The story of Ito, Soto and Sakukawa: or why Kihon is important

The story of Ito, Soto and Sakukawa: or why Kihon is important

                When I was younger and had my own club that I taught at ,I used to have a dedicated “Kids” class, not a Tiny Tigers class but an under 16 class that was very popular. I had a fair amount of younger kids that wanted to goof off and do “Karate tricks” all the time and did not understand why we did so much work on basics. I had read or been told a story a long time before that about why Kihon waza was so darn important, but I could not find it when I went looking. So, as a writer I figured I would just make up the story. It was so popular that I ended up telling  it at summer camp every year as a fun moment with the kids classes.

                I figured that it would be good to post this one so that any future instructors who have a lot of kids in a club could use it as well, and you fully have my permission to take it and use it, use parts of it or what have you. The important thing about this story is that you are very animated when doing it, the kids will LOVE it if you can do it well!

 

The Story of Sakukawa Kanga and why Kihon is so darn important!

                One day in the Kingdom of Ryukyu on the island that is now Okinawa a pirate from Shanghai, who was shipwrecked, came upon a small village called Chatan. Chatan was well known as a peaceful fishing village outside of the capital of Shuri in what is now the capital Naha. The head man was Imura Peichin who was a great friend of the teacher of the royal guard in Shuri, Takahara Peichin.

                The Pirate Chan had been known for his cruel nature and his penchant for challenging others to duels or fights. He had studied martial arts from several masters in China and had even studied for a time at the famous Shaolin Temple under Master Po! His spirit and ferocity in battle was well known and he was a man to be feared!

                When he happened upon the village the first thing he did was go to the local tavern and order food and drink that he knew he could not pay for. He ate all the food and drank till he was full and no longer thirsty. When the bar made came to request payment he put his hand up and said, “I do not have money, but I will challenge and beat any man in here and the rest can cover my expenses as a payment for the entertainment”! No one took the bully up on his challenge so he started pushing the others in the bar and bullied the owner. Finally he found someone that would challenge him, a local fisherman that had enough of his bullying.

                Chan took the man outside and a crowd formed around them. The fisherman was much stronger than Chan but the fight was over quickly as Chan had years of training in martial arts and the fisherman had none. When it was done and the man was unconscious on the dirt street, Chan went about taking all his money and his clothing and left the man in his underwear on the street. Chan repeated this process at each of the businesses up and down the main street of town. He had bested 12 men by the time the day ended.

                The town finally went to Imura Peichin and complained of the barbarian Pirate that stole the men’s clothing and money. Imura Peichin sat and was told the stories of how Chan would walk in and eat or try on clothing, get his hair cut or whatever service the business was giving and then instead of paying he would challenge anyone in the room to a fight for the payment. By the last business his pockets were full of money and he had a large bundle of clothing with him. Many men had to run home almost naked to their wives and family with no money and having to explain the embarrassment they felt to the family.  Imura needed to act, but he was an old man, most of his day he was busy doing administration and paper work, he had not protected the town in many years from any one. And it was Chatan.. a peaceful village! He knew he needed help!

Imura Peichin wrote a quick note to his good friend in Shuri to send help immediately. He wrote a letter to the great Master Takahara Peichin, the master who taught the imperial guard and body guards how to fight. He was wise and even at his advanced age he was known to be fast and powerful, surely he could come and put Chan in the stockades and see him off the island on the next ship to China! Imura Peichin sent the letter off to Shuri with the fasted courier he could find!

 

The letter reached master Takahara Peichin in his Dojo in Shuri. Tahakara was teaching his three pupils in the court yard when the runner came in and bowed deeply, handed Takahara the letter and then turned and left. After reading the letter Takahara called his three students over to talk to them.

Takahara first read the letter to the three, he read “Takahara Peichin, we are in need of your assistance with the horrible Pirate Chan who has been plaguing our village. Chan will beat up the locals with his martial arts skills and then take their clothing and money. We need your help!”.  Master Takahara put the letter down and turned to his students and asked which of them he would send to the village.

