Apart from Sanseru, a 1st kyu must also learn kata Sepai. Both kata must be performed for the Shodan-ho (provisional Black belt) grading. Sepai must also be performed to grade to Shodan (1st Dan Black belt) and it is here that the kata must have really developed.
Sepai is regarded as a beautiful and very appropriate kata for a student in GKR attempting black belt. To be performed well, a student must demonstrate a sound understanding and ability of strong flowing techniques coinciding with explosive movements. The most challenging GKR kata to date, it entails a number of circular, whipping movements and abstract hand techniques. It incorporates a number of angles and pivoting movements while challenging the student by moving from long and short stances.
GKR Karate – Sepai
Sepai History
Sepai was introduced by Higaonna to Naha-te (karate style of the city Naha), and modified slightly by Chojun Miyagi when he continued teaching it in Goju. Sepai is one of the most famous kata in karate.
Similarly to Sanseru, Sepai’s translation is a numerical reference, meaning ‘18 hands’, and just like Sanseru the debate continues over what the numbers refer to. A number of Okinawan historians claim it refers to 18 guards of the King although this is unlikely, (especially when so many other traditional kata have a similar numerical pattern).
When studying its Chinese lineage, it suggests a connection to Buddhist philosophy (see Sanseru) while others again claim it is referring to attacking 18 pressure points. Both of these are very plausible, as when one considers how the use of martial arts has evolved, so too would the associations to the names of its forms. An explanation of this follows:
Kung fu was originally developed purely as a form of physical exercise so that Monks could endure their very grueling meditation sessions. It stayed this way for 800 years and this supports claims that many kata have numerical references to Buddhist philosophy. However in 1647 when the Ching family’s invasion and subsequent takeover of the Ming family ended China’s Golden era, the Shaolin temple was destroyed and many monks were slaughtered. This marked the beginning of the transformation of Kung-fu into a more militaristic art. Over time the Shaolin monks began to revise and strengthen their art, often studying the movements of animals for guidance and inspiration. It is highly conceivable that after this time, many forms that had numerical names would have not only been modified in technique, but the explanations of their numerical significance would also have changed to represent a more militaristic representation.
Another possibility is that in 1392 a group of 36 families moved from Fukien Province in China, to Kume-Mura, a village just outside of Naha (where Goju was developed). This community of 36 families introduced a style known as Shi Pa Sho Kempo (18 postures boxing).
Sepai Lineage
Kanryo Higaonna (1853-1915)
Higaonna trained in Okinawa-te (the name given to Okinawan martial arts at the time) and then ventured to China where he trained for 13 years. He returned to Okinawa and developed the style ‘Naha-te’. The kata he taught were a combination of Okinawa-te principles and Chinese Kung fu. One of the many kata he developed and taught was Sanseru.
Chogun Miyagi (1888-1953)
Chogun was one of the two key students of Kanryo Higaonna. It is known that he altered the kata prior to establishing his Goju style. No one can be sure how much this was altered. Students were often taught kata to suit their bodies and skill levels, it is plausible that Higaonna taught Miyagi slightly different bunkai to suit his frame and later Miyagi adapted the kata to closer resemble his personalized bunkai.
Gogen Yamaguchi (1909-1989)
Gogen Yamaguchi was already a reputable karate-ka of Goju before he met its founder (Chogun Miyagi) around 1930. Miyagi became so impressed with Yamaguchi that he made him his successor for Goju in Japan.
GKR Karate
While many karate styles incorporate Sepai, GKR derives its version from Japanese Goju (not the more kung-fu appearing Okinawan Goju Sepai).
