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[kata's]
Nijushi means "24." Ho can mean "direction",
"side", "part", "walk", and "step."
Since there are exactly 24 steps within the kata, it is generally believed that
Nijushiho was named for the number of steps in the kata. "Twenty-four
Steps" is a good translation of Nijushiho. "Twenty-four
Directions" is another acceptable interpretation. "Twenty-four
Parts" is also thought provoking as is "Twenty-fourth Step." The kata is different from the other Shito-Ryu kata attributed to Arakaki
Seisho such as Sochin and Unsu in that it lacks the "Arakaki
trademark" of the double outward blocks from cat stance, reverse hand
thrusts while stepping forward three times. These techniques were apparently
removed from the Shotokan version of Sochin when it was ported over by
Funakoshi's son. However, the Ryuei Ryu version of Niseishi (similar to the
shito) has them. That would mean that these three kata descend through Shito-Ryu
to Shotokan together from the same source, Arakaki Seisho. 1.
Natural Stance
– start in natural stance. 2.
Drag and Drop
– Reach forward with the left hand open, palm down and the right fist out at
the side of the left and step back into a back stance with right foot and drag the
front foot back about 6 inches. As you step back perform a pressing down block
with the left and draw the right hand back to the waist. The left arm ends in
the position as if you had performed a hook punch. 3.
Punch
- Shift forward six inches by lifting the front foot and pushing off with the
right leg. As you do this leave the left arm in place and punch with the right
fist under the left arm. 4.
Elbow strike
- Shift forward as before into an hourglass stance with the feet about one foot
width apart. Begin the technique explosively and finish slowly with tension. 5.
Turn
- Turn by pivoting to the rear on your left foot. As you pivot open both arms
wide with the hands open. Raise them upward and around you in a circle until
they cross in front of you at the wrists then draw them back strongly to
punching position. 6.
U Punch
– Punch immediately using both fists with right fist over left. The right fist
punches at chin height the left under handed at middle level. 7.
Knee raise and block
- Raise the right knee into the chest. Simultaneously pull both forearms up in
front of the face with the palm sides inward. The elbows and fists touching and
the elbows at a 90 degree angle. Set the foot down in a front stance and slowly
wedge block with both hands. 8.
Block and Elbow
- Pivot to the left into a front stance raising the right arm in an open hand
and then upper level rising block with the left arm. Immediately follow up the
rising block with a rising elbow strike with the fist in a vertical position.
The right fist finishes next to the right ear. 9.
Block, kick and punch
- Pivot on the left foot and shift the right foot back a little so that you
assume a horse riding stance. Look to the right as you pivot and sweep the right
hand in a round movement from left to right in a vertical knife hand block. As
soon as the block is complete raise the right knee to throw a right side thrust
kick to armpit level. As you extend the foot from the chambered position (don't
pause), pull the right fist to the right hip strongly. After kicking set the
right foot back into the chamber and then down on the floor into horse riding
stance again. As the foot lowers punch with the left arm. 10.
Repeat Again - Repeat the above three techniques again to the opposite side without
shifting or altering the positioning. 11.
Round Block - Pull the left foot back to the right so that the heels touch. Move the
right foot to the left 45 degree angle into a front stance. The right fist
should be flipped over so that the palm heel is turned up and the back of the
bent wrist is used as a hooking block moving downward. The left hand also in a
palm heel, strikes slowly from overhead as you lean into this technique. The leg
movements of this technique are done quickly but the technique ends slowly. 12.
Ridge Hand - Pivot in place using both feet to rotate to the left. Use the rotation
of the body to swing a reverse side ridge hand strike to the upper level. At the
same time swing the other hand back and around behind you in a horizontal palm
heel strike to the rear. 13.
Step right foot up to the
left so that you are standing with your feet together. Don't bend the knees
visibly. Bring the left arm up in a swinging motion so that the back of the left
hand smacks into the upraised palm of the right hand. Kiai. 14.
Grab and Break
- Step left foot back into the unmovable stance and bring both open hands down
and away from each other a little. The left moves as if scooping the underside
of a leg as it front kicks. The right should move as if striking with the open
palm to the knee. 15.
Back Handed - Pivot 180 degrees to the rear so that the right leg is the rear leg in
a back stance. As you pivot fold the arms for an back knife hand block with
tension. Perform the block quickly and then decelerate as it progresses. 16.
Vertical Elbow
- Step right foot forward into a side-facing horse riding stance. Strike upward
with a vertical elbow strike so that the vertical fist of the right hand
finishes next to the ear. Immediately move the right fist over the left shoulder
and reach forward with the left arm to prepare for a right downward block. Think
of this as a lower level punch with a block accompanying it. Shift the feet
toward the right foot 6 inches as you make this punching action. Throw the block
as you shift toward the left foot about 6 inches by lifting the left foot and
then pushing off with the right. Shift in and out quickly and immediately
throwing the punch and then the block. 17.
Another Back Hand
- Pivot 180 degrees and make another back stance and block with the left knife
hand as above. 18.
Elbow strike - As you step into a horse riding stance strike with the right elbow
into the left palm so that the arms form a rectangle at middle level in front of
the body. Immediately strike downward with the right fist (as in Bassai Dai)
following the elbow strike. 19.
Another Back Hand
- 20.
Turn 225° to the rear to
the left and step forward with right foot into a three point stance while
pulling both hands strongly back into drawn posture. Pivot on the left foot at
first. As soon as the right foot is planted move the left foot as well, shifting
it to the right about one foot and forward about one foot so that it becomes the
front foot of the stance. 21.
U Punch - In place, punch with the right hand on the high side and the left on
the middle level at the same time. 22.
Step forward with the right
foot and back hand block with left and right hands turning them in a circle
until the right hand is at the right waist and the left hand is in front of the
left shoulder.
The right hand comes from its
punching position under the left and grabs forward over it. At the same time the
left arm draws back with the hand still open to just above the right side waist.
As you pull back with the right the left elbow pushes forward to just above
shoulder height. The right fist pulls all the way back to the right waist.
Immediately follow up with a U punch with the left hand in the higher position
at 45 degree angle downward
Move the left foot in front of the right so that you take a 90 degree angle to
the line you just travelled up and back. In a back stance make the same vertical
knife hand block. Step in and back out with the vertical elbow strike, punch,
and downward block as above.
From the U punch hook the back of the right hand using the back side of the palm
heel posture. The left hand does the same. Move both hands clockwise keeping the
palm heels facing into the centre of the circle your hands are describing in
front of you. Once the hands are vertical with the left on top in front of the
face and the right on the bottom in front of the belt they are really facing to
the sides now. Rotate your wrists so that they are back-end leading again as you
continue around this circle one more time. This time the palm heel backside
blocks never make it back to the vertical position. Instead, pull them to your
sides as you draw the circle a second time. The right palm heel is drawn at the
right waist, the left is drawn over-hand style at the left shoulder.
Slowly ease two palm heel strikes forward with the left hand high. Finish by
drawing back the right leg into the natural stance.