Of Master Takaharas students he had Ito the nimble, Sato the grand and Sakukawa Kanga, who was not known as anything but Sakuakawa Kanga. Ito was fast, explosive and had dynamic techniques, he would strike the hanging bag and kick hanging makiwara that were well above his head. Sato was large, powerful and could crush brick with his mighty hands; he used the makiwara post daily and would wrestle with local Sumo to challenge himself.  And last was Sakukawa Kanga, Sakukawa would practice all day basics and did not fight or wrestle.

                Takahara Sensei asked again who would go and Ito the nimble jumped up and bowed deeply, “give me the honor O-Sensei” said Ito in a quick and nimble move. Takahara bowed deeply to Ito as Ito spun and rushed out the gates to go to Chatan to face Chan! Ito was full of confidence because he knew he was the fastest man on the island and he had amazing form and techniques that shocked and entertained everyone.

His techniques and jumping were well known all over the island and many came to watch his public work outs because of his flying movements and his ducking. His favorite Kata was Wanshu (empi) and he would shoot in and the back, jump high and duck down low, his movements were often so fast it was said that Ito the nimble would move faster than the eye could see. He knew he could beat Chan and send him back to China.

                As he flew down the path to Chatan to face Chan he jumped up on tree stumps and flipped in the air to land and sprint off, ducked under over grown tree foliage and then sprung up on his hands to finish his vaulting over a puddle. His moves were nimble and he was quick as the wind. He was very confident this would not take long and he would be back for dinner. He spun in the air and landed at the opening of the trail on the edge of Chatan. He could see the whole main street with its small huts and then the larger huts as the town opened up to the sea and business pocked the open ground, placed specifically  like that so fishermen were tempted to stop in and spend their pay on their way home.

                Ito the nimble pulled at his pants and knocked off some trail dust from his jacket, finally adjusting his Obi as he took his first step into the township he was there to save. Full of pride and ego he walked towards the huts that served as the bar district, he could hear a commotion as he approached and knew it was probably Chan making short work of some slow and unskilled fisherman! Ito became excited thinking about the great battle he was about to win and add to his legend in the annals of the Ryukyu Kingdome! He would be the greatest warrior in all the land!

                Ito came upon a group in a circle and noted that they were totally oblivious to his presence. He stuck his head in between two large drunk fishermen and what he saw was amazing. A Chinese man was beating a large fisherman with a drinking cup! The fisherman was lunging with a boning knife and missing every time as the Chinese would pivot and move away from the larger lunging man then counter by smashing the cup into his hand or head. The fight was a farce as the Chinese was soundly beating the larger man.

                Ito took two steps back and launched himself off of a tall box he had half climbed onto the backs of two of the observers and then flipped in the air, landing in the circle and half crouching, he looked like a wild beast as he crouched with looking at the ground for dramatic effect. He said “Chan! I am here to arrest you in the name of the King of the Ryukyu Nation”. He paused for dramatic effect and then looked up.

                Chan had dispatched the fisherman and was now standing with his hands on his hips and a look of entertainment about him. He was scoffing at Ito and kicking some of the dirt that made up the road they stood on. “oh, finally, some real fun….I was afraid that the town had dried up of all those that could challenge me! And whom are you sir”?  Chan shuffled about a little, not as if he was nervous, actually it was the opposite! He was excited and a tad impatient to get on with the fight.

                “I am Ito, the nimble from Shuri Castle, here to arrest you and bring you to justice for your crimes”. Ito said standing and now trying to mimic the cool and calm nature that Chan was projecting, both men alive with anticipation on the inside however. “I will arrest you and give back the money to these people, and their dignity” he said looking at a few men who were now almost naked, and then looking over to the pile of clothing that Chan had obviously collected.

                “hmmm, if you can best me then not only will I come with you to the castle to be arrested and tried, I will give back the money freely as well as the clothing and bow deep to these men with the utmost respect for Ryukyuians!, However, if you cannot best me, I will take your money and your clothing and continue to see the Ryukyu kingdom as the weak men of Asia!” Chan said with a glint in his eye.

