to run back inside to check youtube to recall how a move goes. I wanted something handy I could have on a nearby wall or in a folder or even folded up in my pocket. My memory ain't like it used to be, lol. 

[Darth Nonymous]

You've put out a great set of videos there. The issue I was having is that when out in the yard practicing is it's kind of a pain to run back inside to check youtube to recall how a move goes. I wanted something handy I could have on a nearby wall or in a folder or even folded up in my pocket. My memory ain't like it used to be, lol. 

Thanks, I like your drawing of your form.

 I'm just trying to get the word out

[Kham-Ryn Kurios]

For those who don't know, here is our formulation of form 1. In progress. Check back often for form and velocities.
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89FD30F9F512416E&feature=plcp

I subscribed.

[Darth Cestual]

Thanks, I like your drawing of your form.

 I'm just trying to get the word out

Thank you! My hopes is that there's enough interest in the counter form that folks will start to practice it along with Suns Shii Cho as a place to start for a fight choreography. If I ever run across just 1 video of someone trying it, I'll be thrilled, lol.

Quick question to the community, would it be helpful if I drew out the combat in a similar style so everyone can see how they play against each other?

[Kham-Ryn Kurios]

Thank you! My hopes is that there's enough interest in the counter form that folks will start to practice it along with Suns Shii Cho as a place to start for a fight choreography. If I ever run across just 1 video of someone trying it, I'll be thrilled, lol.

Quick question to the community, would it be helpful if I drew out the combat in a similar style so everyone can see how they play against each other?

M.J. and I printed them out and are learning the first part side by side.

Since we have no formal training this like you said a really great place to start when you need a foundation.

[Darth Cestual]

That's awesome Kham 

[Ander]

We do Shii-Cho a bit differently here.

We use no thrusts (deemed too dangerous for combat, and our school is about combat, not coreography)
We have six basic parries, two low, two mid, two high, and two high finishing parries, plus advanced versions of the first six
We have nine basic strikes, three dealt in the vertical plane (two low, one high), two in the horizontal (two lateral) and four in the diagonal (two down-up, two up-down)
Also, we use no left or right guard, that is something that I see in Soresu, in Shii-Cho we always keep the blade toward the eyes of the opponent.
I apologize that I cannot draw that well, I would love to put together something similar

Keep it up, it's very interesting what you are doing, and I enjoy looking through it.

[Solinus]

We do Shii-Cho a bit differently here.

We use no thrusts (deemed too dangerous for combat, and our school is about combat, not coreography)
We have six basic parries, two low, two mid, two high, and two high finishing parries, plus advanced versions of the first six
We have nine basic strikes, three dealt in the vertical plane (two low, one high), two in the horizontal (two lateral) and four in the diagonal (two down-up, two up-down)
Also, we use no left or right guard, that is something that I see in Soresu, in Shii-Cho we always keep the blade toward the eyes of the opponent.
I apologize that I cannot draw that well, I would love to put together something similar

Keep it up, it's very interesting what you are doing, and I enjoy looking through it.

I look at your website, as I am attempting to devour every bit of information about Shii-cho as I can. Unfortunately, I cannot understand one bit of the information written. Do you guys have any of that information written in English? Or maybe a place where I can find it?

[Ander]

I don't think you can find info about the technique on the school website, I am afraid.

[Solinus]

I don't think you can find info about the technique on the school website, I am afraid.

Uh huh.. sure. I bet that's how you guys keep all of the juicy secrets to yourself. "Just write it in another language!"

Haha!! I'm just kidding!