UNSU
Unsu (or Unshu in Okinawan) is one of three Shotokan kata that can be traced back to Seisho Aragaki. Indeed, Unsu possesses certain techniques characteristic of an "Aragaki kata" such as teisho-awase-zuki in sanchin-dachi, the tenchi (heaven and earth) position, and kensei (feinting). Translations of the term Unsu include "Cloud Hands," "Hands in the Clouds," and even "Parting the Clouds." The name of the kata implies that your hands are like clouds, ever changing and capable of discharging lethal force in the blink of an eye. Unsu is another kata thought to have been derived from an Okinawan folkdance, perhaps paying homage to the gods Fujin (god of the wind) and Raijen (god of thunder and lightning). It has been said that the kata embodies a storm, with the kata's techniques symbolizing wind, lightning, tornadoes, etc. Another school of thought suggests that Unsu originated from one of the Shaolin forms based on the techniques of the dragon (one of kung fu's five animals). In this scenario, the karateka personifies the dragon in combat, using its claws, wings, and tail to attack in all directions, flying through the air, and even breathing fire.
Whatever the origin or philosophy behind the kata, Unsu is truly a magnificent and extremely advanced form, requiring great speed and agility, but above all, explosive power. Just as clouds perpetually change, Unsu undergoes many transitions, making it one of the most dynamic forms of Shotokan. Changes in timing are plentiful in this kata, and attacks are thrown to all three levels of the body: jodan, chudan, and gedan. Stances also vary from internal stances like neko-ashi-dachi and sanchin-dachi, to outer tension stances such as fudo-dachi, zenkutsu-dachi, and kiba-dachi. Interestingly enough, it is one of two kata (not counting Tekki) that doesn't include kokutsu-dachi (unless you use the variation back stance just before the jump).
As one of Shotokan's most versatile kata, Unsu offers many unprecedented techniques and concepts. At 48 movements, Unsu contains a treasure of advanced hand techniques including ippon-nukite, seiryuto, keito, haito, kensei, uke-zuki, and teisho. Unsu's leg techniques, however, are far more interesting. Every kick found in the kata is executed in an unconventional manner contrary to normal training practices. The two mawashi-geri are the only mawashi-geri found in any Shotokan kata, and they are made while lying down! Since the karateka must literally fall down to perform these roundhouse kicks, the student must also have a basic understanding of breakfalling. The two mae-geri are performed with a reverse pivot motion on the snap back in order to quickly change direction, certainly a difficult technique to perform smoothly, never seen before and never seen again in any other kata. Mae-kekomi is a front kick with a thrust instead of a snap, whereby the heel is used rather than the ball of the foot. Mae-kekomi is rarely if ever practiced in Shotokan, except in this kata. The mika-zuki-geri, although seen in several other kata, cannot be used to its full potential since it is performed completely in mid-air, with the ushiro-geri never really coming to fruition. During this movement, the focus is more on the jump than on the kicks. This 360 jump is Unsu's hallmark and it is also probably the single most difficult technique in all of Shotokan kata. The jump in Kanku Sho should be practiced diligently before any attempt is made to learn the Unsu jump. When done properly, the spinning jump is simply breathtaking, making Unsu a very popular tournament kata.