                Both men took up fighting postures. Ito with his high low guard and Chan with a casual single hand extended and his other hand on his hip, Ito then flew at him throwing punches and kicks in a blurring of lines. Each movement snapped out and then a second was following right behind it, the movement shot up and down and then the spinning and jumping began as Ito moved in a moment from fully standing to on the ground sweeping the legs of Chan and then standing back up and jumping.  But each time he moved Chan was countering and moving around Ito all at one level, he shifted and brought his leg up to avoid being swept, then blocked kicks and punches with his extended hand and never once was he struck.

                Ito tired and just as he felt the fatigue of his style of fighting taking affect, Chan countered a beautiful jumping front kick by catching Ito and dropping him firmly on his back. The air rushed out of Ito and he realized he had lost. Chan had bested “Ito the nimble” by using angles and patience and not trying to counter speed with speed, but rather having better distance and timing. Ito could not breath or move, he simply felt Chan take his Obi, his money wallet and his shoes off. Chan took his fine silk jacket and finally removed the last of Ito’s clothing.

Ito was embarrassed and now had to go back to master Takara and show that he could not beat Chan and he had let down the school and his master. He now walked back to Shuri slowly with his head down, crushed in body and spirit by the Chinese pirate Chan!

 

Master Takahara was told of the defeat before Ito got back to Shuri, he was surprised and sad to hear that Ito had lost such a battle against the Chinese pirate.  Master Takahara had never faced such an issue before. Normally his students were fantastic magistrates and brought in whomever they were sent to arrest. He paced back and forth in his private quarters for some time and then sat and called for his students and some Tea.

Sato and Sakukawa came into his sitting room and knelt before Takahara to await their master’s orders. Takahara told the two of what had happened to Ito and how one of them must now take on the task of arresting Chan for the good of the village and the Ryukyu kingdom!

While Sakukawa sat silently and pondered the situation, Sato jumped up and puffed out his broad chest and said “The choice is obvious, is it not?”, He flexed his large upper body with each word he uttered “Ito was to tiny and had no strength, I am the strongest here and I will go and destroy this Chan fool with my power and strength, I will wrestle him to the ground and tie him up, he will be in Shuri Castles Jail come morning!”. Takahara nodded and Sato’s large bulk bowed deeply and then spun and out the door he went!

 

Sato “the Great” Lumbered down the same Trail that Ito had jumped and skipped down the day before. His hulking frame knocking over smaller foliage and brushing aside tree branches. He even stopped to remove a tree that had fallen on the trail. His large hands clasping the tree and then wrestling it back and forth he broke the trunk of the tree and tossed the rest of the tree aside.

Sato moved as quickly as his large frame allowed him and small animals shot out from under brush and then ran away in fear of the large man’s heavy footed advancement down the trail.  He day dreamed of getting Chan in a bear hug and squeezing, listening for the sharp snapping of ribs, the cry of pain and the gushing of air as it exited the Chinese man’s lungs. Then when the Chinese pirate was unconscious he would tie him up and bring him to the castle. He would prove that strength and power was more impressive than a little speed. What a fool Ito was to think his tiny frame would be able to work on the Chinese pirate. Sato would crush him.

Sato came to the same clearing entrance to the town that Ito had been down the day before, but Sato took a lot longer to get down that path. It was morning now and the sun was coming out from behind some clouds, the fishing village was coming to life. Small children helping their mothers getting the ready for the men to leave for a day of fishing, the men stirring and starting to prepare for a hard day on the ocean. Satos large frame stopped many of them in their path.

Sato crossed the large open area, moving smoothly but not quickly. He found a small village restaurant and sat down, ordered tea and breakfast for two, his appetite often was MUCH more than the locals would normally have. While eating his breakfast he noted that a small Inn looked abandoned, it was unusual for these Inns not to be full and bustling this time of year. After paying his bill and drinking the last of his tea he stood up and walked over to the Inn. The front door was wide open and the owners were busy serving the soul guest, a Chinese with his back to the door. The food that sat on the table was expensive and the Chinese seemed to pick at it as if he was board! Reading a book and ignoring the scared Inn owner “Chan the pirate” was the only one in the room.

