Genseiryu
Genseiryu is a karate style with roots in Shuri-te, one of the three original karate styles of Okinawa Japan. It was developed by Seiken Shukumine (1925–2001) who combined classic techniques with his own innovations thus developing the special characteristics of Genseiryū. Shukumine had two known teachers, Sadoyama and Kishimoto. The name Genseiryū was first used in 1953.
Gensei could be translated as 'to control the universe', but is interpreted by members of the school to mean something like "to pursue the deep truth and making it clear through the form," which can be regarded physically as well as spiritually.
History
Genseiryū has its roots in an old karate style called Shuri-te. Some sources speak of Tomari-te being the source, but the differences were minimal since both styles were derived from Shōrin-ryū. In the 1920s and '30s there were three major karate styles in Okinawa. They were all named after the cities where they were developed: Naha, Tomari and Shuri. These three styles (Naha-Te, Tomari-Te and Shuri-Te) are sometimes called more generally Okinawan Karate.
Characteristics of Genseiryu
Shukumine was also known as a philosopher and during the war he learned that to do something unanticipated or unexpected is the secret to victory, whether in a war between two nations or in a mere personal conflict. In other words: the basic philosophy of Genseiryū pursues this idea of doing the unexpected.
Shukumine ruminated on how to apply this idea not only to life but also to Genseiryū Karate and its kata. Eventually he created the basic theory of "Sen, Un, Hen, Nen and Ten." These are the basic principles that make of Genseiryū a three-dimensional karate style:
Sen (whirlwind): vertical circular movement of the body axis (rotating, turning);
Un (waves): elegant up and down movement in the directions of front and back;
Hen (clouds): falling movement in front and back, right and left by your own will;
Nen (maelstrom, whirlpool): twisted hand and arm techniques, mainly executed on the spot;
Ten (luminous): a technique in an unexpected situation created by front turn, back turn and side turn.
It is "Sansai" that is known widely as a typical kata of Genseiryū with lots of these techniques. Other genuine techniques of Genseiryū are the kicks Ebi-geri (back kick with both hands on the ground and the face close to the ground) and Manji-geri (side kick (mawashi-geri) with head close to the ground and both hands on the ground). Both kicks belong to the so called Shajo-geri group (leaning body) and are also trained in Taido. Besides kata, Genseiryū also practices Shihō and Happō (some other styles do too, but not all of them). Shihō (四方) translates into 'four directions' and comprises exercises in which a combination of techniques is repeated several times in four different directions (front, back, right and left). This is almost the same with Happō, but it translates into 'eight directions', thus it comprises exercises in eight different directions.
Dissolved 1962
Throughout the years, a few students of Seiken Shukumine rejected Taido and thus continued Genseiryū even though Shukumine stopped teaching Genseiryū in 1962. Because the official organization of Seiken Shukumine was dissolved in 1962, a few students tried Taido but later dropped out and established their own organizations, attempting a jump "back" to Genseiryū going their own way. These are among others Nippon Karate-dō Budō Kyokai, Genwakai, Ryounkai, Keneikai and Seidokai. Butokukai, which was established three years prior to Seiken Shukumine's exit from the Karate world, was continued by Kunihiko Tosa, taking up the responsibility as the official successor. The oldest existing organization of Genseiryū still existing today is that of the Genseiryū Karate-do International Federation (1959).