安南
Karate kata Annan
Annan kata is currently among the most popular competition kata, although its technical characteristics classify it as a demanding kata with diverse bunkai, utilizing Kyusho techniques.
Naming of the Kata
Annam, Annan, Anan.
The exact translation of the name Annan is currently unknown. Therefore, we may also encounter the name written in Katakana as アーナン. Katakana is used, among other things, to transcribe foreign (Chinese, English, etc.) words into Japanese. The aforementioned Chinese characters can be translated as ‘Peaceful South’ or ‘Pacified South’. This could refer to the territory of present-day Vietnam, a part of a district in Fuzhou, or the name of a historical figure.
Origin of Annan Kata
The author of this kata remains unknown. For a long time, Annan was passed down exclusively within the private and secretive family style of Ryuei-ryu. Ryuei-ryu represents the family system of the Okinawan Nakaima family, based in Kumemura (a district of Naha). This family lineage traces its roots back to Southern Chinese martial arts.
Prečítajte si aj článok o vzniku karate na Okinave.
Ryuei ryu 劉衛 流
Počiatky Ryuei ryu 劉衛 流 sa viažu do prvej polovice 19.storočia kedy Okinavčan menom Norisato Nakaima (1819-1897) vycestoval do Číny. Dnes už nevieme či to bolo za prácou, obchodom alebo štúdiom, ani ako dlho sa v Číne zdržal. Avšak traduje sa,že v Číne si osvojil čínske kempo priamo pod vedením majstra Ryu Ryu Ko. A práve na počesť majstra Ryu Ryu Ko dostal tento utajovaný štýl rodiny Nakaima z Kume svoje pomenovanie.
Majster Norisato Nakaima (1819-1897) odovzdal umenie boja na svojho syna menom Kenchu Nakaima (1856-1953), ktorý rodinný štýl po tradícii odovzdal na svojho syna menom Kenko Nakaima (1911-1989). Ten pracoval v školstve ako riaditeľ pre základné a stredné školy. V sedemdesiatych rokoch porušil tradíciu odovzdávania rodinného bojového štýlu jedinému synovi a začal vyučovať dovtedy tajný rodinný štýl verejnosť. Popri svojom synovi menom Kenji Nakaima (1934-), ktorý je dnes hlavou Ryuei ryu (5.Soke), vyučoval aj ďalších záujemcov ako napr. japonského majstra menom Teruo Hayashi (1924-2004), ktorý neskôr vložil Ryuei ryu kata do svojho štýlu Hayashi ha Shito ryu Karate. V súčasnosti vyučuje Ryuei ryu aj niekoľkonásobný majster sveta v Karate Tsuguo Sakumoto (1947-) (5. Doto), ktorý sa mimoriadnym spôsobom pričinil o popularizáciu tohto dovtedy nie veľmi známeho rodinného štýlu.
V súčasnosti sa v Ryuei ryu cvičia tieto kata:
Okrem horeuvedených kata sa v Ryuei ryu vyučujú aj kobudo kata (so zbraňami):
- sai
- bo
- kama
- tinbe
- suruchin
Versions of the Kata
Since the Ryuei-ryu style was taught exclusively within the family circle for a very long time, Annan kata does not exist in many versions today. The first version is that of Master Teruo Hayashi (1924–2004), representing the aforementioned Hayashi-ha Shito-ryu style. The second, much more famous version, is represented by Master Tsuguo Sakumoto (1947–), who stunned fans of competitive karate in the 1990s with his modified interpretation.
Annam – A Designation for Vietnam
he fact that the territory of present-day Vietnam was called Annam until 1949 supports the use of Annam as a territorial designation, while the name “Vietnam” first appeared only in 1920. Translated from Sino-Vietnamese, the name Annam means “Pacified South” or “Peaceful South,” derived from the Chinese An Nan. Annam represented a longitudinal strip of land (approx. 1,300 km) in the center of modern-day Vietnam—Central Vietnam. In the late 19th century, French colonial interests in Southeast Asia peaked, encompassing Southern and Central Vietnam (Annam) as well as Cambodia. As Annam was a vassal of China, it requested Chinese military assistance to halt the French. In 1873, a force of 171 Frenchmen fought their way into Northern Vietnam, attempting to occupy the Red River Delta. However, they were thwarted by Chinese pirates (named after their black flags). A few years later, in 1882, Captain Henri Laurent Rivière, along with 480 men, captured Hanoi, the Nam Dinh coast, and the Hon Gay mine. He also attempted to conquer the Red River Delta, but was again stopped by the pirates. Rivière was killed, and Paris hired 3,000 mercenaries in Indochina to join the navy in conquering the territory of Vietnam, which they eventually achieved.