“CHAN the Pirate, I am Sato the Great and I have come to arrest you and take you to Suri Castle” Sato said hulking up his body and spreading his shoulders out to illustrate his mass. “Come with me if you know what is good for you…but I would much rather teach you a lesson before you come”! Sato said to emphasize that he wanted to fight the Chinese pirate.  “I will beat you, I will crush you and then you will give back the money you have stolen and that pile of cloths will go back as well” pointing to the clothing pile that was in the corner of the room.

Chan, without turning, said “hmmm, if you can best me then not only will I come with you to the castle to be arrested and tried, I will give back the money freely as well as the clothing and bow deep to these men with the utmost respect for Ryukyuians!, However, if you cannot best me, I will take your money and your clothing and continue to see the Ryukyu kingdom as the weak men of Asia!”. He then got up and turned to look at the Hulking frame of Sato, and a glint appeared in his eye.

Sato pivoted, hitting both sides of the door with his massive shoulders, and marched out into the street. Chan followed with a bit of a skipping step. A crowd had formed because the Inn owner had run out and caught many of the men leaving to fish for the day, and they formed a circle around the two men. Sato took off his top and showed his massive frame, with his powerful muscles flexing in the sunlight. Chan kicked up some dirt and threw back his jacket to form a deep fighting stance.  Both men circled each other for a few minutes, then Sato lunged in trying to grip the Chinese pirate, who for the most part would zip just outside of Satos grip and throw snappy kicks at Satos elbows or legs.

After a short while Sato was getting tired and sweat was pouring down his back and face. The large man could not grab ahold of the allusive Chinese and his energy was starting to wane. His body was slick with sweat and he began to gasp and gulp air. Every time he lunged in the Chinese would slip out of reach and kick him in the elbow or knee and these little strikes hurt and caused him to wince.

After 20 minutes Sato was exhausted, all his extra bulk and strength was nothing compared to Chans ability to keep him at a distance and his speed. Finally in one last attempt to get his hands on Chan, Sato dug down deep and lunged out with all his strength and flailed his arms in a scissor motion to try and grab ahold of the smaller man, he caught air and the felt the ground rush up and meet him. He was spent, his energy was gone and he could not even roll over to face his opponent.

The Chinese pirate laughed and went about taking Satos rich silk clothing and his money purse. Sato was embarrassed and exhausted. His body ached and his head swam with disappointment and embarrassment. He would make the long walk back to Shuri later that day and he would have to face his master. But for now he simply laid on the ground defeated.

 

Back in Shuri Master Takahara received word that Sato had been defeated by Chan and was on his way home, with no money or clothing. He was very upset and began to prepare to face the Chinese outlaw himself. He walked out into the court yard and saw young Sakukawa practicing Kata. His Kata was not as flashy as Ito, it had a very basic feel to it. He also was half the size of Sato and did not present an overly powerful frame. But Sakukawa had always been a diligent student, not flashy or powerful, but very dedicated to polishing basics and understanding movement.  While Sato would travel around doing his wrestling and challenging others, Sakukawa was at the Dojo hitting the Makiwara, doing Kata and putting in hours of Kihon work. While Ito was out partying and then showing off with his flashy dynamic movements, Sakukawa was at the Dojo polishing his very basic movements and cleaning the Dojo for the master.

Takahara knew that Sakukawa was a great student, but could he better someone that had made Ito the nimble and Sato the great both fail and be embarrassed?  Takahara decided he must send his last student to face Chan or he would have to do it himself. Takahara sat and took up a position watching Sakukawa perform his very basic Kata and work on his basics. Finally he called him over, “ Sakukawa, go to the village were your brothers went and take Chan into custody if you can. This is very important for us so please capture him and bring him in”.

