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Understanding the Bubushi 48 Self Defense Themes
Returning briefly back to the Bubushi, I (with the assistance of Dr. Paul Harper, Derry New Hanpshire, a Surgeon by profession and Joe Swift, Kanazawa Japan, a translator by profession) would like to look at the issue of drawings found in different versions of the texts. To do this I would like to suggest one of the 48 self defense diagrams.
Browsing through the Mabuni 1934 text on Seipai Kata the other day with Dr. Harper , (one of my students, originally a San Dan in Goju Ryu) he noticed how the Bubushi diagram on page 151 was showing a finger strike to 'the Long Thoracic Nerve of Bell". He stated that strike as shown would cause a "winged scapula" arching the back for a moment, allowing time for a follow up strike or evasion.
That caused me to review the same diagram in my other Bubushi copies.
In George Armstrong-Ken Penland Bubushi, the same diagram follows the Mabuni diagram, with the Mabuni copy being superior, being drawn by someone who wished to capture specific detail, and perhaps not just make a recognizable copy.
By taking the Armstrong translation if that section and comparing it to Pat McCarthy's 48 translations, I find this as Drawing #40 in McCarthy's Bubushi. But in this instance I see what looks like a spear hand strike to the side and it does not appear (from the drawing) to hit the same area the same way.
>From examination of the Mabuni or Armstrong and Penland Bubushi, you might work up different explanations
My description of these diagrams.
Mabuni Seipai Text Page 151 (This is not available in English)
My description:
Attacker Left Foot Forward Left High Hammerfist Right back hammer fist
Defender A Right inward lead finger strike to the Long Thoracic Nerve of
Bell. While left hand lies across the Right Biceps.
Armstrong and Penland Bubushi 48 No 30 page 143
A copy (with slight simplification of technique) of the Mabuni 1934 Bubushi drawing.
My description,
Attacker Left Foot Forward Left High Hammerfist Right back hammer fist
Defender A Right inward lead finger strike to the Long Thoracic Nerve of
Bell. While the left hand lies across the Right Biceps.
Armstrong text:
Like the Hungry Tiger mauling its prey, this man will lose
Like a monkey poking with a pin, this man will win
Attacker comes in like a hungry tiger mauling its prey, using Hammerfists to try to overwhelm his opponent, this man will lose.
Defender keeps his Maai (Distance) until the right opportunity is there And then quickly like a monkey poking with a pin, pokes his opponent In the underarm to a vital spot which leads to the heart meridian, this man Will win.
Pat McCarthy Bubushi 48 No 30 Page 182
My description:
Attacker Left Foot Forward Left High block - Right Punch
Defender RFF Right Spear Hand to uke's side line, Left Hand parries back
McCarthy text
Losing Technique Tiger Mauls its Prey
Winning Technique Monkey threading the needle
By checking a punch or pulling a push and striking a vital point
It is easy to defeat an inexperienced attacker.
I also referenced Tadahiko Otsuka's work on the Bubushi which shows diagrams from two different Bubushi traditions. (Tadahiko's Bubushi research is not available in English)
In Tadahiko's Bubushi Page 200
Both diagrams are similar to Mabuni's but with less detail.
One defender is striking the Long Thoracic Nerve of Bell the other appears to be Striking Further forward on the chest. With the accompanying examples as how to Apply their Strike into the upper chest area. Another difference.
Finding this interesting, with different sources leading to entirely different interpretations of the diagrams in their own right.
Trying to get a wider range as to available Bubushi differences on this technique I discussed this with Joe Swift, who performed the following analysis.
Hi again Victor-san,
Looked at all my Bubishi(s) last night and here's what I got:
McCarthy (1995)
#30 - spear hand
McCarthy (1992)
#30 - single finger strike
Alexander
#30 - single finger strike (or so it seems to me)
Otsuka (1986)
#30 - bunched finger strike
Otsuka (1998)
#30 - bunched finger strike
Mabuni
#30 - bunched fingers with one extended
Tokashiki (1995)
Redrawings
#30 - pressing the side as you footsweep
Original Miyagi - Higa - Fukuchi lineage Bubishi
#30 - bunched fingers
The explanations (all except for Tokashiki's application) all seem to revolve around striking a single vital point somewhere on the opponent's side...
Bob McMahon on the Cyber Dojo once mentioned he has seen Pat McCarthy's 14 different copies of the Bubushi, and last night also mentioned more are being discovered regularily.
My thought is that this work will present a picture in what is required to fully understand the issues to consider in interpreting the Bubushi to our current practices. Depending on your source, we may well be describing different events
BTW, my personal favorite pictures are those found in Mabuni's work on Seipai.
Prepared with the joint efforts of:
joe_333@yahoo.co.jp (Swift Joe)
Isshim@aol.com (Victor Smith)
(Dr. Paul Harper)
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