Pirates in the South China Sea. Part of a Qing Dynasty scroll exhibited at the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. Source: wikipedia.org The file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Sino-French War
In 1883, French military forces subjugated the Kingdom of Annam, which became a protectorate of France. French colonialism reached the borders of China. Although the Chinese Qing Dynasty declared war on France and went to their neighbor’s aid—with the continued assistance of the pirates, sailors characterized by their black flag—the French repelled the attack and in 1884 launched a preemptive strike on the port of Fuzhou. By 1885, Chinese fortresses on the island of Taiwan also fell. Meanwhile, the pirates along with the Chinese army drove the French out of Annam, but continuing the war against France proved too costly for China. Therefore, in 1885, China signed a peace treaty with France, whereby the French withdrew from Taiwan and China withdrew from the territory of Annam. This war lasted three years (1883–1885) and became known as the Sino-French conflict.
Annan – The Castaway Pirate
In Tomari circles, a legend circulates that Annan was a castaway (pirate) who sought refuge in a cemetery in the Tomari mountains, where he hid in a cave. According to tradition, he was said to have met and fought a master named Sokon Matsumura (1792–1896), whom he supposedly taught the kata Chinto. This is said to have happened sometime in the late 19th century. Is it possible that this Chinese pirate fought against the French and subsequently fled or was shipwrecked on Okinawa, where he sought shelter?
Characteristics and Bunkai of Annan Kata
In Ryuei ryu, the Annan kata represents one of the advanced kata in the system, characterized primarily by open-hand techniques. Closed fists in the kata represent only pulling the opponent and are followed by a low kick. In Sakumoto’s version (a modified original version), one tate zuki strike to the head is still performed at the end of the kata. Both defensive and offensive techniques are represented by open-hand techniques. The signature technique of Annan kata is certainly the teisho zuki – palm strike, which is performed up to 10 times in the kata. We find it right at the very beginning of the kata, where it is performed 3 times, similar to other Chinese kata. Among the attacking techniques, shuto uchi dominates in the kata, being performed 5 times. A total of 9 kicks are performed in the kata, with the mae geri kick prevailing. Most combinations in the kata are performed on both sides. Bunkai of Annan kata suggests a number of interesting and difficult-to-recognize combat situations. Hidden behind the techniques are locks on elbows, wrists, elbow strikes to the head, throws, takedowns, or even throat crushing. All of this is performed on vital points.
Typical technique and bunkai of Annan kata
One of the techniques typical for the Annan kata is the gyaku zuki strike performed with the palm. This strike is executed three times in succession right at the beginning of the kata, as if the author was emphasizing the connection to other Chinese kata. It is interesting to note that the gripping of the palm with bent fingers corresponds to the tiger hand technique. Tiger techniques are characterized by a firm grip and subsequent clinching of a limb or other part of the body. The clenching of the hand faithfully resembles a tiger digging its claws into its victim. In this case, the technique is aimed at the facial area of the head, where, in addition to the strike, the fingers can be used to grip anatomical structures above the upper lip.
Grasping the anterior facial part may seem ineffective compared to the strike itself, but only until we realize the presence of vital points in this area. Several acupuncture meridians (Governing Vessel, Stomach meridian, and Large Intestine meridian) pass through this region. The position of the points on these meridians indicates where nerves uncovered by muscle lie, which can be stimulated in the kata’s bunkai. Depending on the grip, we can stimulate either the n. buccalis (buccal nerve) or the n. zygomaticus (zygomatic nerve), which are branches of the facial nerve.
Both nerves are branches of the facial nerve. The facial nerves are mixed motor and sensory nerves. The motor part transmits signals that control facial expressions (mimicry). Without these nerves, you would not be able to read any emotion on another person’s face. The sensory part, in turn, transmits taste-related signals via the tongue.
Kyusho in kata Annan
Did you know that by firmly gripping and stimulating the facial nerves, you can reliably take an opponent to the ground? One of the points stimulated by a strong grip is the vital point GV-26.
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References
Okinawa Ryuei Ryu Karate Kobudo Organisation: Okinawa Ryuei ryu history. [cited 2020-11-04]. Available at: https://www.ryueiryu.com/history FUNAKOSHI, GICHIN: Ryukyu Kempo Karate-jutsu, 1922 In McCARTHY, Patrick: Bubishi – the classic manual of combat. North Clarendon: Tuttle Publishing, 2008. 255p. ISBN 978-0-8048-3828-3.
HAAS, HERBERT: Anan. [cited 2011-12-25]. Available at: www.karatekata.de
HANCOCK, H. IRVING: Jiu Jitsu Combat Tricks. G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS, 1904. (photo no. 21)
WIKIPEDIA: Annam (French protectorate). Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annam_(French_protectorate
WILLIAMSON, MITCH: Sino-French War (1883–1885). [cited 2011-12-25]. Available at: http://warandgame.com/2011/03/28/
LAM, Sai WING: Fu Hok Seung Ying Kuen. 2003.