Sakukawa stopped and put his broom down, he had just been finishing taking the sand off of the Tatami when Master had called to him. Sakukawa bowed deeply and turned and left the Dojo. He brought with him only the cloths off his back and some money to eat while out of town and he walked carefully down the path on his way to Chanan. Sakukawa partially meditated along the way, he thought of what had already happened and why the others had failed. Sato was large and powerful, infact he had crushed Sakukawas strong hands once in a hand wrestling competition and Ito….well Ito moved like lightning. How would he face this challenge. Surely he could not be stronger than Sato and faster than Ito…

 

Sakukawa came to the same clearing that opened up into the town, the same clearing that Ito and Sato had come into. He stood for a short time and took in the view, the boats on the bay all fishing and the families rushing around getting groceries and goods so when the men came in they had something to eat. This was truly a nice small village.  Sakukawa walked towards the tea house and sat on the outside porch waiting to see Chan make his appearance.

At first Chan seemed rather jovial and playful, he danced with the children of the village and he only mildly accosted the ladies. Sakukawa watched as he jumped around and then ran up to children and poked their nose. He had good speed and he was strong enough to jump very high, but Sakukawa did not think he was as fast as Ito or as strong as Sato, it must have been his style of fighting that made him best the other two. 

After a short while Sakukawa stood and paid his bill and marched off in the direction of the Pirate Chan. Once he was in ear shot he politely asked if the gent before him was Master Chan of China?  The startled Chinese pirate spun on his heels then caught himself and chuckeled as he bowed very dramatically “guilty of this my friend” he said once again standing straight up. “And I suppose you are another magistrate sent to calm the village and remove me to your kinds home for holding until a boat can take me back to China”?  Sakukawa politely bowed and nodded to indicate that this was correct.

Well, I will give you the same deal I gave your friends and others that have come here after me. If you can best me in combat I will give everyone back their clothing and money and follow you to the stalk aide and away being sent home. But if you cannot…I will take your money and clothing and add them to my collection. With that Chan jumped over a barrel of water and stood in a fighting crouch waiting for Sakukawa to attack. For his part Sakukawa simply walked over and bent down, picked up some dirt and then tossed it to the ground.

Chan circled Sakukawa and tried to size up the law man. He was not overly tall, nor did he look very strong. Sakukawa did not have the large muscles or quick frame of his counterparts. This would indeed be a interesting puzzle to solve. As he found himself behind Sakukawa he launched himself at the magistrate and attempted to kick him directly in the spine….but all he found was air. The foot lunged past the Okinawan and landed hard on the ground, Chan felt the pain of the ground meeting his foot come back at him. Sakukawa had simply side stepped the attack. And it began.

The fight lasted much longer than Ito’s had and less than Sato. The more Chan attacked the less that he landed. Finally Sakukawa threw a perfectly timed front kick and it landed square in Chans chest, he followed it with a beautiful reverse punch with the single knuckle landing again in Chans solar plexus. The air wooshed out of Chans lungs as he barked and pulled for air that was not coming. With the exhaustion of the fight he needed the oxygen and finally he simply just passed out.

Sakukawa had won using the first kick and the first punch he had ever learned. The waza that he repeated every day thousands of times over and over again. Finally Sakukawa woke Chan and offered him some water. The Chinese took the water and bowed deeply. “there will be no need to bind me master, I will come along of my own free will having been beaten by you soundly.” And with that Chan the horrible pirate followed Sakukawa back to Shuri castle to await the boat that would take him home.

               

With the arrest of Chan, Sakukawa Kanga had developed a solid reputation and upon returning to his master he was achnowledged as one of the best Karate men in Okinawa. He was given the name sakukawa Tode or as we know him now…”Karate Sakukawa” and he became the master of Matsumura Sokon who taught Azato Anko….who was in turn the master of Funakoshi Gichin, the founder of Shotokan Karate.

And the moral of the story is you must practice the very basics of Karate until they are natural and flow from you. Don’t get to fancy or rely on strength to dominate a opponent. If they have mastered the true art of Karate…the very basic foundation of Karate…you will not beat them and they will expose your weakness every time.