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|
Technique
|
Translation
|
Stance
|
Target
|
Notes
|
1
|
ryote-seiryuto-uchi
(kaiun-no-te)
|
both hands ox-jaw strike
(open cloud hands)
|
heisoku-dachi
|
--
|
slow speed
|
2
|
ryote-keito-uke
|
both hands chicken-head wrist block
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
3
|
ippon-nukite
|
one-finger spear-hand
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
4
|
ryote-keito-uke-no-mama
|
both hands chicken-head wrist block as is
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
chudan
|
slow speed
|
5
|
ippon-nukite
|
one-finger spear-hand
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
6
|
ryote-keito-uke-no-mama
|
both hands chicken-head wrist block as is
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
chudan
|
slow speed
|
7
|
ippon-nukite
|
one-finger spear-hand
|
neko-ashi-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
8
|
tate-shuto-uke
|
vertical knife-hand block
|
fudo-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
9
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
10
|
tate-shuto-uke
|
vertical knife-hand block
|
fudo-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
11
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
12
|
tate-shuto-uke
|
vertical knife-hand block
|
fudo-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
13
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
14
|
tate-shuto-uke
|
vertical knife-hand block
|
fudo-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
15
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
16
|
mawashi-geri
(kawashi-geri)
|
roundhouse kick
(dodging kick)
|
--
|
chudan
|
naname-fuse
|
17
|
mawashi-geri
(kawashi-geri)
|
roundhouse kick
(dodging kick)
|
--
|
chudan
|
naname-fuse
|
18
|
ryote-seiryuto-uchi
(kaiun-no-te)
|
both hands ox-jaw strike
(open cloud hands)
|
kiba-dachi
|
--
|
slow speed
|
19
|
keito-uke /
teisho-yoko-uke
|
chicken-head wrist block /
palm-heel sideways block
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
gedan
|
kirikae-ashi
|
20
|
keito-uke /
teisho-yoko-uke
|
chicken-head wrist block /
palm-heel sideways block
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
gedan
|
kirikae-ashi
|
21
|
haito-uchi
|
ridge-hand strike
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
22
|
mae-geri
|
front kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
23
|
soto-uke
|
outside block
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
24
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
25
|
haito-uchi
|
ridge-hand strike
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
26
|
mae-geri
|
front kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
27
|
soto-uke
|
outside block
|
ashi-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
28
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
29
|
kakiwake-kamae
|
wedge posture
|
heisoku-dachi
|
gedan
|
slow speed
|
30
|
kensei
|
feint
|
--
|
jodan
|
slow speed
|
31
|
tsuki (gedan-zuki)
|
punch (downward punch)
|
ashi-zenkutsu-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
32
|
gedan-uke-zuki
|
downward block-punch
|
ashi-zenkutsu-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
33
|
gedan-uke-zuki
|
downward block-punch
|
ashizenkutsu-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
34
|
tate-shuto-uke
|
vertical knife-hand block
|
fudo-dachi
|
chudan
|
slow speed
|
35
|
teisho-hasami-uke
|
palm-heel scissors block
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
36*
|
mae-kekomi /
ryosho-tsukamiyose
|
front thrust kick
|
ashi-dachi
|
gedan
--
|
|
37
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
--
|
chudan
|
|
38
|
oi-zuki
|
lunge punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
39
|
gedan-barai
|
down block
|
kiba-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
40
|
haito-uke
|
ridge-hand block
|
kiba-dachi
|
jodan
|
yori-ashi
|
41
|
shuto-gedan-barai
|
knife-hand down block
|
kiba-dachi
|
gedan
|
|
42
|
haito-uke
|
ridge-hand block
|
kiba-dachi
|
jodan
|
yori-ashi
|
43
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
kiba-dachi
|
chudan
|
|
44
|
tate-shuto-uke &
mikazuki-tobi-geri /
ushiro-kekomi-tobi-geri
|
vertical knife-hand block &
crescent kick /
back thrust kick
|
fudo-dachi
--
--
|
chudan
jodan
--
|
shuto slow speed
kaiten-tobi
ude-tate-fuse
|
45
|
tekubi-makiotoshi-uke &
teisho-awase-zuki
|
wrist curling-falling block &
palm-heel combined punch
|
sanchin-dachi
|
chudan
jodan
chudan
|
teisho slow speed
|
46
|
tekubi-makiotoshi-uke &
teisho-awase-zuki
|
wrist curling-falling block &
palm-heel combined punch
|
sanchin-dachi
|
chudan
jodan
chudan
|
teisho slow speed
|
47
|
age-uke
|
rising block
|
fudo-dachi
|
jodan
|
|
48*
|
gyaku-zuki
|
reverse punch
|
zenkutsu-dachi
|
chudan
|
