Seisan 十三手

Literally means thirteen hands. It contains 8 defensive and 5 attacking techniques, with which there is a change of direction. Thirteen is a prime number and in China is a number representing good luck and prosperity. Traditional Goju-Ryu falls back upon techniques which involve the grabbing and the controlling of the opponent while a weak spot of the body is hit. This Kata is a perfect example of this principle. It emphasizes close range fighting using short punching and low kicking techniques to break through the defence of the opponent. Seisan is an extremely important Kata in Goju-Ryu and it should be practiced for many hours for it contains a wealth of information and knowledge.

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