In our Black Belt Kata class this weekend (7/16/2022) we focused on the the last (on our list of black belt katas), the longest, and the most complex kata, Sushiho. According to Shihan Cameron Quinn’s book, “The Budo Karate of Mas Oyama”, Sushiho 五十四歩 translates to Fifty Four Steps. In his book he writes:
This kata was one of the two most advanced in the Shuri-te schools. Besides the possible numeric link between the name and the number of movements in the original form, the number 54 is intimately linked to Hindu and Buddhist philosophy. Also known as Gujiushiho, the Japanese pronunciation of this Okinawan name.
Different versions of the kata
This video represents the style of the kata consistent with the source of reference that Methuen Karate uses for kata, “The Cook Book”. Written by David C. Cook in 1982, the book is described by a reviewer of the Amazon listing as follows:
“This is written by one of the world’s foremost experts on Kyokushin Karate, who walks you through all common (and not so common) Kyokushin techniques and katas. The book is also full of useful tips and explanations of e.g. flexibility and strength improvement.”
This kata repeatedly incorporates the kake uke or hook block technique. Different points in the kata include variations of this technique such as a single handed, two handed, and kake uke followed by osae uke (pressing block or parry) and yohon nukite (four finger spear hand). This video provides an excellent example of the practical application of the kake uke in a wrist grab situation.
Although the sequence of moves in the following video is different from that in the “Cook Book”, the step-by-step explanation of the techniques, and especially their practical application, is very useful. The video only includes Japanese narration and the English translation that YouTube provides is ok but not great. This will give you a chance to brush up on your Japanese terminology.
I compiled an outline of the steps for this kata with accompanying pictures from the “Cook Book”. You can download it here.
Thanks to those who attended this class and I look forward to completing the teaching of this kata.
Update: We now have our own recording of the Sushiho kata
-Sempai Gary